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Dedication Day--A Day to Remember!
Our new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church was dedicated on Sunday, June 13, 2010! Over 1200 parishioners and guests participated in the 2:00 p.m. dedication rite with Archbishop Hanus presiding. The dedication was followed by an opportunity for all to explore the new church, reservation chapel, reconciliation room, gathering space, nursery and other support areas before enjoying appetizers and socializing at the catered reception. In the life of our parish, and in the lives of our families, Dedicaton Day was truly a day to remember!
Please join us for worship at our regular weekend Masses at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. on Sundays, or call ahead at 393-3778 if you would like to tour our new church. You are always welcome at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church!
Building Project to Include Alternates
Parish Council unanimously approved a recommendation that Our Building Project include all the major alternates that had been selected for separate bidding. The alternates that now will be included are the connecting link between our current facility and the new worship space, the new nursery, the reservation chapel, and the serving kitchen and religious education center.
To reach the decision to include these alternates, despite increased project costs, the Steering Committee, along with members of the Finance Council and Parish Council, reviewed the bidding information and studied the factors affecting financing of the project. These included:
- The interest rates which are lower than the earlier projected rates when the financing plan was developed.
- The greater amount of capital amassed from the capital campaign with the delay in construction from last fall, reducing borrowing costs.
- The need for each of the alternates. None of the alternates seemed to be options that could be delayed without having serious effects in meeting our short term parish needs. We continue to grow each year and our needs for space do too.
- The cost of adding the alternates in later years. The cost would be substantially higher.
- The support of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The Archdiocese reviewed our financing plan and supported the inclusion of the alternates in the current construction phase. This means the Archdiocese will loan us the money to complete the project and during the mortgage period.
- The amount of debt for our parish. Debt will remain after our three year capital campaign, but with continued parish support the entire project can reasonably be paid off in ten years.
This decision was made after numerous meetings, reflection and prayer. The Steering Committee, the Finance Council and our Parish Council are grateful for your continued prayers and support of Our Building Project. We look forward to the construction of our new facility, scheduled for completion in 12-14 months!
Click Here For Diagram Of Building Alternates
Questions about green design:
What’s being done to assure that our new building will be energy efficient and cost effective?
The Building Committee and the Design Team recently completed an evaluation of the design of the new addition with the help of The Weidt Group. The purpose of the evaluation was to look at various architectural and engineering construction/system to optimize the energy usage of the building. The Weidt Group evaluated different architectural items such as wall insulation, roof insulation and window types. They also evaluated various heating and cooling system including ground-loop geothermal, standard variable air volume system with a chiller and boiler and a hybrid system using geothermal and packaged equipment. In a hybrid system the geothermal heat pump system is sized with sufficient capacity for a “normal” load (in this case approximately 400 people in the Sanctuary) with a separate non-geothermal system to handle the peak loads (full Sanctuary). . Electrically they reviewed various lighting controls and light fixture types. These various options were grouped in “bundles” or groups that most closely represented the current design as well as several “what if” scenarios. The Weidt Group uses computer software to “model” the “bundles” and calculate energy usage and compare energy, construction costs and simple payback. They then use this data, in conjunction with Alliant Energy, to determine possible rebates for each bundle. The Weidt Group report was used by the Building Committee and the Design Team to determine that the hybrid geothermal system along with the various architectural details, insulation thicknesses, glass types, lighting controls etc. are currently included in the design. The items selected provide the best “bang for the buck” up front as well as continued savings over the life of the building.
Will the geothermal system proposed for our new building pump water from the ground and dump it into a storm sewer or stream?
No. The proposed system is a closed loop system. Aquifer or well water is not used. Our engineers and architects have never considered anything but a closed loop system for our project. Water is not wasted, nor is the aquifer negatively affected.
Update on Our Building Project--July, 2008
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
Since last March, our Construction Committee experts have determined that it would be best to house the mechanical systems of our new facility underground so a basement was added under a portion of our new facility. We also determined that since the bell tower will not be built until Phase II, a vestibule needed to be added to the entryway. The Steering Committee also decided that it would be very desirable to have a basic kitchen area adjacent to our current worship space in order to facilitate parish activities i.e. receptions and other large functions. These scope changes added approximately $350,000 to the projected costs.
CONSTRUCTION COST ADJUSTMENTS ON THE PROJECT
Soil tests have determined the need to replace a substantial amount of soil with better fill prior to construction. Construction material costs, especially steel, have dramatically increased this past year. These have led to a $250,000 cost increase to the project.
FINANCING THE PROJECT
We are beginning this project with over $800,000 in prior building fund savings. Our current capital campaign pledges have now topped $3,500,000. Our Building Project Funding Committee put together a detailed financial plan totaling $6.3 million which was approved by our Parish Council, and the archdiocesan finance committee. The plan includes a $2 million loan from the archdiocese which we plan to pay off in less than ten years.
ADUSTING THE SCOPE AND COST TO MAKE THE FINANCING PLAN WORK
To stay within the new $6.3 million cost budget we have deferred several cost items which include not fully outfitting the seating by temporarily eliminating the back rows of pews in the new facility and limiting the remodeling of the current worship space. The initial seating will be for 900 instead of 1200, and pews can be added as the parish grows. We hope to be able to add some of the deferred items back if additional pledges arrive or construction savings occur.
CONSTRUCTION!
Land preparation work will begin this fall and completion of the facility is expected 12-14 months after construction begins.
Here’s what is included in the $6.3 million Phase I of Our Building Project:
· A large, well-designed worship space with a capacity to seat 1200 with excellent acoustics and visibility. This new facility is rich in the design features identified by the parishioners during the initial planning activities with our Liturgical Design Consultant and architects.
· a permanent immersion baptismal font. This will enhance our traditional Easter Vigil celebrations, as well as the celebration of infant baptism at Mass.
· a separate reservation chapel adjacent to the worship space to provide opportunities for personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
· a reconciliation room within the worship facility.
· a sacristy and an expanded music area
· permanent space for our Youth Ministry program. This was identified as a particularly important feature because of the number of young people in our parish.
· additional flexible education space and a much needed Religious Ed Resource Center utilized by staff and RE volunteers.
· a large nursery adjacent to our new worship space, making it easier to drop off and pick up younger children before and after mass.
· a larger gathering space with an inside passageway to our current facility.
· a much larger parish hall for parish gatherings that will be able to accommodate up to 400 people for a wedding reception and other similar type events. The current worship space will also be available to serve as a daily mass chapel.
· a large outside plaza gathering space.
This facility is designed to be a very energy efficient, green facility which was a high priority with our parishioners in our planning process. Our heating and cooling design will include a state of the art geothermal system as well as other efficient designs including lighting, window glazing, and insulation. The system is also designed to be easily expandable for the next phase, which could include an educational wing, multi-purpose room/gym, expanded kitchen facilities, a day chapel for smaller gatherings and added office space.
Capital Campaign “Building To Serve”
THANK YOU to everyone who returned their pledge packets! 75% of the pledge cards have been returned. The total pledged from the returned cards is $3.5 million.
There will be an outreach to “Friends of St. Elizabeth” (former parishioners, young adults who grew up in our parish, etc.).
“Friends of St. Elizabeth” wishing to contribute to our new church should contact the parish office at:
“Building To Serve”
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
1350 Lyndhurst Dr.
Hiawatha, IA 52233
or 319-393-3778 or office@seasp.org
Building Designs
Questions and Answers following the Architect Presentation on Nov. 3-4.
Questions about space
Questions about features
Questions about financing the project
Why is the Capital Campaign in February, 2008?
The capital campaign had been targeted for this fall, but is now set for February, 2008, because of the following considerations:
Feasibility Study Results, Questions and Answers
The results of the feasibility study were used by the Parish Council in the decision to proceed with a capital campaign and to hire Mark Davy and Associates to assist the parish in the campaign. Here’s a summary from the 48 personal interviews (81 parishioners) and surveys (133 households) in the study:
Summary Of July Master Plan Presentation/Discussion
On July 8 our architects presented their work on the new master plan for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish. The plan continues to mature as the Steering Committee continues to receive and evaluate input from parishioners and the Parish Council.
So…What’s In This New Church of Ours?
First and foremost, we hope… The Body of Christ…You!
Our Program Document
Our Program Document, the guide for our Steering Committee and architects in designing our new master plan and worship space, is available for you to read at http://www.seasp.org/committees/BuildingProgramDocument.pdf
The file size is 1.2 M, so it may take a minute to download to your computer.
Our Building Project Architects
Our architectural firm, BVH in partnership Neumann Monson Architects, is currently working on master planning. In order to view examples of Our Building Project architect's previous work, please click here: BVH.com.
All about Green Design
The Decision on Green Design
What is Green Design?
“Green” Certification through LEED
Green Design is Good Stewardship
Parish Education Sessions Available on DVD
The educational sessions presented by Liturgical Design Consultant Dr. Michael DeSanctis were recorded and are available on DVD. If you missed any of the parish educational sessions, stop by the parish office and checkout a DVD.
Committee Structure For Our Building Project
The committee leadership positions for Our Building Project have now been filled. They are:
Building Project Leadership: Fr. Neil Manternach, Loma & Marty Cutter, Kris & Michael Walker
Liturgical Design: Carolyn & Dale March
Communication: Fred Althoff
Construction: Diane and Al Roderick
Funding: Pat and Dave Airy
The leaders of the above committees comprise the Steering Committee for Our Building Project.
Communication Committee
The role of the Communication Committee is to keep our parish informed about Our Building Project. The weekly bulletin, the newsletter and the parish website are the main vehicles for communication. If you have questions about Our Building Project, please call our parish office or e-mail our parish office at office@seasp.org or Fred Althoff at falthoff@fmtcs.com
Links for Our Building Project
The Bishops’ document "Built of Living Stones" is at: http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/livingstones.shtml
The Archdiocese building document is at: http://www.arch.pvt.k12.ia.us/Worship/PDFs/Policies-BldgRenovChur.pdf
Information on Building from Belief: Advance, Retreat, and Compromise in the Remaking of Catholic Church... a book written by our Liturgical Design Consultant, Michael E. DeSanctis, is at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=JU2bs8jUVH8C&dq=DeSanctis+Books&pg=PP1&ots=Z9zAyLyyIi&sig=Q_feCY_x2Vs6qbOg53AqvXV5EQ&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fclient%3Dfirefoxa%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%253AenUS%253Aofficial_s%26hl%3Den%26q%3DDeSanctis%2BBooks%26btnG%3DGoogle%2BSearch&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1
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