I am so happy to write to you all and share the latest developments concerning the new church project!

 We have been expecting the general contractor's (WRL) guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for quite some time now, and they have finally delivered! To build the new Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene will cost no more than $7,699,053! That, you will admit is a lot of money but, rest assured, I have absolute confidence that this wonderful parish will be able to pay for it. The figure is pretty close to what we were expecting based on the previous cost estimate exercises run by WRL. The nature of a GMP is that they guarantee that the cost to the client will not exceed that amount, and that any savings achieved will be returned to the client. 

In the bank, we have $2,998,506; and we will be able to borrow $3,500,000. That, you will note, leaves us with a construction shortfall of $1,200,547, not to mention the other elements such as stained glass, murals, pews, altar, ambo and so on. There is still about $1,000,000 outstanding in the "A Home for all God's People" capital campaign with two and half years left to run; and there is approximately $1,000,000 that was identified by CRS that has not been pledged. At the time we ran the capital campaign, there were a lot of folks who said that they were not giving until they saw dirt moving. In short, the money is out there - it will soon become time for the money to come home and build "A Home for all God's People!"

The next step is to accept the GMP. This is on the bishop's desk, with a note asking that he sign by Tuesday (steel prices are set to rise on Thursday). The bishop has scheduled a meeting of the Diocesan Finance Council for Tuesday morning and the acceptance of the bid is on the agenda. Please pray for a happy outcome!

If the bishop signs the acceptance this week, WRL expects to be onsite in May - in just 8 or 9 weeks and that construction will take 12 months. It is a very real possibility that we will be dedicating the new church around July 22, 2022, - the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene.

Now more than ever it is necessary that we continue to pray together to achieve our new parish church in accordance with God's plan!

Holy Mary, mother of God; pray for us!
St. Joseph; pray for us!
St. Mary Magdalene; pray for us!
St. Patrick; pray for us!
All holy men and women; pray for us!

V. Rev. James Rowland, JCL, VF
March, 2021