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June 7, 2014, 12:00 AM - June 8, 2014, 12:00 AMFrom Rev. Sean Horrigan:
Our retired priests live in a variety places: some have houses or apartment on their own (again, if their health permits), while others live with family members or other priests that may have a spare bedroom in their rectory. The Archdiocese owns the St. John XXIII Retirement Home for priests on the campus of St. Dominic Chancery. It was built in the late 1970s and has 18 rooms, though only 11 are occupied at this time as the property is in extremely poor condition. One half of the residence (it was built in two phases) is literally sinking as the foundation has given way. The rooms are very small and not built for someone using a walker or wheelchair. They have step-in showers and narrow doorways. They are not built for assisted living, so if a man’s conditions worsen and he needs extra help, he is forced to vacate the property. It’s a residence that has not been cared for very well over the years and is not a viable option for those whose needs are great in the later years.
Cardinal DiNardo has given his blessing for a new retired priests residence to be constructed. He has asked Bishop George Sheltz, Msgr. Frank Rossi and me to oversee the project and I’m delighted to be part of it. I’m chairing the Building Committee and we are currently in the design phase of a new residence and hope to break ground by Labor Day. It will be built for both independent and assisted living, with 24 suites of about 750 square feet each, plus a common dining room, chapel, TV room and library/office, with additional space for support staff, kitchen and other areas for the men. It’s a beautiful design that’s not extravagant, but simple and fitting for our elderly priests.
We estimate the project will be $10 million for both construction and a small endowment to see that it is cared for in years to come. Cardinal DiNardo has committed $2 million from the Archdiocese and another private donor has also made a $2 million gift. We have approached a number of individual donors who have responded enthusiastically to the project, and we are inviting parishes of the Archdiocese to make a pledge of $150,000 over three years to underwrite one of the 24 rooms. With the counsel and blessing of both our Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council, I have made a pledge in the name of Christ the Redeemer parish.
I know this parish has a great love of priests and I’m inviting you to join me in fulfilling our pledge from CtR. Next weekend, on the Solemnity of Pentecost, the “birthday of the Church,” we will take up a second collection to help us reach our goal. It is my sincere hope that we will exceed our pledge of $150,000. (St. John Vianney parish raised more than $1 million in its second collection!) My 90-year-old mother and I have pledged $10,000 ourselves and I invite you to join us in this important effort. Incidentally, any donor who pledges $10,000 or more will be recognized on a memorial wall in the new retirement home and be remembered in Masses offered in the chapel by the priests.
I don’t suspect this will be like other second collections where we might make a donation of $20 and be done with it. I’m asking you to please be especially generous to help fund this much needed project. You can make a one-time donation or spread a pledge over three years. No gift is too small or too big, and every bit raised will go to support the retired priests. For example, a priest’s pension is $1,500 a month, from which they pay about $600 to live at the retirement residence. Can you consider making a gift of $1,500? Some are capable of doing much more, others may wish to do a smaller amount, but it will all help us make our gift and beyond from CtR.
On behalf of our retired priests and Cardinal DiNardo, I thank you in advance for your generous support of this wonderful initiative. It’s an honor to help meet the needs of the priests who have given their lives in service to the local Church. Please join me in supporting our second collection next weekend. If you have any questions about this project, please contact me this week. I’m happy to talk about it.