An Update from Father Pat

Last week I began a two part series to encapsulate some of my thoughts regarding the vacant acreage owned by St. Saviour Church.  To summarize, while I was not initially keen on selling the land, I have changed my mind based on the following facts:  1. In thirty years the land has been used only a couple days a year for festival parking.  2. To spray and mow it costs at least $15,000 yearly. and 3. We have no need to build anything on the property because our parishes already have needed buildings and space, things like a huge hall at St. Saviour and a gym/activity center at Nativity.  Let me add to the summary above.

Location, Location
St. Saviour is our northernmost parish.  Even if we discerned a need for a new building and after raising millions of dollars, it would make greater sense to build somewhere more central to the parish family.  Since it is likely that we will take one or more church buildings out of service over the next five to ten years, it seems a great option for us to trust in Divine Providence that “God will provide” land on the outside chance that we would need to build.

Our Best Buyer
Many at St. Saviour know about Linden Grove School who has leased our school for over twenty years.  They are not only an outstanding educational institution for children with autism, but they have also been the best of tenants.  While not a Catholic organization, their values line up well with the Gospel, lifting up those that the world might not regard well.  Linden Grove would like to buy the available land so that it can expand and meet the needs of a growing number of families with children who have autism as a special need.

Other Buyers
The housing crisis continues in our nation.  Those familiar with the neighborhoods of our parishes can count several new developments of mixed-use housing.  As well, from work done by St. Saviour Finance Committee, there is credible interest by developers to build single family houses on the acreage.

Highest and Best Use
If the land were to be sold, we would make sure that we get highest value from the land.  We could not, for example, because of our appreciation of and respect for Linden Grove School, offer them a discounted price.  Two appraisals would be obtained.  The archdiocese would be closely involved.  (See below.)  The way I would see it playing out is that, we would ask what seems like a high amount for the property.  We could not take less than the highest and best offer.  According to the most recent lease agreement with Linden Grove, they do have a right to be apprised of what we are considering selling the property for and making that same offer themselves.
 
Roadblocks
The Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, Archdiocesan Finance Counsel and Archbishop Schnurr can for good reason refuse or alter recommendations from parish leaders and a pastor.  The process of buying or selling property and building or tearing down structures can take several months allowing for much communication and verification of facts.

Why Sell
The essential reason to sell the property is in line with common sense and Beacons of Light.  When we are encumbered with too many earthly goods, energy and resources are diminished and the Devil distracts us from our mission to proclaim Jesus to others and be filled with the joy of the Kingdom of Heaven, not the Kingdom of the earth.
 
We know from our combined Crescent Parishes finance report that two of our parishes have significant debt.  Some others are not doing well financially year to date.  As we enter into a union not unlike marriage and become one parish, all our blessings and crosses will be shared, just as for any married couple.  Finance committees may well make wise suggestions such as making double payments on debt to free us from unnecessary burden.   Parish surplus funds from savings and the selling of property will allow our new parish more options to be in better fiscal shape.

Thanks to Crescent Parishioners
Thanks to Crescent Parishioners for your dedication to Jesus by the ways we are becoming one.  Thanks too for remaining open to possibilities that might not at first seem positive, but in fact become the necessary and hard work to become a better Beacon of Light.
 
Thanks to Mr. Jeff Warren and Mrs. Elaine Nolte
As the Nativity School year draws to a close I want to give thanks for Mr. Jeff Warren and Mrs. Elaine Nolte.  Mr Warren, hired two years ago to be assistant principal, has spent much more of those two years as acting principal than as assistant principal!  St. Saviour parishioner, Mrs. Nolte, came out of retirement to fill the role of assistant principal.  I thank them for the outstanding leadership in Christ they have offered.  Indeed, they have been the saving power of Jesus for the Nativity School Community! Thanks to faculty members who bore the crosses and challenges of the year with hope and charity.  Below is a recent article Mr. Warren offered in the school’s electronic newsletter. 
Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat

Nativity School Newsletter Contribution
Four weeks left in the school year! I suspect that I’m not the only person counting down. When I’m looking forward to something I’m excited about, it’s great to think that I’m that much closer. If I anticipate something bad happening in my future, I can fill my time with worry. Whether I am looking forward in joyful anticipation or dread, it is good to remember to stay in the present moment.

As Jesus tells us in his Sermon on the Mount, “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil” (Matthew 6.34). Worrying about something that may or may not happen won’t make it better. I may miss out on the joys of the present while I worry about the future. Focusing only on what I look forward to can have the same problem. Each day brings its own challenges and its own joys. While I do look forward to the summer, I pray that we find the joy God offers us each day.

Your Brother in Christ,
Mr. Jeff Warren