The time has come for action
St Mary’s Parish
Mt Albert
Over the past few years, various options have been looked at regarding the parish house / presbytery. Now is the time to do something positive.
The building is solid, and can continue to be a home for our priests, the parish office, and a meeting area for our parishioners. With this in mind, there is an urgent need to carry out all the maintenance that has been deferred over the past years.
The roof is sound – this was replaced about 5 years ago. Some of the exterior cladding must to be repaired or replaced – such as rotten weatherboards and steps. The entire exterior of the building needs to be painted. We also need to have the building insulated – roof and floor - and properly heated. These jobs are our first priority. Further delays are not an option. Any remodelling of the interior will be carried out after the initial maintenance has been completed, and will not be impacted by the current maintenance tasks.
As winter approaches, heating is of immediate concern. Quotes have been obtained. Heat pumps have been installed, and floor and ceiling insulation will be put in shortly. This work is only possible because of funds set aside in the past for maintenance work. But this is all we can complete.
This asset belongs to the parish, and we are required to pay for the work that needs to be done.
Repairing the exterior cladding and a complete exterior paint job is not possible until we, as parishioners, have money to do the work. Quotes put this at about $30,000. This work is urgent!
To complete the whole maintenance program – interior and exterior – requires us to raise about $150,000. This will give our priests, not only a warm, comfortable home, but a parish centre more suited for meetings and functions, and a warm parish office, bringing our building up to the appropriate standard.
We need your financial help to do this now. Please consider this an investment in your parish. There are several different ways you can support this. Note that all donations (including those from businesses) are tax deductible, if you include your name, and address on all donations. Payment options are:
· Direct debit to special bank account - BNZ account
02-0100-0120974-001 – ensure you put your name and “Renovations” in the reference field.
· Donation by envelope – put your donation into this, write you details on it if you want a receipt, and place in any collection bag at any Sunday Mass. Extra envelopes are available at both entrances to Church or from the office.
· Give donation directly to parish office.
Note: This payment is over and above any other planned giving that you already give to the Church.
We are blessed to have priests living here with us in our parish. Let’s ensure we bring the building up to a standard we ourselves would be comfortable to live and work in.
From the PLT, Finance Committee and House Maintenance Group
May 2010