Dec
1986 Fr. Donal, Pastor, commissioned a committee to study the
Parish’s property holdings over a two-year period, and to develop a
tentative plan for development of the Parish...
Oct
1988 Fr. Donal created a Special Planning Committee and appointed
five parishioners to do an assessment of our real property assets and to
make some judgments about what should be done for the future development
of the Parish over the next 20 years.
May 1989 The Special Planning
Committee reported that the Parish would need much more meeting space,
larger school, bigger church, and more parking. There was no
consideration of moving to a new location, simply modifying what space was
already along Lava Street and Bond Street.
Sep 1989 Fr. Donal established a
Long Range Planning Task Force to closely examine the Study Reports from
1986 and 1989, and to further examine the needs of the Parish, study
options, and explore alternatives. This Task Force, led by John Henchman,
also made an examination of strengths and weaknesses of the Parish, and
identified opportunities and risks. The Task Force prepared and collected
several sets of questionnaires from Parishioners.
Aug 1990 Over the next three
months, the Task Force held a series of workshops with parishioners to
confirm information collected from the questionnaires. These workshops
consisted of presentations, group work, discussions, and consensus
building on the most appropriate long-term building program, along with
setting Parish priorities of more meeting space, bigger church, and more
parking.
Mar 1991 Fr. Donal, appointed a
Master Plan Development Committee to draft a “long range development
plan” based on: (1) the findings of the Long Range Planning Task Force;
(2) the Committee’s own findings; input from parishioners; input from the
Ministerial Staff and Pastoral Council; and the independent study of the
St. Francis School by the St. Francis School Board. John Henchman was
appointed Chair of the Master Plan Development Committee.
May 1991 For several months—through
August-- the draft plan underwent additional review and parishioner input.
Aug 1991 First draft of the Master
Development Plan was briefed to the Diocesan Priest’s Senate by Fr. Kelly,
newly appointed Pastor, and John Henchman. Bishop Connolly approved the
continuation of the development of the plan, to include the priorities
that had been identified by parishioners at the series of workshops,
usually attended by over 100 parishioners.
Sep 1991 The drafted plan was
presented at two workshops. Written and oral comments were received. As
a result, a number of changes were made on those items for which there
were a majority opinion.
Feb 1992 Fr. Kelly, Pastoral
Council, Finance Council, and the St. Francis School Board pending
approval by the Diocese tentatively approved Final draft.
Mar 1992 The “Parish Long
Range Development Plan--1992-2010” was
presented to Bishop Connolly and the
Priest’s Senate by Fr. Kelly and John Henchman. Bishop Connolly approved
after much discussion among the members of the Priest’s Senate.
Apr 1992 The “Parish Long
Range Development Plan—1992-2010” was promulgated after its final
approval by Bishop Connolly, Fr. Kelly, the Pastoral Council, the Finance
Council and the School Board. The priorities for building established by
this Plan were: (1) acquire property; (2) build a multi-purpose building;
(3) build a church; (4) build a school of 18 classrooms and specialty
rooms; (5) build a gymnasium and cafeteria to complete the school; (6) an
option to study the need for a youth activity center, day care wing, and
welcome center. Additionally, there was to be a future study for the need
for a Catholic junior and senior high school, with 250 junior and 250
senior high students.
May 1992 Fr. Kelly received
recommendation from the Master Plan Development Committee that a permanent
committee be established to pursue and supervise the implementation of the
Plan. Fr. Kelly appointed the Long Range Development Steering Committee
[later shortened to the Long Range Development Committee]. John Henchman
remained as Chair.
July 1992 17 acres on 27th Street was selected for a new Catholic Center from among many sites,
approved by the Bishop, and acquisition was completed. Cost was
$300,000. The “Land of Faith” program was begun to get parishioner
donations to pay for the property. This program was ongoing through June
1995.
Jun
1993 Search began for a Site Plan Architect. Requests for
Proposals were issued to 12 Northwest architects who met the criteria
established by the Long Range Development Committee, and the Bishop’s
Diocesan Building Committee.
Oct 1993 Some of the firms
receiving a Request for Proposal declined. Three finalists were selected,
and interviewed: Dave Richen, DiBenedetto et al, [both Portland-based] and
Becker Architects [Seattle].
Dec 1993 Becker Architects
was selected based on his firm’s experience in building structures for
Catholic parishes. Bishop Connolly signed the contract for site plan
development.
Dec 1993 The Worship
Commission, under direction of Sr. Patricia Rayburn, the Parish Liturgist,
began to study Vatican documents on art and environment for Catholic
churches. This study was on going for four years.
Jan 1994 A series of
workshops were held to get parishioner input on structures to be located
on the site, and the relationship of these buildings to one another. The
consensus emerging from these workshops was that the Catholic Center
architecture should reflect a “modern look” in keeping with its emergence
in the 21st Century.
Feb 1994 Becker provided a
proposed site plan to the Parish. Several parishioner workshops were held
to consider and make modification to the proposed site plan. Bishop
Connolly and usually 75 – 150 parishioners attended these sessions. At
the end of these sessions, Bishop Connolly approved the site plan for
submission to the City.
Mar 1994 Site Plan was
submitted to the City for consideration and approval. The plan called for
the church to have a maximum height of 70 feet.
Jul 1994 City approved the
site plan with the condition that (1) construction would be completed
within 5 years; and (2) that no building—church or otherwise—could exceed
the City’s ordinance limit of 30 feet in height.
Nov 1994 “Land of Faith” final
fund drive begins to pay off balance on property.
Jun 1995 Pentecost Sunday,
the property is paid off—except for last payment.
Jul 1995 First Mass is
celebrated on the property [the altar being positioned at about the place
the church would eventually be]. Father Kelly handed the final check to
Bishop Connolly, and the mortgage was burned.
Oct 1995 The Long Range
Development Committee began the process to select a fund-raising
consultant to guide the early stages of the Parish-wide campaign to raise
the funds for construction.
Public
hearings began to obtain City approval to raise the height of the church
to 70 feet instead of the 30 feet mandated by the City in its approval of
the site plan.
Nov 1995 Frank Lutzky, an
engineer, became Vice-Chair of the Long Range Development Committee
Nov 1995 In JOURNEY AND DREAM
# 8, there is discussion of the visit of Fr. David Clark, Director of
Worship for the Archdiocese of Portland. He presented a workshop on
Catholic Church environment and art for all the Ministerial Staff and all
those involved in the planning process, especially with respect to the new
church, which was part of the site plan development.
Dec 1995 A Request for
Proposal was sent out to fund-raising consultants, and several were
interviewed.
Feb 1996 Pinson Associates
was selected as the fund-raising consultant.
The public
hearings were completed to raise the height of the church. The City
finally approved a maximum of 55 feet.
Mar 1996 Under guidance of
Pinson Associates, a Campaign Cabinet was selected, and training began for
parishioners who would do the actual visits with parishioners seeking
contributions.
Mar 1996 Decision was made to
make St. Francis School a K-8 grade school. Four modular buildings were
ordered for placement on the downtown property during the summer. Three
modular's were paid for by the School Foundation [$74,820] and the other
one was paid for by the Parish [$27,880]. The graduating 5th grade would become the first 6th grade in the fall, 1996.
Approximately $40,000 additional for infrastructure came from School
unrestricted donations. Fr. Kelly approved this expenditure.
May 1996 Long Range
Development Committee, taking into consideration the priorities of the
Parish and the realities of the financial situation, developed
recommendations for the Pastor. The original “Plan” had meeting
space first, then church, then school. Based on estimated costs from the
architect it became apparent we would need to sell the school in order to
get enough funds for the meeting spaces for Parish programs, which had
been given the highest priority. Youth had also been identified in earlier
surveys as a very high priority. With these priorities and realities to
consider, the Committee recommended one project, which would combine an
Education Center—school during the day, meeting spaces for the
parishioners in the evening, as well as space for large gatherings--and
the administrative space. This project became known as North Wing, or
Phase I. Obviously the School could not be sold with the children still
in it—cost, then, drove the planning. Fr. Kelly, on the advice of the
architect, Pastoral Council, Finance Council, our investment financial
managers, and Long Range Development Committee, approved the North Wing,
as we know it today. Fr. Kelly made several presentations on this
fundamental change in the original Development Plan—and the reasons
therefore—at all Masses, and this reasoning was fully covered in the
JOURNEY AND THE DREAM, 8TH edition, May 20, 1996, which was
mailed to all Parish households. . Parishioners had full notice of this
change before the kick-off of the capital campaign.
Sep 1996 In JOURNEY AND DREAM
# 9, Fr. Kelly made a record of his decision on building the North Wing to
include an Education Center, Community Center, and Administrative Spaces.
He again laid out all the reasons. This document makes the promise to
always retain the historic downtown church in the Parish.
Sep 1996 The Parish-wide fund
raising campaign kicks off.
Nov 1996 A Project Development
Team was established within the Long Range Development Committee to manage
the details of construction. . Frank Lutzky was appointed Chair of both;
Joe LaCasse was appointed as Vice-Chair.
Feb 1997 Becker and Associates and
Bishop Connolly signed an architecture contract for construction.
[Note:
Throughout the period Feb 1994 – Feb 1997, there were many Parish meetings
and workshops to comment on the site plan and proposed structural plan.
The structural plans were further developed / changed as a result of
comments by Pastoral Staff, Parish leaders, users of the spaces such as
the Principal St. Francis School, Sr. Kathleen Cordes and her teachers,
parishioners and consultants.]
Jun 1997 After competitive bidding
for a contractor, Kirby Nagelhout, Inc. was selected as the
pre-construction consultant. He provided significant advice on
modifications to the structural drawings, which saved the Parish
considerable money.
Aug 1997 Fr. Martin Haggins, OFM,
Cap. was appointed Pastor. The project was well underway when he
arrived. The Long Range Planning Committee, the Project Team, and Kirby
Nagelhout made several presentations to him to bring him up to date on
both construction and financial matters.
Jun 1998 Kirby Nagelhout, Inc.
began land clearing and placement of infrastructure to support the North
Wing (Education Center, Community Room, Administrative Space), and the
Church to be built in Phase II. There were enormous problems in placement
of the infrastructure due to the civil engineer’s preparation and
drawings, changes, topography, lava rock, grades, etc. that delayed the
start of actual construction.
Jan 1999 Saint Francis School on
Bond Street was put up for lease. Bishop Connolly signed the lease
documents. The plan was for the lease payments to be used to meet the
interest on a note taken with Allied Irish Bank to help finance the
construction of the North Wing.
Feb 1999 The foundation was poured
at the Catholic Center for Phase I, the North Wing, and vertical
construction began.
Sep 1999 By September, no one had
offered to lease the St. Francis School; with Bishop Connolly’s approval
the buildings were put up for sale, the asking price is $1.7 million.
Oct
1999 City of Bend declined an offer to lease the St. Francis
School.
Dec 1999 Building was completed and
received its Certificate of Occupancy. The administrative offices on
Franklin Avenue were moved to the Catholic Center.
Jan 2000 The Catholic Center was
officially dedicated in a ceremony preside over by Bishop Connolly. Newly
arrived Bishop-Elect Robert F Vasa participated in the dedication.
[Subsequent to
occupancy, much additional work was done to the interior, exterior
landscaping was completed, and he Education Center made ready to accept
students after the December 1999 Christmas break.]
Between January
2000 to May 2001, there was little planning action took place with respect
to Phase II, the new church. Most were too busy getting settled in the
new structure.
Mar 2000 In a report to
parishioners, the completed cost figures for the Catholic Center North
Wing, and the placement of some of the infrastructure for Phase II, the
new church, showed building construction costs of $89 / sq. ft, and total
project cost of $109/ sq. ft. [Project cost included building
construction, site work, infrastructure, architect and City fees.] These
costs compared with other recent, similar, non-public projects, which
ranged from $126/ sq. ft. to $ 140/ sq. ft.
“The objectives
outlined by the Long Range Development Steering Committee for the design
of the Catholic Center were: [1] space for a variety of functions for all
parishioner’s spiritual, educational and social needs; [2] structure was
to be substantial and aesthetic; and [3] cost was to be low, consistent
with item 2, and balance with ongoing operational and maintenance costs.”
There was favorable response to the building from visiting professional
and many parishioners.
Jul 2000 The Administrative
Building on Franklin was leased to Obsidian Schools. Bishop Vasa signed
the agreements.
Sep 2000 McMenamin’s offered to
purchase the St. Francis School. Occupancy was to be delayed, and
McMenamin’s paid a monthly fee to the Parish until the closing. A fire at
one of their other facilities in Portland delayed their closing and
remodeling.
May 2001 Fr. Martin, Pastor,
officially terminated the Long Range Development Committee since its
original charter had been mostly met.
June 2001 Fr. Martin issued a vision
for Parish development for the years 2001 – 2015, and created a new
organization to oversee this work: the Parish Development Council, which
as Pastor he leads. It is composed of Parish staff, Chairs of five newly
created committees—New Church Building Committee; Needs Assessment
Committee; Resources Committee; Stewardship Committee; and Communications
Committee. There are also five members-at-large. This new Council held its
first meeting June 4.
Nov 2001 The Parish Development
Council met to approve the Needs Assessment Committee’s recommendations on
determining parishioner needs—a first step in the next phase of
development—essentially faith development, the church and chapel, and
stewardship.
Apr 2002 Needs Assessment
Committee holds major workshop to enlist parishioner input on proposed
questionnaires to be put to the Parish after Pentecost.
July 2002 Obsidian Schools vacated
the lease on the Administration Building on Franklin Avenue, and the
building was placed on the market for sale.
Sep 2002 A comprehensive needs
assessment is accomplished through the use of a detailed questionnaire
mailed to each Parish family.
Dec 2002 JOURNEY AND THE DREAM
published—The Results of our “Conversation” on the Needs and Priorities of
St. Francis Parish.
Jan 2003 McMenamin’s closed on the
purchase of the Old St. Francis School on Bond Street.
New Church Building Committee asked
parishioners for input based on visits to churches—what they like and do
not like. This appeal was given again in June and in September. The
request also appeared in JOURNEY AND THE DREAM.
May 2003 Brooks Resources, Inc.
closed on the purchase of the Administration Building. Net proceeds
deposited into the St. Francis Building Fund.
Sep 2003 Information published to
the parishioners on environment and art, as well as parts of the church as
reflected in Vatican documents. Several workshops were held on each of
the parts. Additional parishioner input was received.
Feb 2004 Request for Proposal for
an architect to design the new church was sent to eleven firms. [Four of
these firms are Bend-based, and of the four, three are
parishioner-owned.]. Of the eleven, several firms chose not to compete.
Three firms were represented in the final selection process;
Steele Associates
[parishioner-owned]; DiBenedetto et al, and Becker Architects.
Apr 2004 Becker Architects,
Seattle, selected. A JOURNEY AND THE DREAM was published announcing the
selection.
May 2004 Mr. Becker began
preliminary work on schematics. The New Church Building Committee held
several planning sessions with the architect between May and October
passing on parishioner input received over the past two years.
Oct 2004 New Church Building
Committee received preliminary schematics and announced town hall dates;
these were subsequently delayed at the request of the Pastor and Parish
Development Council. The New Church Building Committee continued to work
with the architect.
Jan 2005 A JOURNEY AND THE DREAM
was mailed to all households showing two proposed floor plans, along with
detailed descriptions, and dates for three town halls to receive
parishioner input.
Jan 2005 From January through
February, three town halls are scheduled to review the architect’s
preliminary schematics, and to receive additional input.
This history has been compiled
from documents in the Parish or Diocesan Archives.
This document will be updated
periodically. |
