FEASIBILITY STUDY RESULTS
Last winter, the Capital Campaign Committee of the Parish Council selected a national fundraising counsel firm, Ruotolo Associates, Inc., to conduct a feasibility study and assist us in the capital campaign for the Blessed John XXIII Religious Education Center.
During the spring of this year, the feasibility study was conducted to understand your support for this project. Thank you to all who participated in this process and the following is a recap of what you advised the consultant.
A total of 827 parishioners participated, through interviews, focus groups, and the in-pew/electronic survey. Participants were asked a variety of questions pertaining to St. John Neumann parish, the project and how they might see themselves involved in the campaign. The strengths of the community included its size, the parish activity, and the leadership of Monsignor Youtz. Overall, those surveyed felt that you were communicated with in an efficient and informative manner. However, the areas cited as needing improvement are lack of space for worship and parish meetings/gatherings, the overall condition of present facilities, and the music program.
Most of you felt that the new Religious Education Center would provide for the temporal needs of the parish by providing the needed space for Religious Education classes/programs and other parish gatherings, as well as relieving the demands on the present parish hall. Concerns about the project included questions about what would happen to St. Anne Parish, how our community would support a school, as well as wanting more details regarding the project such as, the timeline and how it will affect all of the ministries here.
With average indications of support during the study of $14,000 to $26,000 over 3 to 5 years, Ruotolo Associates feels that we should proceed with the Capital Campaign for the Religious Education Project and, over the summer, the Parish Council agreed with this recommendation. During the next several months, a series of town hall meetings will be conducted to share with you the questions/concerns that were brought forth during the study, as well as allow you to ask additional questions.
We look forward to meeting with all of you throughout this fall and encourage you to attend one of the town hall forums. Should you have any questions before then, please do not hesitate to call Msgr. Youtz or Angela Richards.
at 717-569-8531.