Dear Parishioners and Friends of Lourdes,
140 years after the French Canadian settlers established their parish home, Our Lady of Lourdes is now a notable Minneapolis landmark and a warm and welcoming parish community in the heart of the city. Our historic parish and its history is a celebration of what God has done in our community!
There is much to celebrate in 2017, our Lourdes Jubilee Year. We are one of the fastest growing parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and that growth presents emerging opportunities and increasing needs: a larger parish family, a focal point for young adults and anexpanded role in the neighborhood.
In the past five years, our community, programming, finances, outreach, staffing and administrative capacity have grown and strengthened.
Here is more information about these initiatives:
Following the completion of the Montage Apartment building, new landscaping will be put into place including a beautiful new courtyard. This provides an opportunity to tie that design into the landscape of the rest of the parish grounds for a consistent look and flow.
A restoration of the church interior and sacristy, to unify design elements and increase the noble beauty of our historic space.
The parish house serves as offices for the parish. The building was constructed in 1904 and is in need of maintenance and updates.
The fund will also provide support for our existing endowment fund and a parish life endowment for parish goals and initiatives: sacred music; faith formation; and charitable outreach. When I began my ministry as pastor, it was helpful to have a financial reserve fund for unseen parish expenses. As you will remember there were some liabilities and operating deficit issues that needed to be addressed immediately. Having a reserve fund was instrumental in dealing with those issues. Now that we have a balanced budget and eliminated our old liabilities, it would be prudent to build up the reserve fund.
Celebrating our Tradition - Shaping Our Legacy. As stewards of this historic place of worship, it is now Our Opportunity. An opportunity to support ongoing conservation and restoration that leads to renewal. A place of beauty where everyone can experience God!
With Gratitude to God and to You,
Reverend Daniel Griffith
Courtyard, Landscaping and Storage
Courtyard and Landscaping $215,000
Exterior Lighting of the Church $50,000
New Steeple Cross and Lighting $15,000
Stone Statue of the Blessed $15,000
Repair North Retaining Wall $12,500
New Trash enclosure $10,000
Church Interior
Sacred Art $72,500
New Altar of Repose $41,500
Sacristy Remodel $27,500
Church Flooring $27,500
Repainting $22,000
Stenciling $12,500
Baptismal Font $12,500
New Tables and Chairs for the Great Hall $7000
Kitchen Supplies $5000
Oak Pedestals for Statues $5000
Reset Historic Crucifix $5000
Parish House and Rectory
Energy-efficient Windows $37,500
New Third Floor Bathroom $32,500
Window Coverings $4000
Refinish Floors $3000
Parish Rectory Improvem $7,500
Increase Parish Reserves $100,000
Parish Life Endowment $100,000
(Faith Formation, Music, Charitable Outreach)
Miscellaneous $10,000
Total $850,000