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May 15, 2022
“Open Floor Plan”… it’s a popular design for contemporary homes. With an open floor plan, the kitchen, dining and family rooms form one large open space. It allows parents working in the kitchen to keep an eye on the toddlers in the family room. It allows the hosts in the kitchen to still be engaged with the party guests in the dining and family rooms.
The same idea of an open floor plan sometimes characterized the design of a new parish’s first parish center as was the case at St. Bernard. The worship space has been really only minimally separated from the social space of the foyer. This design for a parish center is ideal for an event that includes liturgy with a reception that follows. But if there is a second liturgy occurring while the reception is still happening—as has been the case on Hospitality weekends, Fr. Jeff’s First Mass, etc.—the lack of separation of the spaces causes a very distracting level of noise in the worship space.
Also, as our Children’s Liturgy of the Word program held during the 10:30 Mass in the foyer grows in popularity, the program leaders find themselves competing with the sound of the Mass’ spoken words and music coming from the worship space.
Even beyond the weekend services, we have found the open floor plan of the parish center has become an obstacle in the growth of parish activities. Why? Because it really only allows one event or meeting to occur at the same time. For example, when the choir rehearses in the worship space on Thursday evenings, no other meeting or activity can occur in the foyer since the music—as lovely as it may be—carries into the foyer. And the religious education program for youth takes over the entire facility on Wednesdays.
When the senior citizens have their monthly luncheon and bingo in the foyer, we cannot host a funeral that day, which has been an understanded disappointment to some bereaved families. From another perspective, on those days when the parish center has the morning Mass and then a funeral, our maintenance workers can’t do much maintenance all morning…again because of the way the noise carries throughout the area.
The open floor plan might be very helpful for some families, but not as much for the growing number of events, programs and activities that St. Bernard has developed over the years. So, with the advice and support of so many, the proposed plan for modifying the current parish facilities includes a plan to separate the worship space and the foyer with a wall that will allow easy access between the spaces. And, with a sufficient size window, the divider will also provide a place of temporary respite for a parent with a restless child.
Join us for the parish town hall meeting next Sunday, May 22 at 3pm or the following Wednesday, May 25 at 7pm for a more complete discussion of this and other plans for other modifications and the new addition.
Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
Pastor
May 1, 2022
We are going to build together.
As you know, we recently concluded a successful planning study at St. Bernard. With that in the past, we now eagerly turn our attention to the campaign phase and a major fundraising effort that will fund our building expansion project.
A key element in successful campaigns is the volunteer assistance provided by parishioners. We would be extremely grateful to those members of our faith family willing to serve on our campaign team. There are a variety of roles that need to be filled. Hopefully, with the winding down of our religious ed program and local school activities, there will be more adults with some availability and able to assist in the effort.
If you are willing to serve your parish as a campaign volunteer, please reach out to Jim Rogers who is guiding our efforts. You can reach him at jrogers@steiergroup.com or by phone at 402-706-8019.
We will provide more campaign information over the coming weeks and months. In the very near future, we will be hosting some town hall meetings for the parish where we will present and discuss the planned addition in more detail. They will be Sunday, May 22 at 3:00pm and Wednesday, May 25 at 7:00pm. All are invited! We’d be blessed to have your support and help as we move forward.
Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
Pastor
April 17, 2022
Several months ago, the parish leadership began planning for an addition to our church facilities to accommodate our parish offices and additional multi-purpose space for activities and events for all ages. In recent weeks, we called upon the Steier Group to conduct a planning study that presented the proposal to parishioners and sought their ideas for such a project. We received a wonderful response - valuable feedback as we look to the future of our parish. The flyer below has more details of the plan and the study.
After gathering and analyzing data from the study, representatives from the Steier Group reported their findings to our parish leadership on April 5. That included the Pastoral Staff, the Finance Council and the Facilities Task Force. The feedback from parishioners did not surprise us. We are in desperate need of more multi-purpose space and a unified church campus with our offices on site. The added multi-purpose space will be used for activities for parishioners, especially our youth. The planning study found that our parish is prepared to do something about this. In fact, the study found there is significant support for a major fundraising effort:
· 77% of respondents personally favor a capital campaign
· 83% of respondents indicated they would make a gift to the campaign
· 17 respondents indicated they will serve as a member of the campaign team
· Another 45 indicated they wish to serve in additional volunteer roles
Based on the information provided by the study, the Steier Group recommended that our parish move forward with a capital campaign. Our parish leadership fully agreed and voted to proceed with the effort. There are posters of the proposed addition in the foyer area. You will hear much more about this important project in the coming weeks and months.
We thank those who participated in this critical planning study for St. Bernard Parish. Their input has been extremely beneficial and will help to ensure the success of our upcoming campaign. With the Lord guiding us and our parish, we trust our efforts will be abundantly blessed.
Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
Pastor
April 3, 2022
In my written and spoken remarks, I often refer to “parish leadership.” In the past, that phrase would have referred to the pastor and perhaps other ordained clergy on the parish staff. But today, when I use that phrase, I refer to those who comprise the Pastoral Staff as well as other parish committees. And I acknowledge that many, if not most, of these lay leaders are women.
While I accept the responsibilities that go with my role as pastor, I rely a great deal on the wisdom and experience of others in leadership roles in the parish. This is an aspect of “synodality” being promoted by Pope Francis today. This consultative and collaborative dynamic reflects the shift that has been taking place in Church leadership in recent decades. We have seen this same shift to more lay leadership at the diocesan level as well.
In recent weeks, Pope Francis has signaled that this shift is also coming to the Vatican and its bureaucracy that oversees and governs the universal Church, known as the Roman Curia. In recent weeks, the Pope issued a 54-page document that reforms the Roman Curia – a reform that was recognized as a major need by the Cardinals before the election of Pope Francis in 2013. While this reform reorganizers the various offices and commissions of the Curia, it eliminates some and creates others needed for the Church of today and tomorrow.
These Curia offices and commissions have been traditionally led by (arch)bishops, if not Cardinals. But, the reform now allows LAY Catholics, including WOMEN, to leadership positions in these groupings with the ”power of governance.” This shift to recognizing the larger “pool of leadership” for the Church is significant. The reform’s document notes that such “power of governance” comes not from Holy Orders but from the mission of the specific role and the commission of the Pope.
Jesus insisted that among his disciples leadership was to be all about service. But history attests that “the power of governance” has also been a significant piece of the Holy Orders of service. With recent and continuing shifts in leadership recognition, the Church will benefit from a pool of strong, loving, and wise candidates that is so much larger than the shrinking pool of well-qualified men who pledge lifelong celibacy. We benefit from them all!Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
March 20, 2022
For our Lenten journey this year, our parish Worship Committee has adopted the theme: COME BACK TO ME.
Of course, these are the words of Jesus to us as individuals and as a community of faith. Our Minister of Music, Julie Kane, and our Worship Committee chairperson, Corinne Cirillo, collaborated in writing a beautiful hymn customized with this theme. The hymn is being used as a Post-Communion hymn at our Masses throughout Lent. In addition, the Worship Committee developed a litany with this same theme that we are using at the beginning of our Lenten Masses.
The words of Jesus, COME BACK TO ME, form a perennial invitation for Lent. For the spirit of the season always invites and challenges us to renew our relationship with Christ through the traditional acts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (aka charitable giving). We are encouraged to reflect on and examine our lives to identify those ways we have lessened our discipleship. We can do this either by falling into sinful acts or habits or by neglecting to do what we know is good and right. We name those as sins of commission or omission. Conversion is not a once-and-for-all act but a life-long aspect of our discipleship. By acknowledging our human weakness and sin, we welcome the grace of being drawn closer to Christ.
But the Lenten theme, COME BACK TO ME, has a particular relevance to our situation today as we struggle to emerge from and manage the pandemic. COME BACK TO ME can be understood to mean COME BACK TO CHURCH.
Certainly, we Catholics are to develop a personal relationship with Christ. But our tradition also stresses that none of us can believe alone… at least not with any depth and authenticity. We need the community of faith to support us, challenge us and guide us in cultivating our relationship with Christ. We need the teachings and traditions of the Church and its leaders. But we also need the people of the community. We need the sharing of life’s experiences, the sharing of personal and family news, the smiles, the hugs and even the fraternal corrections. So, we cannot live on television Mass alone in our den. It’s good for us to be HERE… back in church with our friends, neighbors and fellow parishioners.
Now that we have entered a new phase of very low Covid presence that aligns with Lent, this is the perfect time for all our parish members who have been staying away to return to active participation at Mass in the church. Masks are still welcome, though optional. And for those who need it, there is a section of seats near the tabernacle that fosters social distancing and mask wearing. This Lent, Jesus says COME BACK TO ME.Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
March 13, 2022
Don’t Miss the Parish-Wide Planning Study
The parish-wide planning study is now underway at St. Bernard. All parish members should have received by now a letter inviting them to participate in a personal interview or a written survey about the project being proposed by the parish leadership. The purpose of this parish-wide consultation is to gauge support for the proposed project whose major aspects are:
· Adding offices and a multi-purpose space for meetings and social gatherings at our church campus facilities.
· Moving the parish offices from the Parker Road house to our church campus and selling the house.
Sincere thanks to all our participants. Your thoughts are extremely valuable to us during this planning process. I encourage everyone who has not participated to please do so. Your input will help us make informed decisions regarding how we proceed to address these projects.
We hope to receive completed surveys by March 29. The survey was included in the recent mailing from me. The same survey is also available on the table near the posters of the proposed project in the church foyer. You may return your completed survey by mail, in the regular collection at Mass, in the survey dropbox near the posters in the foyer, or in the dropbox near the garage of the parish office.Thanks so much!
Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
March 6, 2022
We need your input!
As you should know by now, you will soon receive an invitation to participate in a planning study for St. Bernard. The review begins March 7. The purpose of this parish-wide study is to get your thoughts before making any final decisions regarding our long-range plans.
We will ask everyone to share their opinions regarding our needs as identified by our leaders—the Pastoral Staff, the Finance Council and the Facilities Task Force—and the possibility of conducting a major fundraising effort.
We conducted a similar study a few years ago but postponed plans because of the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic. Now in 2022, we believe it is again important to get your most recent thoughts. Your feedback will enable us to determine potential campaign support. If we choose to move forward, the planning study will also provide us with information to identify prospective campaign leaders and to establish a realistic campaign goal.
The Steier Group, our development firm, will compile this information and present it to leadership. At that time, we will make an informed decision regarding how we will proceed.
This study is the next step in the process and is extremely important. I encourage each parish family to participate. Your input is valuable as we plan for the future of St. Bernard Catholic Church.Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
February 28, 2022
Dear Parishioners,
We need your help.
As you may have heard, after a two-year delay, we have again turned our attention to expanding and improving our facilities at St. Bernard. With the blessing of the Pastoral Staff, the Finance Council and the Facilities Task Force we have re-engaged with our architect.
However, because conditions have changed since we first introduced our plans, we believe it is important to hear from you again before proceeding. So, we hired a development firm to collect your thoughts on our proposed plans.
A planning study of our faith community begins March 7. It will gauge support for a potential major fundraising effort as well as help identify potential campaign leaders should we move ahead with our project.
This is our parish and our community and as such, we will invite everyone to participate in the study. In the coming weeks, please look to receive a letter requesting participation, along with a fact sheet detailing the projects and directions on how you can provide feedback.
A successful planning study depends upon your involvement. I ask you to please take time to share your thoughts. It will take mere minutes. More feedback allows us to make more informed and better decisions regarding our projects and a potential fundraising effort.God Bless,
Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
February 20, 2022
As we communicated last weekend, St. Bernard will conduct a planning study beginning March 7. Many will recall their participation in a similar study for our previous pre-pandemic plan. There was good support for our plans then. So, hopefully, this new review will confirm continuing support.
Through your participation, this study will provide leadership with valuable feedback regarding newly developed plans for our proposed expansion and renovation projects and the possibility of a major fundraising effort. The Steier Group, a Catholic fundraising firm, will conduct the study.
Here are details:
Q. What is a planning study?
A. It is a review of an organization ahead of a possible capital campaign. A planning study gauges campaign readiness, potential campaign support and helps identify possible campaign volunteer leadership.
Q. How will the study determine support?
A. The study involves surveying the entire St. Bernard community. The Steier Group will administer the survey asking questions designed to help determine interest and support. The firm will compile data and feedback and present it to our leadership. We will then make an informed decision about the projects and a potential campaign. Hiring an experienced, professional development firm like the Steier Group ensures an effective and successful planning study.
Q. Why should we conduct a planning study?
A. Many churches use planning studies when considering a fundraising campaign. It is a wise first step. That’s because the study provides valuable information on how a faith community views the proposed projects and a potential capital campaign.
Q. What is a capital campaign?
A. A capital campaign is a fundraising effort for big projects and needs, such as major renovations, new buildings and eliminating debt. Capital campaigns fund specific projects and needs. They are not for regular, ongoing costs, such as salaries and utility bills.
Q. What is expected of parishioners during the planning study?
A. Initially, we will only ask for your feedback and prayers. Your input and participation will help us make wise decisions about our projects and a potential campaign. You will learn more about how you can participate in the coming weeks.
If you have questions, you are welcome to contact me at any time.Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
February 13, 2022As you probably know, St. Bernard’s previous plans to purchase and modify the neighboring Goodings Grove School into a parish pastoral center were scuttled thanks to pandemic-related concerns. We understood and accepted this decision, but our problems didn’t go away. Each passing day serves to remind us that we need more space to improve our ability to assist in our spiritual growth, to continue to grow our ministries and to ensure our parish can readily serve its people.
Since stepping away from our original plans, leadership never lost sight of its goal, choosing instead to push disappointment aside and wait to re-engage. We believe now is the right time to get back to square one. So, with the support of the Pastoral Staff, the Finance Council and the Facilities Task Force, we are again focused on expanding and improving our facilities and have re-connected with our architect to resume planning.
However, since our previous study and planning to expand our facilities, some conditions have changed. We are in a different position today. And, so, we need to hear from you again. To learn more, beginning March 7, we will conduct a planning study. This comprehensive review involves surveying the entire parish community. It will provide us with insight as to what you think about our plans, while gauging support for a potential major fundraising effort—a capital campaign.
We have hired the Steier Group, a Catholic development firm, to conduct the study. We will share more details about the review, the projects and a potential capital campaign in the coming weeks.Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
February 6, 2022We are now engaged again in the Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal (CMAA), which funds some very good and important works and ministries within our large seven-county diocese of Joliet. Some of these efforts were described in the brochure with last weekend’s bulletin and in Bishop Hicks’ video viewed at Mass. But, of course, these programs and the diocese as a whole require significant administration by the bishop and his diocesan staff. And this administration at the Blanchette Catholic Pastoral Center (aka “the chancery”) in Crest Hill is also funded by the CMAA.
And, so, it is understandable for donors and prospective donors to the CMAA to ask about the diocesan administration at a time when, unfortunately, there has been a significant amount of diminishment within the Catholic community at large. We are close enough to the parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago to know the massive reorganization and consolidation that has been going on among its parishes.
Perhaps not as visible and public but just as real has been a significant reduction in the administrative and support services of the archdiocese. As painful as this process has been for so many priests and laypersons, it has been necessary as the Catholic population has changed in various ways. So many of the oldest (arch)dioceses of the Northeast and Midwest have had to undergo such change in recent years as much of the Catholic population has moved south and west.
Our own Bishop Hicks, coming from the archdiocese and its “Renew My Church” effort, has demonstrated his willingness to evaluate his diocesan administration here in Joliet in the light of so many changes. Since last Fall, the diocese has used the Reid Group, a management consultant firm for notfor-profit and faith-based organizations, to assess the effectiveness of the mission and administration of the diocese.
The results of this study were just made public in a 43- page document that offered an extensive assessment and recommendations. The majority of the recommendations apply to the 90 employees at the diocesan pastoral center, how their work circumstances can be improved and how they can better reach out and serve the parishes of the diocese. There is also an acknowledgement of the need to review the current quantity and quality of diocesan staff.
But the recommendations also include a few that extend out into the diocese. For example, there is a call to identify criteria for assessing the viability of Catholic parishes and schools to help create a more sustainable future over the next 10-20 years in the diocese. While St. Bernard’s displays healthy communal and financial viability, there could be changes in other areas of the diocese.
Responsible stewardship can call for difficult organizational decisions. But such difficulty can still find some solace in the Church’s mission of outreach and care for those experiencing loss of any kind. After all, we do believe in Resurrection! May the Holy Spirit guide our diocese through all that is to come!Fr. Joe McCormick, OSA
January 23, 2022
It’s now been over two years that the Covid pandemic has wreaked havoc on us and our world. The most tragic victims, of course, have been those who died from the virus, those who have experienced long-term effects from it and their families. Our army of health care workers have been true heroes and so often victims as well.
But even for those of us who have been pretty distant from Covid’s serious illness and death, this has been a very discouraging period. We’ve shut down and reopened and shut down again. We’ve modified so many of our activities, even canceling so many of them. Besides the dramatic closure of businesses, schools and churches, many important projects have been put on hold.
It was in the course of the pandemic that I was informed that the plan for St. Bernard’s to purchase the neighboring Goodings Grove School as a parish pastoral center was no longer considered feasible by the school district officials. After so much discussion, negotiating, planning and collaborating with parish members, with school officials and even with our neighboring parish, the entire effort imploded and died due largely to concerns and uncertainties raised by the pandemic.
I must admit, I was seriously disheartened by the collapse of the effort and, for several months, had little energy to even try to pick up the pieces. But now--even with the latest Omicron variant—there is reason to hope that the coronavirus is becoming more tamed… thanks to vaccinations, more testing, and better treatment methods. So, it’s fair to expect life to return to a more normal pace of activity in the months to come.
It’s also a new year and with that annual celebration, we normally become more hopeful… whether with or without new year’s resolutions. And my hope has been renewed to redouble our efforts to improve our parish facilities in order to improve the effectiveness of our parish mission of service, community, evangelization and worship.
So, with the support of parish leadership, we have re-engaged our architect to resume our planning for our own improvement of and addition to our parish facilities. We may not be purchasing Goodings Grove School. We may not be building as big an addition as previously considered. But we are hopeful that our parish community working together can consolidate and expand our facilities in a way that will serve the parish well. Watch our parish website, Facebook page and bulletin for further developments and proposals in the weeks and months ahead.Father Joe McCormick, OSA