Christ the King Church at 52473 Indiana State Route 933, South Bend, IN 46637 US - Continuing Excellence in Catholic Education

Christ The King Building Fund Campaign. . . . CONTINUING EXCELLENCE IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION” QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. WHAT IS THE HISTORY? In 1954 ground was broken to begin construction of Christ The King Elementary School. Year-by-year the parish added classrooms so that by 1958 the school was ready for all eight grades. However, the number of students steadily increased. By the early 1980's, the Parish decided to add more classrooms for a new “primary wing” to the original building. In 1999, the last year of this century and millennium, Christ The King Parish offers Catholic elementary education to more than 500 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. 2. WHAT ARE THE NEEDS? The School Mission Statement says, in part: “As a Catholic school community we believe that each child is unique and endowed by God with special gifts and abilities. Our purpose is to develop these gifts within the whole person - - - - the spiritual, the intellectual, the social, the emotional, the cultural, and the physical.” Catholic schools must continue to do their best to form our children to be Catholic leaders in a complex society. This means not only in the “core subjects,” but also in those areas which contribute to the full development of the individual, especially science, technology, and the fine arts. Standing on the threshold of the Third Millennium ---- the Great Jubilee ---- it is apparent that our school facility does not have adequate space for music, science, art, computer, library, full-day kindergarten (if the State of Indiana makes it mandatory), administrative offices and teacher facilities. Church and school also need to be “user friendly”, especially for those children and adults who find stairs an insurmountable difficulty. Access to the church basement and to the second floor of the school is not possible for a number of parishioners. Joining the present school building to the church will allow for an elevator to serve both church and school. All parishioners and guests can make use of all church and school facilities. Additional parking is needed to increase our total capacity to almost 300 cars. The snowstorm of January, 1999, severely damaged the roof of the church, requiring a new roof. 3. HOW WERE THESE NEEDS ASSESSED? · October 1997, the Parish Buildings & Grounds Committee designed a questionnaire for the various Parish Commissions, Pastoral Council, and school faculty to assess the needs of the parish plant. These surveys were collated, analyzed and studied. · October 1998, the Parish hired an architect to do a professional needs assessment · Fall 1998, architect again surveys school faculty and staff. · January 1999, a proposed site plan was developed by the architect, showing the new classroom addition and a new auditorium/cafeteria for school and parish. · March & May 1999, the site plan was presented to the Parish in open forums for discussion. · April 1999, the decision was made to build the new classroom addition first at a cost of $2.1 million, which includes our Bishop’s Appeal contribution (Phase I). The new auditorium/cafeteria (Phase II) would be built after the new classroom addition is paid for. · May 1999, permission received from the Diocesan Finance Council and Bishop D’Arcy to begin a Building Fund Campaign. 4. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? Build a new school addition joining the church to the present school building. The addition will contain a science lab, art room, music room, library and media center, computer lab, administrative offices, and an elevator to serve both church and school. Part of the present school building will be renovated to make room for an additional kindergarten classroom, teacher lounge, rest rooms, and teacher class preparation area. Locker rooms will be attached to the gym. Additional parking will added north of the church, as well as a new roof for the church. 5. WILL THE NEW CLASSROOM ADDITION INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL? Our student enrollment will not increase. Rather, we will be able to provide a better educational environment for the students and teachers we already have. 6. HOW MUCH DO WE NEED TO RAISE? It is estimated that the new school addition and church improvements (Phase I) will cost $2 million. In addition, we have to meet our parish goal of $97,000 for the 1999-2000 Annual Bishop’s Appeal. The total needed is $2.1 million. 7. HOW WILL WE PAY FOR THE NEW ADDITION? We will pay for construction with pledges from our parish families, parish organizations, and corporations. A committee has been formed that will organize the Building Fund Campaign. 8. WHEN WILL CONSTRUCTION BEGIN? In July, 1999, architects were interviewed by the Building & Grounds Committee. George Weber A.I.A., of Korbuly * Graf * Weber, Inc., a parishioner of Christ The King, was selected as the architect for the project. According to Diocesan policy, when half of the money needed for construction is collected ($1.5 million), construction can begin. It is estimated that construction can begin in the summer of 2001. The new addition should be ready for occupancy in the fall of 2002, three years from now. If the money comes in sooner than expected, construction can begin earlier. 9. WHAT ABOUT MY WEEKLY CHURCH SUPPORT? The success of the Building Fund Campaign hinges on your being faithful to your weekly commitment to support our parish ministries and services. We deeply appreciate and need your continued generosity and weekly support. The Building Fund must generate funds over and above weekly giving amounts. 10. HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE? It is our hope that each family will carefully consider a pledge of $2800 payable over a three-year period. Payment of this pledge would be less than $70 a month for 36 months if an initial 10% payment was made when you pledged. If you cannot pledge this amount, please help with as much as you can. All gifts, large or small, are important and will be greatly appreciated. A breakdown of various contributions appears the pledge cards. 11. CAN I HAVE MY PLEDGE PAYMENT AUTOMATICALLY DEDUCTED FROM MY BANK ACCOUNT? Yes, if you so desire. One of the options for pledge payments will be the use of a bank draft. Please let your Campaign home visitor know this when he/she calls. 12. WHAT IF I BECOME UNEMPLOYED? If you are now unemployed, or face unemployment in the near future, we ask only for your prayers. If your circumstances change, you can continue your pledge then. We will also pray for you. 13. WHAT IF I AM UNABLE TO BE FAITHFUL TO MY PLEDGE? Pledges are made in good faith but are not legally binding. Please pledge according to your circumstances as they are today. If some hardship or illness comes to your family, either delay, lower, or cancel your pledge at that time. 14. WHAT IF I MOVE OUT OF THE PARISH? We ask that you make a pledge now and make regular payments until the time you move. If you are able to honor your pledge, the money will be most gratefully accepted. If you are unable to continue payment, we will understand and hope that you will support your new parish. 15. WILL NEW FAMILIES MOVING INTO THE PARISH BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE? Yes, all new families who join Christ The King will be asked to make a pledge. 16. ARE CONTRIBUTIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE? All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. 17. WHEN WILL PLEDGE PAYMENTS FOR THIS APPEAL BEGIN? The Building Fund Campaign for the new school addition and church improvements begins this fall. Instead of having two fund Campaigns, one for our school addition and church improvements and a second Campaign for the Annual Bishop’s Appeal, we will pay this year’s parish goal for the 1999-2000 Annual Bishop’s Appeal ($97,000) directly from our Building Fund Campaign pledges. Next year we return to the system of raising our Annual Bishop’s Appeal through annual pledges. You will be contacted on an individual basis to contribute to the Building Fund Campaign. Those making pledges may indicate how they wish to make payments: monthly, quarterly, annually, bank draft, etc. They can also be paid as soon as possible to provide the 50% needed to begin the project. Monthly, quarterly, or annual reminders will be sent out in December of this year. Also, special Building Fund envelopes will be included in your monthly packet of offertory envelopes to make it easier. “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11) All we have we hold as gift from God. Our Building Fund Campaign for the new classroom addition and church improvements is an opportunity to share from the many blessings we have received for the good of the Church. Our Holy Father has said: “The future of the Church and of the world belongs to the younger generation, to those who, born in this century, will reach maturity in the next.” The “future” the Holy Father envisions for our children and grandchildren is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. Living in the present, we are grateful for the sacrifices of the past. Even more important however, is in what direction we are moving. Trusting in God, choosing to do our best allows us to face the future with hope. We plan today for tomorrow’s needs. We prepare now for continuing excellence in Catholic education.

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