June 29, 2003
Dear Parishioners,
During the past few months, you have had the opportunity to express your
wishes for future development with "wish lists" that have been circulated.
I am writing today to convey what the results are. I would like to thank all
who have taken the time and energy to express their opinions on the various
possible projects. As I surmised, the numbers reveal that the opinions are very
divided in our community; there is, however, a majority in favour of the foyer
project.
Parish Council feels that we must be guided by the numbers. Accordingly, here
are the facts:
226 submissions were received. Points were given on the following basis:
4 points for your first choice; 3 points for your 2nd choice; 2 points for your
3rd choice, 1 point for your 4th choice o pints if no preference was shown.
The results were: new foyer - 680 points; new school 647 points; improvement
to parish offices 449 points; expansion, resurfacing and reconfiguration of
parking lots 412 points.
A relatively small number of submissions were not completed in the manner
anticipated - that is, by indicating an order of preference from one through
four. The Parish Council felt that these submissions should be set aside, which
would change the points totals as follows:
New Foyer - 609 points; new school 562 points, improvement to parish offices
- 388 points; expansion, resurfacing and reconfiguration of parking lots 369
points.
Whichever way the numbers are considered, the majority indicates that the
foyer will be our next project. This project has been considered for a long
time; in 1994, Father Scott began the building fund in our Parish with the
intention of constructing such a foyer. The Parish Council and myself want to
express our solidarity with parents of our school who feel strongly about the
need for the new school building. Everybody realizes that after the new foyer is
completed, replacing the old school building should be the next project.
Thank you for your involvement. This decision has been made by our community
and now we have to move forward. It is my hope that this project will benefit
the entire faith community of Our Lady of Fatima.
Yours sincerely,
Father Patrick Tepoorten, Pastor.
