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FamilyNewsMarch 2015 • Vol. 1 No. 1

My dear friends,

As a family of faith, we prayerfully continue our journey of implementing our Archdiocese of Toronto Pastoral Plan. As you know, the plan was launched in February of 2013. While most of the pastoral plan can be accomplished with current resources, reflection and prayer, some of the plan requires new dollars.

I am continually inspired by the sacrificial contributions of time, talent and treasure that have been pledged to the Family of Faith campaign. We are a Catholic family, and all of our contributions and prayers gathered together allow us to accomplish something we could never do on our own. This investment in ourselves, our churches and our programs will ensure that our parishes are vital places for prayer, learning and engagement with each other.

I am pleased to introduce Family News, a periodic newsletter for donors and supporters of the Family of Faith campaign. Parishes participating in Wave 3 are about to begin their campaigns. I look forward to continuing to see the positive impact that the campaign has on our parishes and our communities at large.

Sincerely in Christ,

Thomas Cardinal Collins

Archbishop of Toronto continued on page 2

The Family of Faith campaign started with a group of ten parishes whose pastors volunteered to help test the campaign model. These parishes were representative of the great diversity and variety of parishes right across the archdiocese. The pastors provided advice and insights as that phase of the campaign took shape. Collectively, the ten parishes had a goal of $7.31 million. Based on the funding formula (see sidebar story) the expected return to parishes was $1.775 million.

The pilot phase parishes raised $12.378 million in donations and pledges and this will result in even more funds available for local parish use because of the way the fund-sharing formula works. Collectively the pilot parishes are now projected to receive $5.643 million or 45% of funds collectively raised in their campaigns. To date, based on funds received ,the ten pilot parishes have received $706,000.

Pilot Parishes Exceed Goals

Parish Sharing Formula ExplainedTwenty-five per cent of funds raised, up to the parish’s financial goal, are reserved for parish priorities (parish share). Seventy-five per cent of funds are directed toward the Family of Faith campaign’s archdiocesan-wide priorities. When a parish surpasses its goal, seventy-five per cent of funds above the goal will be allocated to parishes. Most donations are in the form of pledges, paid over time.

$7.31 million

$12.378 million

Parish ShareArchdiocesan Share

$1.775 million25%

$5.535 million

75%

$6.735 million55%

$5.643 million

45%

Goal Actual Pledged

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2014 Charitable Tax ReceiptsAll donors who made a gift to the Family of Faith campaign in 2014 should have received their charitable tax receipt by the end of February 2015. If you did not, or if you have any questions about your donation or your tax receipt, please call 416.934.3400 x536 or email questions to campaign@archtoronto.org.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Toronto: Funds will help improve accessibility for parishioners and visitors. The elevator will be replaced and the front steps of the church will be redesigned to ensure easier access.

St. Andrew Kim, North York: The parish is a hub for activities focused on youth, seniors, parish groups and sacramental preparation. They plan to acquire more space for parish programs and are exploring options including the acquisition of property elsewhere within the parish boundaries.

Guardian Angels, Orillia: Access to adequate parking at the church has been an ongoing issue. The parish will pave its church parking lot, including a recently acquired property adjacent to the church.

St. Joseph’s, Mississauga: The parish will enhance its Masses, sacraments and music ministry with an upgrade to its sound system in the church and church hall. The parking lot will be repaved, and to improve access for those with disabilities the church entrance will be upgraded.

St. Mary’s, Brampton: Funds will enhance the parish’s youth and lay ministry through the hiring of staff dedicated to this important pastoral work. The bustling parish also needs a gathering place to host its many activities and events and will use part of its share to contribute toward the cost of a new parish hall.

Merciful Redeemer, Mississauga: This parish will provide financial support to the new St. Josephine Bakhita parish to build its church. The parish will enhance its worship space, purchasing new altar furnishings, painting the church interior, and installing energy efficient lighting. The parish will also support a refugee family. Funds will be set aside for the new roof that will be required in the next few years.

St. Luke’s, Thornhill: The parish will hire a full time youth minister and develop a family ministry program. It will also ensure ongoing support for important outreach programs including the Out of the Cold program, the Refugee Committee, and its St. Vincent de Paul Society. Bathrooms and the west side church entrance will also be updated.

St. Isaac Jogues, Pickering: The parish will improve access for people with disabilities by upgrading its bathrooms. It plans to provide greater care and outreach to people in the community, especially the poor. It will also improve the interior lighting in the church and replace tiles in the foyer of the church.

Precious Blood, Scarborough: This parish will replace its roof and paint the church interior—including its ceiling. Lighting will also be updated and improved.

St. Ann’s, Penetanguishene: The parish will use its funds to help meet its outstanding financial obligations to the archdiocese and repair of the church’s front steps and retaining walls.

Congratulations to the pastors and parishioners at all pilot parishes.

More funds available for local parish usecontinued from page 1

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Cardinal Collins blessed the new Ryerson University Catholic Student Centre on February 6, 2015.

How are Family of Faith campaign funds allocated?

“Parishioners who have contributed to the Family of Faith campaign can be rightly proud of the tangible financial commitment they are making,” said Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto. “It is important that we put that funding to work as quickly as possible for the benefit of our whole archdiocesan family of faith.”

In February, parishes that participated in the pilot phase of the campaign received their first allocations based on funds received to date [see page 1 Pilot Parishes Exceed Goals].

Jim Milway is the Chancellor of Temporal Affairs at the Archdiocese of Toronto. Part of his job includes ensuring funds from the Family of Faith campaign are allocated on a timely basis and in keeping with the goals of the campaign.

The Family of Faith plan is laid out in a 36 page ‘case statement’ booklet (available at www.ourfamilyoffaith.ca). “The case set forth the broad framework for how funds will be used. We are now getting more granular in terms of the specific allocations,” says Mr. Milway. To assist in this process, a new Allocations Committee will provide advice in several areas. The committee is comprised of lay people, clergy and staff subject experts.

Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick is Chair of the committee and recently described its work. “For example, the plan calls for parish subsidies to hire youth ministers. This is an exciting project that flows directly from the pastoral plan. We are working toward the implementation of these subsidies by developing the criteria for the disbursement of funds and clarification of roles, responsibilities, and qualifications of youth ministers,” said Bishop Kirkpatrick.

The archdiocese began the process of disbursing funds to key projects last fall, even before the Allocations Committee was

established. These projects included $200,000 of the $1.5 million commitment to Project Connect, which will improve web technology and infrastructure. With campaign funding, all parish websites are now moving towards a common platform with improved connectivity among parishes and new features to keep Catholics informed.

The campaign earmarked $5 million for Campus and Young Adult Ministry. The Ryerson University chaplaincy had an urgent need for improved space to house its outreach centre. To address this need, $1 million was flowed to upgrade an archdiocesan building near the campus. Oriana Bertucci, Director of Campus Ministry at Ryerson University said, “Funding from the Family of Faith campaign comes to us at a critical time. We are grateful for the funds to upgrade Hogan House, an ideal space for us to connect with our students at Ryerson University.”

The Family of Faith campaign is also bolstering funds available ($20 million) for new church construction. With funds from the Family of Faith campaign, the archdiocese will loan $2 million to Guardian Angels parish in Brampton to build their hall, the first phase of their new church construction.

The Allocations Committee recently recommended approval of other expenditures from the Family of Faith campaign. These include:

Cardinal Collins is grateful for the response to date among those parishes which are thus far participating in the campaign. “The response from parishioners to the Family of Faith campaign is an inspiration to all Catholics in the archdiocese. We are a thriving faith community and I am grateful to all those who have supported this important effort to date.”

Campaign Priority AllocationCommunicating Our Faith $70,000 to engage an advisory firm to

assist us in understanding and affecting the public policy process federally and provincially

Communicating Our Faith $280,000 in 2015 for hardware, software, and installation costs to introduce video technology to the Chancery and three parishes.

Parish-based Youth Ministries

$200,000 in 2015 to launching subsides for parish-based youth ministers at eight parishes

Catholic Leadership Allocate $53,000 in 2014 to Good Leaders Good Shepherds

St. Michael’s Cathedral $3.5 million to renovation and restoration at St Michael’s Cathedral

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Family of Faith CampaignArchdiocese of Toronto1155 Yonge St., Toronto ON, M4T 1W2Phone: 416.934.0606 Fax: 416.934.3421 Email: familyoffaith@archtoronto.org

Twitter: @Family_of_FaithWebsite: www.ourFamilyofFaith.ca

EditorialJohn Ecker, KCHSDirector, Campaign CommunicationsMichelle DuklasCommunications CoordinatorContact John Ecker if you have a story idea or any questions: jecker@archtoronto.org or 416.934.3400 x805

As parishioners and visitors to St. Michael’s Cathedral know, over the past three years, the cathedral has been undergoing significant renovation and restoration work to maintain its beauty, accessibility and prominence as both a place of worship and an architectural icon.

Jim Milway, Chancellor of Temporal Affairs at the archdiocese says that in “in recent years the Archdiocese of Toronto has invested $35 million in necessary work.” Mr. Milway noted that the “safety and stability of the cathedral was the first priority — mostly work on the foundation

and underpinning, the reinstallation of the loft, the repair and conservation of exterior masonry and the maintenance of the spire.”

As the mother church of the archdiocese, the cathedral rightly figures prominently in the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Pastoral Plan. Father Michael Busch,

rector of the cathedral notes that “one of the Five Core Directions of the plan is The Cathedral as a Sign of our Mission.” And, as Father Busch notes, “the Family of Faith campaign will provide support to this key element of the pastoral plan by providing $25 million. This funding will aid in the transformation of this historic building primarily to solidify the structure and enhance its beauty.”

Significant additional funds are required for future work (est. $60 million). The archdiocese will use annual operating funds as well as additional future fundraising opportunities to support the extensive and important work that needs to be completed. Mr.

Milway says “the cathedral is also an historic landmark in central Toronto. It is one of the best known buildings designed by famed architect, William Thomas. At the archdiocese, we believe that the broader community will support the preservation of this architectural treasure.”

The cathedral is housed on a large parcel of land that covers almost an entire city block. The archdiocese also owns land across the street from the cathedral (St. Michael’s Choir School). This area is known as the Cathedral Block. The archdiocese has been working over the past year with an architectural firm, development economists, local stakeholders (i.e., St. Michael’s Hospital and Ryerson University), heritage consultants, parking experts, marketing consultants, and archdiocesan staff to develop a master plan for the block.

With so much activity at the cathedral, many current and prospective Family of Faith campaign donors have expressed interest in knowing more about the development of the Cathedral Block. In response, Mr. Milway has noted, “the campaign funding will not be allocated beyond the cathedral building itself.”

Renovation at St. Michael’s Cathedral

Fr. Michael Busch, rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral, speaks with the media about the cathedral restoration.