"Building Our Future" Development Campaign
Worship Space Evaluation Committee
Town Hall Meetings April 26-27, 2003

Town Hall meetings were held after mass the weekend of April 26/27 to present the proposal from the Worship Space Evaluation Committee (WSEC). Tom Czarnecki, Chair of the committee, gave a brief history of the group and their work to date.

The WSEC has been meeting for two years and is comprised of Fr. Jerry Brzezinski, Nancy Mason Bordley, Paul Borucki, Lisa Brown, Jim Eischeid, Marv Johnson, Frank Mulso, Monte Oberlee, Laura Rangos, Rose Mary Ryan, Augie Thoma and Gary Wancour. Maureen Currey and Gene Mahon also served on the committee for a period of time.

St. John Fisher Chapel was one of the first churches built in the Detroit area after Vatican II. The design was groundbreaking, but 36 years later the design is dated. Our liturgies and our faith family have evolved and changed. We have evolved from being a campus ministry church to a campus ministry and full parish church.

The WSEC allowed the Spirit to guide them as they analyzed the worship space and how to improve it. The committee studied liturgical principles, the Liturgy, the sacraments and other celebrations. They visited new or renovated churches, specifically, St. Lawrence in Utica; St. Martin de Porres in Warren; St. Vincent Ferrer in Madison Heights and Christ the Redeemer.

The committee met with the Archdiocese Architectural Review Committee, a lighting consultant and listened to the feedback from the community. The major concerns revealed were:

• Lighting: including natural lighting and ways to modernize the lighting,
• Altar Area: making it the central focus, easier to see and accessible for all,
• The Chapel Look: how to enhance it and increase the seating,
• Accessibility: to allow everyone to be included in the general seating areas,
• Baptismal Font: we have moved it to the altar area where it is easier to see,
• Eucharistic Chapel: for smaller services, open more hours, allow for overflow,
• Reconciliation Room: make it larger and more accessible, and
• Acoustics: we do not want to lose the great acoustics we have.

There are limitations that we have to deal with including:

• Increasing the seating will have an impact on the parking,
• We have limited space on our site, and
• Fire and life safety code updating will be required.

The drawings are a concept of what the Chapel might look like. They are not a plan for building. They are a general idea but not the final idea. For example, a lift is shown on the drawing, but we do not know if a lift will be in the plan or not. The drawings have the following features:

• Increased accessibility to the Altar,
• Improved lighting,
• 80 to 100 more seats in the Chapel,
• The Altar is moved 10 feet forward from its current location,
• Cutouts in the pews for increased access,
• A more accessible Reconciliation Room,
• A Eucharistic Chapel, and
• The Music Group moved slightly westward from their current location.

Where do we stand? Members of the WSEC have interviewed seven architectural firms. All are experienced with church design, talented and creative. We will interview two more, select three for secondary presentations and then select a finalist. We are asking the architects to produce a Master Plan for our entire campus.

We want them to look at everything from the point of turning into the parking lot all the way to the Altar. They will determine, working in concert with our community, what our needs are, now and in the future. We expect to have the Master Plan completed in three to six months.

Can we afford to do this project? In 1994 the Activities Center was built, in 1998 the lower level was completed and furnished and we expanded the Gathering Area two years ago. Through prudent planning we only owe $30,000 after all of the expansion work. The pace at which we proceed is the key so we will proceed in phases.

The Master Plan will determine how we proceed. We know that we can’t spend what we don’t have, so we will have 75% of the cost of any project in cash before we approach the Archdiocese for a loan for the balance. Due to the economy, architects and contractors are hungry for work so this is a good time to proceed. In a year or so it may be different.

This is an exciting time for St. John Fisher. What we are proposing to do is financially possible and manageable. We must, however, do it in phases. Over the next three to six months the architects will meet with the Parish Leadership Council, the Pastoral Team, the various ministries and the community to develop the Master Plan.

Questions from the community follow.

How will we conduct our liturgies if there is construction?
It depends on how we proceed, but we will try to minimize the distractions. We may have to meet in the Activities Center in a theatre seating arrangement. We may consider having three or four Masses on the weekends.

How much will the Master Plan cost?
The Master Plan will cost between $10,000 and $15,000.

When will the little things like the chairs, colors and pews be done?
We will get recommendations from the architects on these concerns. We will probably involve a small, representative group to work with the architects.

What is the cost of the project?
We don’t know the cost yet. We will use the Master Plan to give us an idea of costs.

Will growth projections of our community be used to determine our needs?
The Master Plan will be part of how we determine our future needs and we will work with the architects to establish financing possible priorities.

Will memorials be available?
Yes, memorials will be available.

I am concerned about putting something on the front of the Chapel.
We share your concern, and anything that we do would be an enhancement and not a detriment. The architects will deal with the designs.

What is the special seating in the front of the Chapel?
The drawing shows chairs in front that would give more flexibility in seating. There are chairs near the baptismal font to allow for better viewing and increased flexibility in the Altar area.

Are we addressing the issue of the hardness of the pews, which especially impacts the elderly and those with health concerns?
The pew design and materials would be addressed in the Master Plan.

What about increasing the elevation of the pews to provide better views to the Altar?
The WSEC reviewed this idea and is concerned that the Chapel space might not have the distance needed to give good sight lines and there are concerns about accessibility. This issue is open and we look to the architects for suggestions.

What are the new components that are incorporated into the drawings?
The pews are more “C” shaped to allow for more of a gathering around the Altar, a lift, a larger Reconciliation Room, the baptismal font is behind the Altar, the Music Group is moved slightly, more flexible seating, cutouts in the pew sections and a Eucharistic Chapel.

Where is the Tabernacle located in the drawing?
The Tabernacle is located in the center of the Tower wall.

Is the concept presented all within the existing building?
Yes. All we did in the drawing is change the layout.

Will we change the Altar and the Ambo?
We did not get into that detail yet, but we will solicit suggestions when the time comes.

Did we look at the Music Group as being part of the community and not have them looking like performers?
The drawing presented is not a final plan. We do have them as part of the circle around the Altar. We have to consider the acoustics of where the Music Group is located.

Can the lighting be designed to enhance the wood ceiling and beams?
Yes it can. The ceiling is lighter than it looks, but it is hard to see because of poor lighting.

Can we consider more exit doors?
Whatever we do will have to meet local building codes, but we will look at the door situation.

Will we use the existing pews and flooring?
The materials and design of the pews has not been determined. We will have to replace the flooring. Whatever we do we will have to live within our means.

Will the expansion of seating have an impact on parking?
The drawing shows 80-100 added seats. The City of Auburn Hills has regulations on this issue, and we would have to comply with the code. This question has yet to be answered.

Do we have a targeted cost impact on each parishioner?
We don’t know the total cost of the project at this point. The Master Plan will provide the cost information.

What do the numbers near the pews mean on the drawing?
The number represents the number of lineal feet of pews in the area. There is about 1,100 lineal feet of pews in total.

The parking lot is going to need resurfacing. Are we considering that problem?
The next development campaign, which will be mailed out within one week, will address that concern.

Does the handout present two different scenarios?
No, only one scenario is presented. One side is the entire Chapel campus and the other is the detail of the inside of the Chapel.

Have we done a projection of the number of parishioners and students using the Chapel?
We will work with the architect and do that as part of the Master Plan.

Have we considered acquiring the vacant land to the east of our property?
Yes, we have kept in constant communication with the owner of the land to the east and recently with the owner of property to the north of ours on Squirrel Road.

What is the current seating capacity and how would it be increased?
The current capacity is about 750. We would increase the capacity by reconfiguring the current baptismal font and using some of the wasted space behind the Altar.

Are the costs of hiring an architect for the Master Plan part of the total project costs?
The Master Plan will cost approximately $10 to $15,000. Other costs will be a part of the rest of the project.

Where is Fr. Jerry’s putting green?
How in the world did we forget that?!!