Last week I wrote about the recent decision to vacate the current rectory, find a house in Kirksville to serve as a suitable rectory, and raze the current rectory and remediate the lot. This week I’ll write about the recommended budget for the purchase of a new rectory, along with the consideration of location.
The finance council approved a budget of $300,000 for the house. We arrived at that figure after having looked at a few of the houses on the market that fit the requirements for a parish rectory for Mary Immaculate. We are looking for a house that would not just house the pastor and have a few guest rooms. Most important is that we will be able to provide a long-term solution to a problem that has been around since the priests moved out of the parish center.
Mary Immaculate is the largest parish in this area of the Diocese. As the recent personnel announcements from the Diocese indicated, we are serving and will continue to serve as a hub for pastoral leadership for many years to come. The goal is to have a house that would have at least a master suite and a secondary suite that could serve as a residence for a retired priest in service, much as Fr. Gerry Kaimann lives at Palmyra, an international priest serving a transitional period of service, a transitional deacon, and/or a seminarian.
Additional guest rooms are always a plus. Since Kirksville is so far away from the Diocesan centers, the capacity to house a priest’s support group would be beneficial. Priestly fraternity and mutual support is essential to our well-being. I have committed to meeting with my brother priests regularly, but I will always travel to their houses since guest space is so limited here.
One consideration is finding a house that would hold its value in the coming years. We had looked at houses that might work as far as size and accommodations but would require some major upgrades immediately and in the years to come. Newly built houses are smaller and are going for $400,000 and over. They are also located further away from the present campus.
Location, as they say, is everything. But what location? Suitable houses near our existing campus just aren’t on the market. Whatever house we purchase would require a commute. Not having a house so close to the church as we have now is a different model, but it is one that many parishes are adopting around the country. Mary Immaculate has had the office and the rectory separate for many years. For my last two pastorates I had to commute to the church and/or office. My nine years in Vienna I had three parishes that were at a minimum 11 miles away from where I lived. For seven years at the Lake, I lived about four miles from the church campus. In fact, I lived closer to more of my parishioners at that rectory than I would have had I lived at the church, which had no rectory. I’m used to spending most of the day at the church and office and while I do like the convenience of walking, a five to seven minute drive doesn't concern me insofar as my or future priests' availability.
The house we are currently looking at is 2800 Weatherstone Drive in the southwest part of town, a house three miles from our present campus. It is 3,200 square feet with a large full, finished basement with a bedroom and bath downstairs. The master bedroom is on one side of the house and the two guest bedrooms are on the other, behind the spacious kitchen and living area. I envision this house as an opportunity for me to host dinners and other gatherings which isn’t possible in the current rectory. The house at this time is really a turnkey solution.
Funding for the house will come from our savings on deposit at the chancery. The vast majority of our savings have come from special bequests, grants and gifts, such as the $500,000 bequest from the Sandra K. Reavey estate. Some of that money was used to update the church, including putting in a long-needed new HVAC system. There was a $61,000 net profit that the parish got by selling the old rectory at 902 Washington that added to our savings. At this time we have over $1,125,000 on deposit at the chancery.
Offertory collections and tithing have allowed us to meet our budget these past few years. Our move to a stewardship model of tithing is making progress in engaging parishioners in time, talent and treasure.
This year’s budget poses a particular challenge as we strive to maintain an 85% parity for school salaries compared to the local school district. So far in this fiscal year that began July 1, we have been making our expenses. Tithing through offertory collections is up compared to the last two years.
I understand that this is a significant event in the life of a parish. I appreciate the support parishioners have expressed for finding a new rectory. I also appreciate that this is a significant expense, but one that we have put off for quite some time. My hope is that I remain pastor in Kirksville for many years to come and the new rectory will make a significant contribution to my health and well-being and the good of the parish in general. The new rectory will be a sign that we are offering space for hospitality, fellowship, and lodging for another priest if the possibility arises.
Again, if you would like to discuss this with me personally or make a comment, please drop me a line or call the parish office. I appreciate the assistance of the administration commission, the parish council, and the finance council as we have come to this decision. I also appreciate the assistance of the diocesan facilities manager, Brad Copeland, for the time he has spent checking out the properties that we have considered.
In the next two weeks we will be working on the sales contract, especially ensuring that the proper inspections reveal all that they need to reveal so we are assured of an asset for our parish that will hold its value through the coming years. In the meanwhile, let us continue to invoke the intercession and guidance of St. Joseph as we move forward on the purchase. Thank you so much for your attention to and consideration of this important matter.