Survey
Thanks for your interest in the Feasibility Study for the important proposed projects to renovate Gabriel House and create a Gathering Room next to the church. Your input -- and the input of the entire parish community -- is vital in determining the support we may expect to receive.
To begin the survey, please click HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish proposing?
A. The parish is proposing a capital campaign to fund much needed renovations to Gabriel House (the old convent) and the addition of a Gathering Room connected to the Church. The full extent of any renovations and/or additions will be determined by the expected level of success of a capital campaign.
Q. Why is it important to invest in the renovation of Gabriel House?
A. Because of its convent design, the building has been underutilized in recent years and has fallen into a state of disrepair. With funds raised in a capital campaign, St. Gabriel School will have the opportunity to offer the highest level of educational excellence with new state-of-the-art STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts & Math) classrooms, labs, and resources – preparing students for the future of tomorrow. Some classes would be held in the existing school as well. Further, the parish will benefit from additional meeting spaces created by the renovation. A rear addition will add more space and an elevator will provide ADA compliance.
Q. Why is it important to invest in a Gathering Room for the Church?
A. Currently, parishioners do not have a central location for welcoming, fellowship and community building. A Gathering Room will provide a location directly connected to the narthex to converse after Mass, welcome visitors and new parishioners, share coffee and donuts, gather and pray, mourn before funeral services, celebrate after baptisms – and meeting space for parish organizations.
Q. How will the parish determine if a capital campaign will be successful?
A. The parish is conducting a feasibility study under the guidance of Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) to obtain data regarding the amount of funds the parish can reasonably expect to raise during a capital campaign. It will also give parishioners an opportunity to provide feedback on how to best use any funds raised.
Q. Who will be asked to participate in the feasibility study?
A. Every parish and school family will have the opportunity to offer feedback. Fr. Molini believes each parishioner is a valuable and important component of our faith community. We need to hear from as broad a spectrum of the faith and school community as possible.
Q. How will the study be conducted?
A. The study will be conducted in two phases by OSV. The first phase will include in-depth personal interviews with a small group of parishioners. The second phase will include a survey mailed to homes and distributed “in-pew” – open to all parish and school families. These two means of data collection will be combined to provide a balance of opinions and attitudes while preserving both the integrity of the study and your personal privacy.
Q. Who will be interviewed in phase 1 of the study? How long will the interviews last?
A. A diverse cross section of parishioners will be selected to participate in the interview process. The interviews should last no more than 30 minutes and will be conducted over the phone by a consultant from OSV.
Q. What will happen to the study results?
A. OSV will evaluate the responses and provide an extensive analysis of the results. This will include both a written evaluation of the responses and opinions received from the study, and a recommendation as to what extent a successful capital campaign can be reasonably expected.
Q. Will the proposed capital campaign affect neighboring parishes and schools?
A. As Catholics, we are called to share our resources for the betterment of our neighborhood, Church, and world. Our only intentions in the state-of-the art renovation of Gabriel House and the addition of a Gathering Room are ensuring continued strong enrollment and education at St. Gabriel School, and further strengthening the welcoming nature of the Parish. Both St. Gabriel and St. Raphael remain strong, independent parishes and schools – as directed at the conclusion of All Things New.
Q. Have building plans been finalized?
A. Not yet. Some conceptual drawings exist, but not in detail. Depending on parishioner feedback and support evidenced in the feasibility study, the parish will determine project viability, create renderings and building plans – and share them at the start of a capital campaign.
Q. When will the renovations and construction begin?
A. An exact schedule is TBD. After plans have been finalized and 50% of the expected revenues have been raised, the parish can move forward with construction. We will keep everyone updated on specifics as we move forward.
Q. Can you be more specific as to what classes would be housed within the newly renovated Gabriel House?
A. It is envisioned that most STREAM classes would be held there, including science labs, an art studio, broadcast studio, band and meeting rooms. Some classes may continue to be held in the current school building. This is subject to change, and specifics will be provided as they become available.
Q. Wouldn’t it be easier to keep STREAM classes in the current school building?
A. Many of the STREAM classrooms inside the current school building have become outdated. To continue to provide a strong education for the future, the current classrooms require significant renovation. By moving STREAM classes to a new state-of-the-art Gabriel House, the current classrooms can be “decommissioned” to meet other school and parish needs without additional renovation. Again, classes may be held in both buildings.
Q. Will the Gathering Room design match the Church? Will it block the windows? Will the old oak tree in front of the rectory be removed?
A. The parish has employed an architect to recommend designs that will be the most aesthetically pleasing and complimentary to the Church building. Final decisions will not be made until the results of the feasibility study have been reviewed. The intent is for the structure to have a minimal impact on the current Church building while seamlessly connecting to the narthex of the Church. The architect is aware of the parish’s desire to protect the beloved oak tree and has assured Fr. Molini that every effort to protect it will be made.
Q. Wasn’t this opportunity studied some years ago?
A. About three years ago, a small committee was formed to begin discussions about how to best renovate Gabriel House and create a Gathering Room. However, after the Archdiocese suspended all capital campaigns throughout the All Things New process, the committee and the plans were temporarily put on hold. With the completion of All Things New, St. Gabriel has been given permission to renew its exploration of the opportunity.
Q. Will the renovation of Gabriel House increase school enrollment, tuition and fees, and/or operational costs?
A. Increasing enrollment over existing classroom maximums is not our intention or expectation, and additional faculty or staff should not need to be hired. The objectives of the Gabriel House renovation are truly to provide the necessary space for the types of state-of-the-art labs and studios needed to continue delivering an A+ education, and provide flexible school/parish meeting space. We expect this to continue creating strong demand for the school, drive young families to become parish and school families, and maintain strong property values.
Renovation of Gabriel House will include updated systems and a more energy efficient design, both of which will help offset additional operational costs caused by an increase in use. Equipment costs have already been included in the project estimate.
Q. How will the addition of a Gathering Room impact the parish budget?
A. Although there will be additional utility costs for the Gathering Room, these are expected to be minor and the parish will budget for these costs accordingly. It is hoped that the increase in parish vitality created with the addition of the Gathering Room will also increase donations and help offset additional utility costs. Equipment costs have been built into project estimate.
Q. Who are the committee members?
A. Fr. Thomas Molini, Bill Burnes, Mike Heithaus, Patrick McGinnis, Judy Murphy, Kevin Kozminske, Lee Hahnel, Marcus Adrian, Shawn McLain, and Chris Pike. We are seeking additional members, particularly if we move to the campaign phase.
Q. How to help?
A. There are several ways to help. First, please respond openly and honestly to the mailed/in-pew survey and any phone interviews that may be asked of you. Second, if you are interested in making a significant donation of your time or money to a capital campaign, please reach out via email to campaign@stgabrielstl.org. Finally, and most importantly, please pray for the successful future of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish.
Q. More questions?
Please reach out via email with other questions to campaign@stgabrielstl.org.