by Anna C.
In spite of the pandemic, our vision for an updated, expanded church that meets our growing needs, is on track to being actualized. In the past few months, work has continued within two teams, and a theme was made to guide the project’s philosophy.
The theme for the capital campaign emerged after extended research, discussion and thought: Building the Kingdom Together in Christ. It is not merely a slogan but a reflection of our community’s cherished values and aspirations and our commitment to renewing and re-building our beloved church: It points us toward the future—building for eternity and the generations to come. It mirrors our emphasis on community--“building together” -- and affirms the seriousness of our faith.
The talent and expertise of our parish has been and will be continuously uncovered and utilized. Two teams have been formed to keep moving the project forward and engage parishioners in it: the campaign steering committee, charged with strategy, direction, and overall coordination of the project; and the building committee, who will focus on the design, implementation, and coordination of the renovation and expansion project. Notably, we are fortunate to be able to avail of the skills and expertise of our parishioners Maria A., an experienced architect, and James C., who works in quality control for a contracting company, which connects us with the contractor side and keeps us in check regarding cost estimates and other logistics of construction.
In September, upon review of existing architectural sketches and her own research results, Maria A. presented the committees and the parish council with 3-4 design options. Based on considerations of our budget and functionality, the building committee selected and proposed their selection of a preferred design to the parish council. Reactions to it were very positive. In the course of several months this design will evolve through parishioner feedback and the county’s regulations. A final version will be shared with a special general assembly in a few months. Wait for the next issue of Veil for more details and graphics.
The capital campaign places a high priority on ensuring we are meeting the goals and desires of the community. In late September, Anna C. and Maria conducted a user group to garner feedback on Maria’s conceptual design from 14 parishioners. This kind of user group will continue into the future so parishioners can maintain a voice in the design and use of the new space.
Currently, Maria is in the process of preparing a proposal submission for the Fairfax County, who will review it and give us feedback, alerting us on any issues they see in our plan as it relates to zoning, building codes and regulations.
Soon, you’ll be able to have easy access to ongoing information about the capital campaign on the St. Mary’s website, and we’ll continue to keep you updated here in The Veil as well.
