St. Pius X Catholic Church
Master Plan Proposal
Questions & Answers
How was the Master Plan Proposal created? The Master Plan Proposal was created by the Building Committee based upon documented facility needs. The Long Range Planning-Administrative Commission Final Report and Recommendations was developed by the Administration Commission of the Parish Pastoral Council over a period of months following the Parish Convocation in 2008. The number one priority identified by our parishioners at this Convocation was the facility needs of the parish.
What projects are included on the Master Plan Proposal?
- Construction of a Church with seating & ritual space to meet our anticipated needs
- Provide for additional parking & expansion
- Acquisition of adjacent properties to provide for expansion
- Construct a new Library and Pre-School wing for the school
- Construction of additional meeting and office space
Did the Building Committee consider other options to manage growth besides the projects proposed in the Master Plan Proposal? Numerous alternatives were reviewed and discussed during the long range plan process, too numerous to share in this document. For more information, click here for a copy of the Long Range Planning Final Report or contact the church office for a copy. The general consensus is for the church and school to remain together on the current campus.
What are the costs of these projects? Based upon the best information available, we estimate the total cost to be in a range of $12 to $15 million.
How many people have been involved in the decision-making process? The entire Parish was invited to participate in the process. Guided by the Building Committee and the Parish Pastoral Council, approximately 200 people attended the listening sessions and the town hall meeting.
Based on the input and discovery process, are parishioners in support of the Master Plan? Yes. Throughout the process, parishioners have expressed overwhelming support of the Master Plan.
What is the financial health of the parish? From the year 2000 - 2005, we had a debt of over $7,000,000 (school, school furnishings and the Annex building) that was paid in full January of 2008. We paid cash for a home on Lippi Boulevard in 2009 and now have cash reserves of over $800,000 to date. We own two rental homes that provide a monthly income of $1,000 each. The Bayou House located at 309 E. Bayou Pkwy. is currently used for our Youth Center and parish meeting space.
What is the role of the Diocese of Lafayette in this process? The Diocese of Lafayette has approved St. Pius X pursuing a facilities building program. Going forward, the Diocese of Lafayette will approve design plans of any new construction of eventual new facilities.
Is the Diocese of Lafayette planning to create a new church parish within the current boundaries of St. Pius X Parish? Father Steve LeBlanc met last year with Bishop Michael Jarrell and the pastors of the parishes bordering St. Pius X to discuss future plans for our parish. During the meeting the Bishop noted he has no desire to open a new parish and provided his feedback for St. Pius X to consider in its building plans a church with capacity to seat 1,000 to 1,500 people.
Are we considering a future Capital Campaign? Yes
How much will I be asked to give to a Capital Campaign? Every family in the parishwill be personally invited to consider a sacrificial gift to the capital campaign. No amount is too small and all gifts will be greatly appreciated. Such a gift can be pledged and paid over a three year period.
Will a Capital Campaign gift need to be in excess of my current sacrificial giving? Yes. This is necessary to assure the on going daily needs of the parish are being met.
Does St. Pius X Parish have the key financial leadership to successfully conduct a Capital Campaign? We feel very confident we can successfully conduct a capital campaign considering our history of retiring past debts in remarkable timeframes. We are truly blessed to have exceptional financial leadership to lead us through this process and beyond.
What are the next steps in this process? A Financial Feasibility Study is being concluded by the Institute of School & Parish Development (ISPD), a national consulting firm, based in New Orleans, serving Catholic schools, parishes and dioceses. Based upon the results of the study, parish leadership will decide if a capital campaign is to begin.
What happens if we do nothing at all? If we do nothing to address the needs of our dynamic faith community, we will ignore the concerns of the people and fail to advance our mission. Specifically, the projects included in this next phase, have been suggested, supported and recommended by our parish community.
Currently, how many seats does the Church hold? Seating for 520 with parking that cannot handle the church when at full capacity.
Why does the school need a new library? The current library/media center facility is significantly below minimum standards in instructional space, collection shelving and areas for reference, computers, professional development and circulation. Our limited square footage does not allow the staff to address all of the literacy services needed for our students, staff and community. A new facility would allow St. Pius Elementary School to meet minimum requirements for an elementary and middle school library and accommodate the current and future library needs of the entire school community.
Why does the school need a new Pre-School building? The building currently occupied by the pre-school aged children is the oldest building on the campus; the original building built when the Parish started in 1968. The building needs significant updating and repairs, far beyond the value of the building itself. One idea is to tear it down to create space for parking and a larger church facility while moving the new pre-school facility to the current play ground area of the school.
What is the current number of families and parishioners in the Parish? Registered families total 2,334 with a total population of 7,800. We believe the number is much larger as not all people who attend St. Pius X are registered. Another important statistic is that over the past 3 years an average of 100 new families have been added annually to the parish.
What is the projected number of seats planned for a new Church and why? As a rule of thumb you want to double the size of your existing facility or 1,040, if you undertake such a project. The Bishop has suggested a capacity ranging from 1,000 to 1,500.
What is the current state of the physical church? The church is 35 years old. The facility is in need of repair, updating, electrical improvements to meet code standards as well as inadequate restroom facilities that need to meet minimum ADA standards.
How does St. Pius X rank in size out of all the Church Parishes in the City of Lafayette? We are the largest Church Parish in geographical size, the largest in population and have the most potential for growth.
How much cash is required before construction can begin? The Diocese requires 1/3 of projected construction costs are on hand before a project can begin.
Can we plan all proposed projects in phases or do we need to start all projects at once? We can plan the project in phases but ultimately what we can do, will depend upon the results of the feasibility study, the capital campaign and the impact planned construction has on daily parish activities.
Click on the following items below for more information...
Building Committee Master Plan
History and Purpose of Master Plan
Master Plan Proposal Questions & Answers
Long Range Planning Final Report