Our parish campus is our spiritual home and the heart of our ministries, programs, outreach and social activities.  Through our 60-year history, we have built and "repurposed" buildings to accommodate changing needs. A recent, thorough assessment of our campus by professional contractors/consultants shows that our facilities are well used and, though aging, are generally well maintained. The contractors and consultants identified areas that will require maintenance/ updating over the next few years in order to continue supporting everything we do now – and what God is calling us to do in the future. Costs have been estimated and would be finalized before projects are started.

Anticipated Facility Repairs and Upgrades

• Remove and replace concrete and repair light pole in northwest lot.
• Masonry repairs to campus: tuck points, cracks.
• Roofing: Boiler room; west, south, east school wings; parish center upper roof; church east and west sides, covered walkways; parish office.
• Upgrade school electrical service in boiler room.
• Fix and upgrade parking lot lighting.
• Fire alarm system in church basement.
• Transfer electrical loads of old panels in the church.
• Grade and improve site drainage field; engineering study required.
• Repair site asphalt; pre-school, Plymouth drive.
• Mechanical (units will be reaching their life cycle) anticipated repairs.
• Classroom and library carpeting 18,000 sq. ft.
• Courtyard and church entrance tile is failing.
• Specialty doors and hardware (church doors and gym doors inside and out).
• School painting 11,000 sq. ft.
• Upgrade lighting and sound system in the church.
• Upgrade lighting in gym, adoration chapel, Dominican and DeMazenod Rooms.
• Church basement refinish: paint, flooring, acoustics and lighting.
• Purchase Phyllis Rosenbach’s home for use as church rectory.
• Continency (use for smaller interim projects and trade consultants)

Questions and Answers

Q: How did the plan to locate the rectory off site develop?

A: After charter member and parish legend Phyllis Rosenbach died, her family approached Father Troy with the idea of using her home as the rectory and offered the house to the parish at below-market cost. Consultation with appraisers and real estate professionals confirmed that the Rosenbach family's offer was indeed very generous. Father Troy was willing to make the move and took the offer to the Finance Council who approved it. Next Father Troy presented the proposal to Bishop Hurley who approved the plan. It is especially fitting that Phyllis' home, located within minutes of the parish, will become the rectory for Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. For 60+ years, Phyllis and her family warmly welcomed pastors and associates into their home, offering them respite from their daily duties and a place to unwind. In the earliest days when Fr. Killgoar and Fr. Gigante lived in a travel trailer on parish property, they welcomed the opportunity to get out of very close quarters, to clean up and relax at the Rosenbach house and eat dinner with the family. Over the years, as new pastors came to IHM, they too enjoyed Phyllis' gracious hospitality and a respite away from pastoral duties.

 Q: Why does IHM have such a large rectory?

 A: According to Father Len Sudlik, former pastor and current pastor of St. Robert of Newminster Parish, the current rectory was built in 1976 for six Oblates. Fr. Len was ordained that year and then assigned to IHM as an associate pastor, where he joined Fr. Flater, pastor, and Fr. Monroe, associate pastor. In addition, Fr. Mooney and Fr.Wholey, who were chaplains at St. Mary's Hospital, spent two nights a week at the IHM rectory, and Fr. Griffin, a guidance counselor at West Catholic, also lived there. The rectory also provided room for occasional Oblate visitors and deacons, and seminarians in the summer. At that time, Frs. Flater, Sudlik and Monroe shared pastoral and administrative responsibilities among them. Today, when most parishes have one priest (and some have none), pastors are busier than ever. The old joke that priests have it easy because they only work on the weekends really is a joke.

Q: Why didn't we use the house/property at the back of the church parking lot that we purchased several years ago for a rectory?

A: When the house was vacated, it was in deplorable condition. Contractors who looked at the house recommended that it be torn down and estimated the cost of building a new house at $100,000. In addition to the cost, the location at the back of the church parking lot would not have provided privacy for the pastor.

Q: What are the advantages of moving the rectory off site?

A: First, it provides our pastor, who is on duty 24-7, much needed privacy and respite to "recharge his batteries." Because the rectory, the parish and staff offices, the parish conference room, the adoration chapel, the All-Purpose Room and the church are connected (and usually busy), our pastor has next to no privacy and even less quiet time. Father Troy, nor any pastor, is the Energizer Bunny who can go forever. Our priests are real people who, just like us, need own time to rest, relax and reflect. Imagine what it would be like living at your place of work 24 hours a day, never going home and never having a chance to get away from the responsibilities and stress of your job! Second, aside from Father Troy not being awakened late at night by people pounding on the door asking for money or pounding on the windows at night, or the "beep beep" of people locking or unlocking their cars as they arrive at or leave the adoration chapel at all hours, his vacating the rectory frees up much needed space for parish activities that take place morning, noon and night. the barrier-free first floor can be used for parish hospitality, including coffee and donuts after weekend liturgies, for senior activities and for smaller funeral buffets. the upstairs room over the garage can be used for youth ministry as well as other activities. Recent upgrades to the rectory have increased its versatility as multi-use space. There is no cost to "convert" the space to public use. We are a busy parish with many activities going on at the same time. It is not a rare occasion when the multitude of concurrent activities occupies every available space on campus. The Killgoar Foundation trustees have been meeting in the school teachers' lounge because no other space has been available. Since the HEARTS AND HANDS ROOTED IN FAITH campaign started in September, campaign teams and the cabinet have met in three different places. The rectory space that was built for multiple priests offers a wealth of additional space for other purposes today. Our former convent (that was the original rectory) has been "repurposed" as a preschool. Likewise, it makes sense to use the rectory to accommodate our active, vibrant faith community.

Q: Will Father Troy and future pastors be less accessible when they live off-site?

A: Many pastors live off-site today but, with modern technology, they are more accessible than ever. Even when he was in the Holy Land, Fr. Troy could be reached by phone and email! The location of the new rectory, only a few blocks away, means that the pastor can leave home and arrive at IHM within minutes.

Q: Do other diocesan pastors live off site?

A: Yes. Some local pastors who live off site include Msgr. Ernie Schnieder, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Parish; Fr. Steve Cron, pastor of St. Joseph theWorker Parish; Fr. Len Sudlik, pastor of St. Robert of Newminster Parish; Father Michael Alber, pastor of St. John Vianney Parish; and Fr. Bill Langlois, pastor of St. Patrick – St. Anthony Catholic Community in Grand Haven.

Q: Who will pay the property taxes and take care of the "new" rectory?

A: The parish is responsible for upkeep of the new rectory because it is our property, like the church, the Parish Center and the school. As a non-profit organization, the parish does not pay property taxes.

Q: Do the facility improvements that will be addressed through the campaign include handicap doors for the church?

 A: Yes, the door leading to the choir area will be changed to a handicapped door.