For the families who returned to the Lourdes community in Slidell,

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1 Who We Are Today Three days after Hurricane Katrina hit, I stood in the middle of the aisle right where our church once was. I looked at the devastation that surrounded me, and my only thought was how in the world were we ever going to recover and rebuild. OLL parishioner for forty years For the families who returned to the Lourdes community in Slidell, Louisiana shortly after Katrina, this thought seemed to be on everyone s mind. Yet, the power of prayer and the resilience of the human spirit came alive. Since August of 2005, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and the neighborhood communities surrounding us have made great strides in rebuilding and nurturing each other back to a quality of life that is acceptable. Parish families reached out to one another and others in need; homes were rebuilt; neighborhoods were restored; a temporary worship space was established; and, after one year of sharing classroom space and appreciating the wonderful hospitality of St. Margaret Mary Parish on the other side of town, our portable school buildings were erected and our children moved back on campus. Father Adrian Hall led us through our first months of recovery. Volunteers from parishes and schools throughout the country came down to Slidell, Louisiana to help us restore some semblance of order and organization. The outreach from so many certainly bolstered our belief in the goodness and kindness of people who were willing to share their many gifts. The first year was quite a struggle. In Year Two the comeback moved into high gear, as parish and school leaders and our pastors, Father Frank Lipps and Father Dave Kyle, began to meet in earnest with officials from the Archdiocese and FEMA. Who We Are

2 In August of 2007, as we rounded the curve and moved into Year Three, Our Lady of Lourdes stands poised to launch a capital campaign to build our new church. We stand strong with a vibrant vision and unique plan that has taken months and months to create. We invite all to stand with us as we embark upon the greatest challenge this parish has ever faced. Invitation of Gifts The promise of the future depends on the gifts of the present. Achieving the ultimate goal of building our new church will require us to raise $2,000,000+ over the next three years. The total cost is $8,000,000. We are blessed to have $6,000,000 that has already come in from insurance, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and from our parishioners and other families, groups and churches across the country. The gifts we will be inviting everyone to consider in our Campaign will be Gifts of Prayer, Involvement and Financial Participation. Feasibility Assessment A number of steps have already been taken to assess and position this Capital Campaign. Based upon input from over 700 families through surveys, questionnaires, Town Hall meetings, interviews, and input sessions the following conclusions have been reached and agreed upon: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish stands strong today, despite obstacles from Katrina. We have many of our legacy families back with us, along with a good influx of families from other areas of the south Louisiana region. The parish seems to be meeting the unique needs of our parishioners, and there is a strong sense of ownership. There is a great understanding of the need for our new church, and although we are presently worshiping in the old school cafeteria, the desire is great to have a beautiful new church for future generations. There is strong belief in the leadership of Father Frank Lipps and Father Kyle Dave. Our current worship space. Over the past year, the parish has been involved in a vibrant development and planning effort that has invited and involved hundreds of parishioners, thereby building a strong base of ownership.

3 The parish has established a Capital Campaign office headed by Gail Budde. This office has been functioning in a positive manner for the past few months with Gail providing excellent leadership. The quality of our educational programs at OLL is seen as excellent. The image of the parish and school in the Slidell community is excellent as stated in the Feasibility Study interviews. There are a number of outstanding volunteers willing to work with Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in successfully completing a Capital Campaign. There is an excellent Campaign Cabinet in place that is guiding this process. There seems to be a lot of faith in this group, and people are impressed with the dedication, commitment and progress. As in the past, people parish families, staff, leadership committees, ministry leaders, faculty, school parents, Religious Education parents, businesses, friends and other Catholic institutions have been the driving force to move forward on this Campaign. As a result of many meetings, many presentations, many committees and many people, the future for Lourdes is taking shape. Beyond the details of paint colors and parking stripes, it is a future of community. It is a future of faith. The process has been and will continue to be inclusive, helping to further build and bond the people of our Catholic community. These same people are now the supporters of this new capital campaign plan a new church that will enhance ministries, support needs, and add to the quality of OLL. As one parishioner, whose family has been in the parish for many years recently said, There comes a time in every family when planning for the future and our future generations becomes essential. It is that time at Lourdes. Love Transforms Deep Water The Gains Love Transforms Deep Water is a wonderful theme for our Campaign. From Song of Songs, Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away. Parishioners will see a new church being built and will be part of this renaissance that is bringing new life to our community. Our new worship space will enhance the caliber of our religious educational programs. Faculty, staff and students will be able to worship as one body or as separate grade levels. For all families, parking will be safer with more availability. Company is coming, and we need to get ready for tomorrow, was the comment from Father Kyle Dave. Our present worship space (cafeteria) has served us adequately over the past 2+ years. And, obviously, the old church that was destroyed served as a wonderful testament to the faith of the people here at Lourdes. Yet, just as those before us gave us those facilities, we now must take the leadership role and prepare for tomorrow s future generations. We all can win the young, the middle age, the elderly, the active, the new parish families, and those whom we need to welcome.

4 Your Involvement is Critical! Our Lady of Lourdes Parish has recovered because of the commitment, dedication and generosity of our parish family. That same spirit of commitment and stewardship is necessary to help OLL continue to serve the needs of our community in the years ahead. It will take all of us young and young at heart, new families and familiar friends, parents and grandparents, singles and married couples to transform our parish into a wonderful testament of God s Grace and Will. We invite you to positively respond in a number of ways: Please say YES to this new vision for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. Please say YES to being a Campaign leader. Please say YES in bringing forth your Gifts of Prayer, Involvement and Financial Participation. Our Lady of Lourdes Operational Chairs and Priests Father Kyle Dave Bob and Ann Dunbar Sid and Judy Hebert David and Kay Hursey Father Frank Lipps Shawn and Heather McManus Doug and Michele Tymkiw

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7 Capital Campaign Payment Breakdown 3 Year Pledge Annual Semi-Annual Quarterly Monthly $100,000 $33,333 $16,666 $8,333 $2,777 $75,000 $25,000 $12,500 $6,250 $2,083 $50,000 $16,666 $8,333 $4,166 $1,388 $25,000 $8,333 $4,166 $2,083 $694 $15,000 $5,000 $2,500 $1,250 $416 $10,000 $3,333 $1,666 $833 $277 $9,000 $3,000 $1,500 $750 $250 Giving Information $6,000 $2,000 $1,000 $500 $166 $3,000 $1,000 $500 $250 $83 $1,000 $333 $166 $83 $27 $500 $166 $83 $41 $13 Various Ways to Make a Capital Campaign Gift Gift of Cash - Three Year Pledge Period Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annually Liquidation of Assets - Stocks - Bonds - Mutual Funds Gifts of Property - Real Estate - Jewelry - Art Gift in Kind Matching Gifts Front End, Middle, Tail End Payment - Differing amounts from year to year Challenge Gifts Memorial Gifts NOTE: Any family/person who wishes further information on any of the above areas, please have them call Gail Budde in the Campaign Office at

8 &Q A uestions nswers Q1: Why are we having this campaign? A1: In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the entire site of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church and School in Slidell with 6-8 feet of flood water. Wind also ripped the roof off the church. All eight parish buildings were damaged. Q2: What specifically will the capital campaign cover? A2: The capital campaign will raise money for the building of a new, elevated church. Q3: What is planned for the other parish buildings? A3: In the fall of 2007, FEMA announced that the two elementary school buildings will be rebuilt on the same slab space using FEMA funds, without cost to our parish. FEMA will not contribute money for the building of the church. Plans for other buildings are still awaiting FEMA announcements. The building of the new church and the rebuilding of the school buildings are expected to take place simultaneously. Should FEMA follow through on its promises, a formal fundraising effort for the school will not be needed, so a campaign is not planned for the school. Q4: How much money is needed to build a new church? A4: The capital campaign will be seeking to raise $2,000,000+. The total cost of the pro-ject is anticipated at $8 million. We are blessed that $6 million has already been raised! This money comes from $4 million in wind insurance, the combined donations of $1.5 million through the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the Catholic Church Extension Society, and Catholic Charities USA, and finally, $500,000 already donated by our own parishioners and other out-of-parish families, groups, and churches. Q5: How has money donated since Katrina been utilized? A5: In the aftermath of the storm, donations came in from all over the country. Money came in two forms: unrestricted or restricted for rebuilding the church or rebuilding the school. From the beginning, these restricted funds have been kept separate for the church and school, according to the donor s wishes. If the funds were not dedicated for rebuilding, some of this money went to clean-up expenses or operating expenses when our offertory gifts were low after the storm. The restricted gifts to the church are included in the $500,000 already donated as outlined in Q4. Q6: How will the $2 million be raised? A6: Over a three year time period, the capital campaign hopes to reach out to present and past parishioners, current school families and alumni, and people throughout Slidell and the nation to raise this money. Q7: Why can t the new church be funded through Sunday collections? A7: The offertory gifts cover the daily operating expenses of our parish community: salaries, utilities, insurance, ministries, and maintenance. In the spirit of sacrificial giving, all parishioners are asked to continue their weekly support, as well as extend their support to this capital campaign. In this same spirit, capital campaign gifts should not be made in lieu of the school voucher, as this money is dedicated towards the school s operating expenses. Professional experience shows that formalized, organized capital campaigns are the best way to reach financial goals within reasonable time frames. Q8: Why can t the $2 million be funded through the Archdiocese of New Orleans? Will the Archdiocese of New Orleans be assisting us in any way? A8: The Archdiocese of New Orleans suffered catastrophic damage to buildings across a widespread area, along with an increased need to help families. This limits the Archdiocese s ability to help. However, the Archdiocese will be involved in three ways. First, the Archdiocese has directed funds to OLL from various archdiocesan and national fundraising campaigns. Second, the Archdiocese must approve plans for any parish s building project, in terms of budget, planning and financing. We have already secured this approval. Third, the Archdiocese will provide us with working capital to execute construction contracts before all our pledge money is received. Q9: What happens if we do not reach our goal of $2 million? A9: A feasibility study indicated that our parish should be able to support the targeted goal of $2 million. However, if we do not raise the $2 million, the building committee will adjust the plans to meet the funding that is available. Q10: Two million dollars seems like a lot of money in these hard times after Katrina. How can I help to raise $2 million? Are there other gifts could I give? A10: Father Frank and Father Kyle remind us that this campaign is not about how much money you can afford to give. Rather, this campaign is an appeal to build God s church. This will require many commitments from our community, including Gifts of Prayer, Gifts of Involvement, and Gifts of Financial Participation. The Gift of Prayer invites you to look at ways you can pray for the success of the campaign, and ways we can build a stronger faith community. We especially ask that prayers be offered so that others around the country will hear our calls for help and respond in a positive manner. The Gift of Involvement invites you and your family to discuss the many ways you can become involved in this campaign and in our parish, including attending a reception. This also includes positive communication to others in our Lourdes family and in our Slidell community, as we will be inviting businesses and other Slidell groups to consider supporting our case. You can help by spreading the good news about our new church to your friends of all faiths.

9 The Gift of Financial Participation invites you to consider what you feel you can afford. This is a three year pledge period. We invite you to discuss this with your family and pray as you make the decision on your level of financial participation. NEW CHURCH SPECIFICS Q11: When will the building of the new church start? A11: Formal groundbreaking for the new church is anticipated at Easter, We hope to be worshipping in our new church by Christmas, Q12: How will the new church accommodate the elderly and physically-challenged? A12: During the design process, Kieran Weldon, architect with Fauntleroy and Latham, emphasized that accessibility for the elderly and physically-challenged would be a top priority. The new church will conform to all ADA regulations, and this includes ramps, an elevator, and at least 6 dedicated handicapped parking spaces. Inside the church, the goal is to create barrier-free space, offering access to the sacraments for the physicallychallenged. The new church will also feature special seating areas for those with wheel chairs or walkers, handicap-accessible restrooms, and access to portable hearing aids. Q13: Will the parking situation be improved? A13: Yes. In addition to the present parking lots, there will be additional parking around the new church with an estimated 100 new spaces. Q14: What will be the elevation of the new church? What is the seating capacity? A14: The new church will be elevated a minimum of 11 feet above sea level, which is 6 feet above the current grade of the site. This elevation is required by the City of Slidell s new building codes, established since Hurricane Katrina. The planned seating capacity, as approved by the Archdiocese, exceeds that of our old church. Seating will be available for more than 800 people. Q15: What religious articles from the old church will be incorporated in the new church? A15: The crucifix, several statues, and many of the refurbished candleholders will be incorporated into the new church. A company specializing in religious preservations has stored our stained glass windows. Plans for the marble baptismal font, the bell tower, the Stations of the Cross and other items are still under consideration. Q16: Will families be able to make memorial gifts? A16: The total cost of the church will be $8 million, with $7 million budgeted for construction and $1 million for the furnishings. With that said, our real need is for money to pay for the construction of the building. However, donations can be made for a limited number of memorials. The campaign office will have a list of these items. Q17: What are some other features of the new church? A17: The new church is to be built with all the special concerns our parishioners expressed in town meetings. The church will include two Quieting Rooms, a Reconciliation Room for face-to-face and private confessions, a gathering area, a central aisle, and an open floor plan. The altar table will be in the middle of the sanctuary. The new church will be built to look timeless, which represents the wishes of the parishioners to avoid contemporary designs. Our new church will look like a church. PLEDGES & DONATIONS Q18: What is the pledge period? A18: We will focus our efforts on a 3 year campaign period. However, if a longer time frame of 4 to 5 years is needed, we will be happy to accommodate such a request. Obviously, one-time gifts will also be an option. Q19: How will the pledge money be collected? Will we be billed on a regular basis? A19: The campaign is flexible in payment collection, so payment intervals can be individualized. Payments can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or yearly. With any selected payment schedule, statements will be sent to you, and you will be provided with envelopes to put in the offertory basket or mail back to the church office. Another method of payment will be a direct withdrawal from your checking or saving account, which will make it convenient for you to have an amount withdrawn on a regular schedule from your account. Forms to set up direct withdrawal with your bank will be available at any time during the campaign pledge period. Q20: Will the Campaign Office be able to take credit cards? A20: The Campaign will not accept credit cards payments since a 2% to 3% service fee is charged on credit card payments. We would prefer that your funds go to the Campaign rather than a credit card service center. However, if the convenience of a credit card payment appeals to you, please consider a direct withdrawal from your checking or saving account instead. Q21: What if our family s financial situation changes during the pledge period? Is our pledge legally binding? A21: If at any time after your commitment you need to adjust your financial pledge with the campaign office, we will be available to help you. We understand that life changes, both for good and for bad. Should your situation change, your pledge is not legally binding in any way. Your family will be able to decide what to do about the pledge, such as pay off the pledge at once, lengthen the pledge payment, reduce the payment, or cancel the pledge. During the three year time period of the campaign, we expect that some families will move away, or experience a decrease in income. We hope these losses will be balanced by families moving into the parish, or by those experiencing good fortune who would be able to increase their gift. If you ever feel you need to discuss this further you can contact the campaign office and those adjustments will easily be made. Q22: Will contributions to the campaign be kept confidential? A22: Yes, all pledges will be kept confidential and private. At no time in the campaign will gift amounts Questions and Answers

10 ever be disclosed. Pledges will be recorded by the campaign office and then sent to the business office for deposit. Acknowledgements will be handled by the campaign office. Three people will be responsible for protecting the privacy of each Letter of Intent the Campaign Coordinator, the Business Manager, and the ISPD consultant working with the Campaign. Great measures will be taken to assure that this very personal decision is kept confidential. Q23: Are gifts to the capital campaign tax deductible? A23: Yes. Contributions to the campaign are tax deductible. Official receipts of pledges and payments will be provided to each donor for tax purposes. THE OLD CHURCH AND OTHER FACILITY QUESTIONS Q24: What will happen to the bricks that we purchased in front of the old church? A24: Since the plans for the old church are not finalized, this is still to be decided. As they were installed with sand by Savoie Construction they can be moved without damage, if we choose to move them. Q25: Why can t the old church be rebuilt? A25: Through consultation with the architects, our insurance company, and the City of Slidell, the Archdiocese has made the decision not to rebuild our old church. This decision is based on the required flood elevation. Q26: What are the plans for our old church? A26: The Building Committee is currently evaluating the master site plan since changes have been required due to funding constraints. The Building Committee is looking at all options in regards to the best use of the old church space. Q27: Where will church offices and other administrative areas be located? A27: Currently, the church offices are in the renovated Parish Life Center. When the rectory building is rebuilt, these offices will move to the first floor of the rectory building. Q28: Will any of the portable school buildings be moved to begin construction on the new church? What is the eventual plan for the portable buildings? A28: The portable buildings, purchased by FEMA, will be able to be purchased by our parish at a very low price if we choose to keep them. These buildings will not have to be moved. So when the new school is built, our parish will decide whether we will keep these buildings or not. Q29: Will this Campaign take care of all of our other facility needs? A29: This Capital Campaign will only provide funding for the new church. The new school will be financed by FEMA and other master site plan improvements continue to be discussed and evaluated by the Building Committee. Q30: What if we raise more than $2 million? A30: If more than $2 million is raised, the Building Committee will evaluate the master site plan accordingly, seek further input from our parishioners, and then prioritize the needs. Seeing that this would be a great problem to have, we certainly would look at the other areas of our campus that need attention the rectory, the Parish Life Center, the Adoration Chapel, and other buildings that were damaged. Q31: How will our Capital Campaign reach out regionally and nationally to invite other parishes and schools to participate? A31: One of our campaign divisions, Parish Adoption, is set up for the specific purpose of following up with the numerous parishes, schools, etc. throughout our state and country who have contacted us and want to assist. Our plan is to visit these contacts in a manner of outreach so that we can share our story with them first hand. These efforts may also lead to other contacts which will also be pursued. We will also seek out grants, foundations, and other creative sources of outside financial assistance. This division will work in a long-term scope which may extend beyond our stated campaign time frame. Q32: Who are the leaders of this Campaign? A32: Many parishioners have volunteered their time to work on this campaign. We are extremely fortunate that a member of our parish, Frank Donaldson, is a principal at The Institute of School & Parish Development (ISPD). ISPD is a national Catholic consulting firm that works with Catholic parishes, schools and dioceses throughout the country. They are headquartered in New Orleans. Because of this special relationship, ISPD is donating all services to Our Lady of Lourdes. Our capital campaign leadership includes our pastors Father Frank and Father Kyle, campaign coordinator Gail Budde, and the five operational chair couples. Q33: How will we know about the Campaign s progress? A33: Expect regular communication through special supplements in the church bulletin, and to hear Father Frank and Father Kyle speak at Mass. Our website will feature updates, both for us and for those around the country. Should you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help during the campaign, please contact our capital campaign office at

11 Our Lady of Lourdes Ministries Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Altar Décor Altar Servers Annulment Ministry Blood Drive Ministry Catechetical Ministries Children s Liturgy of the Word Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at Mass Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist for the Homebound Knights of Columbus (and Auxiliary) Lectors Little Rock Scripture Study (Bible Study) Liturgical Seamstresses Marriage (Preparation and Enrichment) Ministry Men s Club Music Ministry Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) St. Joseph Altar St. Vincent de Paul Society Thanksgiving Community Outreach Ushers Welcome and Hospitality Ministry Women s Cenacle Home Retreats Young at Heart Ministry Youth Ministry Ministries and Gifts Gifts of Wisdom, Expertise, Skill and Talent......that you would be willing to share here at Our Lady of Lourdes: AC/Heating expertise Artist Auto mechanic Background in Public Relations, Marketing and/or Advertising Carpenter Chef Circus Clown Coach Communications expertise Desktop publisher Electrician Financial advisor Graphic artist Historian Horticulturist Inventor Legal advisor Musician Performer Photographer Plumber Small group facilitator Tax preparer Technology expertise Theater director Videographer Volunteer adult teacher Wood crafting talent Word processor

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