Faith, Family and Tradition are the cornerstones of St. Luke Parish. From its earliest days as St. Thomas Mission, our parish has been a spiritual home where Catholics have celebrated the moments of joy and sorrow of their lives. Generations have been Baptized, Confirmed, Married and said their final farewells to their loved ones in St. Luke Church. Today the parish continues to embrace all who join us seeking a community that nourishes their faith. For families with children, the parish school provides a Gospel-based education as it has for generations. Some parish families are represented in their third and fourth generations. Past generations have built and maintained our parish and its buildings. Through good times and bad St. Luke parishioners have risen to the challenge to foster and grow our Catholic Faith. Our first generation built the first church in 1887 125 years ago. During World War I, St. Luke s second generation built our first school, which was dedicated on October 21, 1921, and featured a four-lane bowling alley. Our third generation built our magnificent Tudor Gothic church during the Great Depression, opening in 1936. Not to be outdone, St. Luke s fourth generation built our current school in the 1950 s, complete with the gym the largest of its time. Age has and will continue to take a toll on our parish buildings. To assure they will be here for the generations that follow us, we need to raise $2 million to fund critical projects like tuckpointing, roof repairs, heating and air conditioning systems, walkways and stairs, and structural deterioration. Through wars, the Great Depression, and good and bad economic times, the faithful of St. Luke have made sacrifices to build our parish. Now our generation is called to repair, preserve and maintain our parish buildings, so we can leave future generations the clear sign of our commitment to them and to our Faith. Like the generations of St. Luke parishioners in whose footsteps we follow, please join us in being a part of our 125 th Anniversary Campaign, as we step up to meet our challenge: to preserve St. Luke Parish as lovingly for the next generation as it was lovingly preserved for us. Restoring our glorious windows is just one of our many repair needs. More information and photos can be found inside.
A Letter From Our Pastor... October 2012 Dear Parishioners of St. Luke Parish, Leo XIII was Pope, Grover Cleveland the President of the United States and the population of River Forest numbered fewer than 1,000 people when our parish was established in 1887. Now 125 years later we gather to celebrate the 125 th Anniversary of Faith at St. Luke s. Through times of growth and times of challenge our parish has become a central part of our lives because of our parishioners commitment to our Faith and our parish community. Generations of St. Luke parishioners have left us a wonderful legacy of Faith and made sacrifices to build our magnificent church and other buildings as an expression of that Faith. As a special committee of parishioners and I thought about our 125 th Anniversary Celebration, we looked at the long-term repair, preservation and maintenance of our buildings. After careful review of a thorough study of our buildings, as well as a feasibility study in which you may have participated, we have decided to launch a Capital Campaign to raise $2 million to continue the legacy of the generations that have come before us. I am pleased to tell you that Doug and Kathy Kurtenbach and Lou and Sally Nieto have agreed to Co-Chair this effort. Other parishioners will work with them to discuss the Campaign in the coming months, and will actively seek your support. For the past 12 years it has been my privilege to be your Pastor. My day-to-day experiences of the Faith and generosity of the people of St. Luke give me the courage to ask for your help again. We face uncertain economic times similar to the generation who built our church during the Great Depression. With the help of the 125 th Anniversary Committee and the great tradition of generosity in our parish, the repair, preservation and maintenance of our buildings will be assured and we will leave to those yet to come the continued legacy of the generosity and Faith of St. Luke Parish. Sincerely yours in Christ, Father Ken Fischer Pastor
A Letter From Our Co-Chairs... October 2012 Dear Fellow St. Luke Parishioners, Like many others, before Father Ken asked us to co-chair the 125 th Anniversary Capital Campaign we had not focused on the deterioration of our buildings. A walk around our campus, as well as a review of the studies done by an expert team, quickly showed us the need for extensive work. Over the years we have served on a variety of parish boards and we accepted Father Ken s invitation as a way to continue our involvement and service to St. Luke s. We have beautiful buildings and a parish with a tradition of deep Faith and generosity. And just as our homes need constant upkeep and maintenance to secure them for the future, so also do our parish buildings. Repair, Preservation and Maintenance Projects Preserving the beauty of our worship space: Painting the interior of our church Refinishing the woodwork Cleaning the stained glass windows Improving the lighting Keeping the elements out of our buildings, including: Repairing our school and church window lintels Repairing or replacing selected school windows Tuckpointing of the church, school, gym and rectory Repairing the stained glass window lintels Repair or replacement of deteriorated HVAC systems, including: Steam and condensation piping Main condensate pumps Vacuum pumps in the kitchen and church Air handlers for our school Boilers Air conditioning for our church Air ductwork modification Repair or replacement of school roofs, including: Main building Gym Stage Kindergarten Replace various sidewalks, stairs and the lift As Co-Chairs we have accepted the challenge to raise $2 million for the repair, preservation, and maintenance of our parish buildings. We are fully committed to the goal of the Campaign, and others have enthusiastically joined the Committee. Over the next several months members of the Committee will attempt to reach out to every St. Luke parishioner. This Campaign is a total parish effort and we hope that everyone will participate. We will be seeking pledges payable over three years to reach our goal. At every step St. Luke will be completely transparent as to how the funds you donate are put to use. Over the past 125 years, the generosity of St. Luke parishioners has been unwavering because it is rooted in the idea that St. Luke is our spiritual home. In 1887 the first generation of St. Luke parishioners made huge sacrifices to create this spiritual home for future generations. Now, 125 years later, as we reap the benefits of these sacrifices, we hope you will join us in carrying out our present day charge: to preserve St. Luke Parish for generations to come. Very truly yours, Doug and Kathy Doug and Kathy Kurtenbach Lou and Sally Lou and Sally Nieto
Repair Preservation Maintenance Church and rectory stairs need major repair. Concrete is wearing down and holes have begun to appear. Rusting lintels over school windows cause shifting of masonry. Lintels and other weight bearing structures in the church, school and rectory have numerous stress breaks. The boiler and other heating and air conditioning system components are old and deteriorating. The stair lift needs to be replaced because the old structural tubing on which it rides does not currently have proper conductivity.
1 1. St. Luke s beautiful and historic stained glass windows are threatened by cracking of the copper solder joints of the gutters due to age, expansion and contraction. 2 2. As a result of settling, the effects of weather and lack of maintenance, there are multiple fissures in the buildings, which need to be repaired to avoid further problems. 3. The damage to church and rectory mortar joints caused by moisture seepage appears throughout the building exteriors, and portends more serious issues unless repaired. 4. The steel sleeves inside the cement for the handrails of the ramp access to the church are rusting, causing the concrete to crack. 3 4
St. Luke Parish Memories The purpose of the 125 th Anniversary Capital Campaign is to enable the repair, preservation and maintenance of parish buildings. The buildings, however, are more than the physical structure of the parish. They are the places where St. Luke memories are made. Here are a few of the many memories born at St. Luke Parish. Some St. Luke parishioners say that their most memorable Easter Vigil Mass took place a few years ago when the power went out. Father Ken Fischer and the congregation carried on with the aid of flashlights, tapers, music and a great deal of humming. Jane Clark recalls the strict dress code for Confirmation. The sisters pinned handkerchiefs and napkins to the dresses of girls whose sleeves did not reach their elbows. A few things have changed! When Father Dunne prayed his Office he walked with a saint his faithful St. Bernard dog. The pair prayed twice for sure. Kathleen Callahan and many other parishioners savored the wonderful St. Patrick s Day dinners with Father Fahey singing and playing the piano. Many a St. Luke school graduate remembers Father singing The Three-Cornered Hat. Marge Buckingham received all her sacraments, including marriage at St. Luke, but lived in another parish for 50 years. When she moved back into the parish several years ago she walked to the church for Mass and felt right at home, she says. Bunny Mullins idolized Sister Fridelia, her third grade teacher, to whom she revealed all the family secrets, even the amount of the telephone bill. Bunny and her family bowled in the basement of the old school on Sunday afternoons when the maintenance person, a family friend, let them in. Bill Darley was a pinsetter! How about a tornado threatening River Forest during the Sacrament of Confirmation a few years ago! This is just what happened, but it didn t faze the Bishop or anyone else. The church was evacuated and the Mass continued in Waldron Hall. The Holy Spirit spared St. Luke so we had no damage, just a good story to tell in the years ahead! St. Luke gave me a musical start, recalls Father Bob Cross. I sang in the choir and also played the mellophone and baritone and bass drums in the band. Later at Quigley and Mundelein I learned to play the French horn. Dennis Dooley remembers his seventh grade teacher, a jolly, ruddy-faced nun named Sister Dominicus. It was a very hot day, and you could see the droplets of sweat squeezing out from under the hot woolen black veil. Oh, sister, sympathized Dennis mother, you must be so hot. Wouldn t you like a nice big glass of lemonade? To which Sister Dominicus whispered back with a wink, I d rather have a nice big stein of beer! Father Canty created many memories for St. Luke parishioners. Bill Darley regarded him as a surrogate father after his own dad died. Louise Williams Pendarvis recalls that Father would not allow girl/boy parties. Jane Clark tells how Father Canty baptized her nephew in the hospital and sat with the family during a most difficult time.
Frequently Asked Questions... WHY ARE WE HAVING A CAMPAIGN NOW? Our 125 th Anniversary Celebration presents us with a great opportunity to look back at our history and prepare for the future. Following consultation with our parish leadership, a Special Committee developed an analysis and report of the short- and long-term needs of the parish, which is now being presented to the entire parish. Yes, these have been tough economic times. However, the positive response to our feasibility study and our Anniversary Celebration presents a unique opportunity in our history to face the future. WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE CAMPAIGN? The goal of our Campaign is to create a $2 million 125 th Anniversary Fund to be used solely for the repair, preservation and maintenance of our magnificent buildings. WHAT WILL THE CAMPAIGN COST? The Campaign will cost $100,000 or less. This cost includes materials, printing, fees to our consultant, Campaign events, mailings, bank fees related to credit card gifts, and office supplies. WHAT STEWARDSHIP OVERSIGHT WILL BE BUILT INTO THE CAMPAIGN? The stewardship of the gifts given to the Campaign is of the utmost importance to the Committee. Complete transparency in using the funds raised is our goal and commitment to the parish. The Parish Finance Council, the Buildings and Grounds Committee, and the Pastor will oversee the 125 th Anniversary Fund. The funds we raise will be used exclusively for the repair, preservation and maintenance of the parish campus. WHY DO WE NEED $2 MILLION? The Finance Council s year-long study and analysis showed that the parish needs $2 million for long-term and short-term repair, preservation and maintenance. Not only did the Finance Committee retain expert consultants for this process, but a subcommittee vetted the process, and parishioners with experience in these areas further vetted the estimates and analysis. CAN T WE PAY FOR REPAIR, PRESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OUT OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET? Like other parishes the financial crunch of recent years has required us to defer large repairs, preservation and maintenance. The estimates of What we need that you read in the bulletin weekly do not include long-term maintenance but only current operating expenses. As most of you know, we struggle but succeed in raising funds needed each year to meet our current operating expenses. THE BUILDINGS LOOK FINE. AREN T WE GOING OVERBOARD? Although the buildings look beautiful, like our homes, when you examine them closely, there are a number of fundamental issues that need to be addressed before they become more extensive and expensive. Starting now and over the next few years, roofing, tuckpointing, HVAC and other systems need repair and maintenance. As a part of the Campaign, you ll see photos of areas where repairs are essential. They are needed. And they will continue to be needed every year. WILL WE USE THE PRINCIPAL OF THE FUND OR JUST THE INTEREST? The interest alone would not be enough. We will need to use the principal, at least for the foreseeable future, to fund the projects that we know are needed over the next decade. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CAMPAIGN? There are many different and creative ways to participate in this important Capital Campaign: Investing in Our Future. They include: a one-time gift by check, credit card or cash pledge payable over three years or with a payment schedule to accommodate individual needs stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other liquid assets real estate, annuities or charitable remainder trusts matching gifts and memorial gifts.
T o everyone who reads this brochure, opens their homes to our volunteers, and makes the choice to support the St. Luke Parish 125th Capital Campaign Inves ng in Our Future, we sincerely thank you for your dedica on and faithfulness! Your sense of stewardship, through the financial commitment you are making on behalf of St. Luke, is a great blessing. As members of this faith community, this parish has been placed in our hands and is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. God bless you for recognizing the need and offering your support, your prayers and your never ending devo on. CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS Doug & Kathy Kurtenbach 267-8619 Lou & Sally Nieto 771-2164 STEERING COMMITTEE Sarina Butler 771-9588 Jack & Stephanie Flynn 366-7990 Kevin & Molly Hanley 366-7210 Jim & Deborah Hopkinson 771-6749 Bill and Katie Planek 848-6547 Andy and Katie Rauh 366-2999 Fr. Kenneth J. Fischer 771-8250 PASTOR Over the course of the Campaign you will be hearing more from them about the Campaign and how you can help con nue the great tradi ons of St. Luke Parish. 528 Lathrop Ave River Forest, IL 60305 708-771-8250 www.stlukeparish.org