ST. LOUIS BENEFITS FROM UPON THIS ROCK

                Last year from January 2016 until June 2016 St. Louis was part of the Upon This Rock  initiative. The goal of this endeavor is to raise $100 million to support the various ministries that are so necessary for the functioning of the diocese. A portion of this campaign is also meant to support individual parishes in the diocese to continue their unique and various ministries as well.

                As a part of this program, parishes were asked to identify a need that they would like to address in order that each parish may continue their good works. For more than 10 years we have been discussing the possibility of making the church hall handicapped accessible. This entails installing a lift to make it easier for people to access the hall, a new handicapped accessible bathroom and to enclose the handicapped ramp to make it easier for people entering the church. Obviously, this is quite an undertaking.

                Thanks to the Upon This Rock program we are able to undertake this project. It is already underway. The trustees and the Finance/Restoration Committee have been meeting with an architect on design work and future implementation.

                As of this past week the Upon This Rock Campaign has raised 83.6% of its goal, that is, $83,637,583 of the $100 million dollar goal. The next chapter of the campaign is now unfolding, as Upon This Rock begins the disbursement of checks to parishes. The Foundation for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, the organization that manages the generously donated funds, disburses funds every six months, on January 31 and July 31. Any parish that has completed its campaign will receive a check with a portion of its parish share. This month, 62 parishes have received checks to begin their individual improvements. We are one of those parishes  that have received a portion of the funds we raised for Upon This Rock.

                On January 31st, St. Louis received its first portion of the Upon This Rock proceeds. We received $61,417.51 to further our efforts at St. Louis. Over the course of the next few years we will receive two disbursements to be used for enclosure of the handicapped ramp, lift and modifications to the church hall.

                Thank you once again for your kind generosity in supporting the works of St. Louis Parish.