SAINT LOUIS AGAIN 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 addressed 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 and adding a new handicapped accessible bathroom. 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.

                The Campaign is in its final stages and has reached about $104 million. The next chapter of the Campaign is now unfolding, Upon This Rock is now in the process of sending disbursement 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. We are one of the those parishes that have received a portion of the funds we raised for Upon This Rock.

                On July 31st, St. Louis received its second portion of the Upon This Rock proceeds. We received $26,369.40 to further our efforts at St. Louis. The total we have received this year is $87,786.91. Over the course of the next few years we will receive two disbursements to be used for lift and modifications to the church hall.

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