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G I F T

is an acronym for

Growing In Faith Together

Gathering In Faith Together

Giving In Faith Together

Please contact Margie Beggy, Campaign Coordinator, with any questions or ideas.
           

Accepting the Greatest Challenge of our Parish’s History – the GIFT Campaign

“St. Ferdinand Parish is rich in ministries that serve those in need while exhibiting faith in God and dedication to Catholic values. These strengths are the foundation of the Parish Life Center we intend to build. This Center’s construction will   occur - not due to the wealth of a few, but because of all of us and our continuing gifts and sacrifices for the next three to five years.

You know it is rare for me to ask you for money, and when I do, it is for those who need our help the most. I need your help to prepare for tomorrow’s St. Ferdinand. It is time for us to minister to ourselves so that later we can minister to others as our Parish grows. Please help me as much as possible. I ask this gift of you - for you and for those who follow us.”   

                             Fr. John Gallagher

St. Ferdinand Church has been described as a generous and welcoming parish, supportive to new parishioners and transferees.  While it is the 3^rd largest parish in the Pittsburgh Diocese, based on membership, it has the feel of a small parish with a sense of home.  With these numbers, however, we are rapidly outgrowing our present facilities.

In the summer of 2007, St. Ferdinand Church was given permission by the Diocese of Pittsburgh to conduct a study to determine if expansion of the facilities was necessary and feasible.  With nearly 70 ministries and our current facilities, it was determined that not only was it necessary, it was long overdue.  The Diocese gave their blessing and the campaign began. 

With our limited facilities, spiritual and community growth are losing ground.  There is scheduling conflict for space among the ministries to the point where many have to meet offsite, including our CCD students.  By expanding the physical space at the parish, we can expand and enhance our spiritual and community needs.  Three phases have been designed to move the parish towards a Parish Life Center that will enhance our needs.

Phase 1:

Completed in the fall of 2009, it laid the groundwork.  It included a new annex which added much needed storage as well as better facilities for Gleaner’s Food bank which not only serves our parishioners but the Cranberry Community as well.  178 parking spots and a new entrance to Thompson Park Drive were added as well as a Wellness Path (sidewalk).  Finally, much of the site prep for Phase 2 and Phase 3 were done, including laying water and sewer lines and electrical for the next phases. 

A new Annex, a wellness path, 178 additional parking spaces, an exit to Thompson Park Drive, a shared entrance with Cranberry Township’s entrance

Phase 2:

This next phase will add much needed office space for our priests as well as the rectory and CCD staff.  16 classrooms will be added to allow more students to meet onsite.  This will also help with the scheduling of classes.  When not in use by our CCD students, these rooms will be available to our many ministries who need a place to meet.  Our existing education building will then be renovated.  Our Youth Ministry staff will get new office space and the youth will have a new space to meet in.  A new small hall and adult meeting room will be incorporated into this space existing space, allowing for additional ministries to meet while CCD is still in session.  A new courtyard in the center of the building will open with a rosary garden which will be accessible through several classrooms and meeting rooms.  Finally, our priests will receive a much needed renovation to their current living spaces in the rectory, or if funds are available, a completely new rectory.

A new playground, CCD spaces become youth offices, the small hall becomes a youth room, a new small hall for 100 or more, one of two adult meeting rooms, twelve offices for staff and priests, two workrooms, sixteen classrooms, an education lobby and a courtyard rosary garden

Phase 3:

Our final phase will include updates to the current church with additional pews, an expanded music room and a new bride’s room.  A new nursery and children’s liturgy room will also be added.  A new library will be built.  We will have a new social hall with a commercial kitchen attached allowing many social functions to occur.   Our current kitchen will be turned into a café and Oldenski Hall will become wellness gym.  The current church and new facilities will be connected with the new gathering space, giving us a wonderful place to gather before and after mass as well as social functions.  There will be a family wall commemorating all current parishioners who have traveled this journey with us. 

225 more seats in church, an expanded music room, a bridal room in the old nursery, a new meditation garden, a new rectory, a covered church entrance, a new gathering space (narthex), a parish commemorative wall, a social hall for more than 300 people, a parish library, a new children’s liturgy room/2^nd adult meeting room, a new nursery, Oldenski Hall becomes a wellness center/gym, a wellness center lobby, the kitchen becomes a café, a new commercial kitchen

All we have comes from God.  Help us give back to Him by sharing your time, talents and treasurers as we expand our facilities to help us enhance our spirituality.