Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are a number of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about our capital campaign.

Q-How long will the campaign run?
A-The pledge period will span three years. The solicitation phase of the campaign will end in late fall of 2005. The donor determines the schedule for making his or her pledge on an annual, semi-annual, monthly or quarterly basis. Payments made at the time of a pledge will allow us to quickly move ahead in addressing our needs. We hope to have all donations in and recorded by January 2009.

Q-What is the campaign goal?
A-Our hope is to raise $2 million.

Q-What are the options for spreading out my campaign pledge?
A-Your total gift may be spread out over the entire three-year campaign. You may elect to give monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or yearly. You may start your pledge at any time during the three-year period.

Q-What options do I have for giving?
A-You can pledge to the campaign with a gift of cash, real estate, stocks/mutual funds, annuities or life insurance.

Q-Are we receiving professional assistance with our campaign?
A-Yes. The Parish has hired the Steier Group, a professional fundraising organization from Omaha to provide guidance. Rich Roberts is the lead consultant and he spends three days a week-Wednesday through Friday-at Our Lady of Fatima. This is his lone project and when he isn’t on-site he is working for us out of his office.

Q-How will the campaign address the needs for Our Lady of Fatima?
A- $1 million from the campaign is earmarked for improvements campus-wide starting with the renovation of the church itself and other interior and exterior projects for all buildings and programs. The other $1 million from the campaign is earmarked for the Little Shepherds of Fatima Fund. By increasing this fund the financial assistance provided to the school by the parish will decrease. Eventually, we hope to use the yearly interest generated by the fund to provide any needed financial assistance to the school.

Q-What renovations are scheduled for the church building itself?
A-There is a great need for a centralized focus in the Sanctuary (altar, tabernacle, crucifix) so that we can always focus on the Lord during the liturgy. We have also decided to move the choir for aesthetical and acoustical reasons. We also need to update our sound system, pews and carpeting due to age. We are adding an adoration chapel and a new baptismal font.

Q-Why do we need an Adoration Chapel?
A- An adoration chapel will provide a major opportunity for the spiritual growth of our parish members. We believe that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, that it contains the entire spiritual good of the Church since it is Jesus himself present among us. All of our work as a Church should flow from our devotion to the Eucharist and in turn be directed back to it. Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is immensely valuable for our souls, the parish and the world. Parishes that have instituted perpetual adoration of the Eucharist have flourished in innumerable ways, most especially the spiritual growth of their members. We could think of no better way to show our devotion and the honor due the Most Blessed Sacrament than establishing an adoration chapel during this Year of the Eucharist.

Q-Will a permanent baptismal font in the vestibule changes how we use the vestibule?
A-The short answer is yes. We anticipate there will be baptisms after Mass, eliminating our ability to set up tables in the vestibule. Thus anyone wishing to sell anything or promote an issue will have to do so in the Parish Center or outside if the weather cooperates. Finally, by adding a permanent baptismal font, the vestibule becomes not only the physical but also the spiritual entry into the Church and should at that point be treated as a sacred space.

Q-Why are we moving the choir?
A-The choir is in a bad location visually and acoustically. The sound system is spread through out the church so no one person can control the system during a liturgy. Lastly, the choir members have expressed for some time that they want to move.

Q-Are we getting new pews?
A-In order to move the choir and reconfigure the chapel the pews need to be cut and rearranged. As we move forward, research shows the cost of cutting and moving our current pews is approaching 60 to 70 percent of the replacement cost of new pews. Our current pews are getting worn, the finish is wearing on the top rails, the fabric is buckling and they are staring to warp. Replacing our current pews brings us a new warranty, increases our capacity by about 70 seats and allows us to adequately provide seating for parishioners with physical limitations.

Q-We are increasing office space does that mean we are increasing our staff?
A-No. We are increasing our office space to bring our staff into a centralized location. Currently the staff is spread out between the main office and the Religious Education building. This makes communication among staff difficult and adversely impacts our staffs’ ability to work as efficiently together as possible to serve the needs of our parish and parishioners. By centralizing staff, we also will be able to cut our office costs by eliminating the need for duplicate supply rooms, copiers and other equipment.

Q-Why is it necessary to renovate our campus?
A-Many of the campus improvements are items that, ideally, should have been addressed over the years through an ongoing maintenance and capital improvement plan. The church itself has had no major work performed on it since it was built in 1978. The improvements made will allow us to better serve the Lord as well as provide a safer and more efficient environment for all parishioners.

Q-Will we have to conduct another campaign for capital improvements?
A- No. We are establishing a schedule for routine campus maintenance and ongoing capital improvements.

Q-What should I do if I want to help the capital campaign?
A-You may contact Monsignor Nickless, Father Kevin Augustyn, Deacon John Nusse or Rich Roberts from the Steier Group at the parish office (303.233.6236). They will be able to suggest how you may become involved.