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Support the Campaign Today!
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My dear parish family and friends,
“A Light by the Sea” is what we have always been at Holy Trinity, so it is a fitting name for our 2023 Capital Campaign to build a larger church on our historical property. I am excited to share our plans about our new church, how it will benefit our current and future families, and how your sacrificial gifts will be used. During a planning study in the spring of 2023, we asked if you would support this project through a capital campaign. The feedback and insights gathered during the study were extremely valuable in determining the next course of action. We also shared our findings that to retrofit, remodel and expand our existing church would cost as much, or likely more, than to demolish the existing church (using the parish hall for Masses during construction) and build new. Of course, any historical or other components of our existing church that could be used in the new church would be brought over.
In collaboration with our Archdiocese, we worked with our architect partners to develop initial plans and renderings. These are still being finalized, working in conjunction with the City of Bandon and other partners.
Humbly, I ask each family and our friends beyond the parish to support our effort as generously as you can, even to a sacrificial degree. If we all reflect on the gifts our Lord has bestowed on us and support the campaign with a generous heart, I’m confident that we will be successful, and our “Light by the Sea” will continue to shine bright for generations to come.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Anthony Ahamefule, Pastor
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Memorial Opportunitiesin our new church
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Our new church will be a living memorial, where those who helped build it will leave something to the world that is eternal. This will serve as a lasting tribute to honor the sacrifices our parishioners have generously made. The good they do is not interred with them, but will remain to share in the divine activity of God here on earth.
You can honor specific family members and/or loved ones in addition to your donations and pledges. We are offering a list of memorial items, the contribution for which will not only honor a love one, but help us meet our matching campaign goal to receive the $100,000 grant from the Joseph Weston Public Foundation.
Memorials are reserved on a first come, first served basis. They will be designated only once. Please call the office if you are interested in a memorial opportunity at 541-329-0697.
VIEW THE FULL LIST MEMORIAL ITEMS
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Our Story
For 140 years, Holy Trinity Catholic Church has provided a light for coastal residents and countless visitors. People have come to worship and pray during times of hardship, struggle, and uncertainty, as well as to celebrate joyous baptisms, weddings, and anniversaries. People have come to renew and enhance their faith, to receive the sacraments, to pray for their loved ones, and to find solitude in the beauty and serenity of this hilltop church overlooking Bandon and the Pacific Ocean. The strangers in our midst need a beautiful place that reflects the spiritual heritage our church and location have to offer them; a physical place where they can come to discern God’s will for their lives, and their place in God’s plan for salvation.
Our existing church was built simply and quickly, not too long after the catastrophic 1936 Bandon Fire. It was built by generous, committed parishioners who knew how important it was to keep God’s house, to keep “A light by the Sea” for that time and for future generations. For the past 15 years, parish leadership has been evaluating how to best maximize our location, while planning for future generations in the growing Bandon community.
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“Keeping
the old is
comfortable,
but life is just
not like that. We
have to move
on. We will need
a new church.”
- Alice Stadelman
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The Campaign Brochure
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What We are Building
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Project Benefits
1. Enhancing Accessibility: The absence of a cry room and the damaged ramp in the current building can make it difficult for families with young children and individuals with mobility issues to participate in the Mass fully. A new church with modern accessibility features ensures that everyone, regardless of age or physical condition, can comfortably attend and engage in worship.
2. Improving Flow and Communion Experience: The confusing flow of movement during Communion can disrupt the solemnity of the liturgy and detract from the worship experience. A new church could be architecturally designed to facilitate a smooth and organized Communion process, allowing parishioners to receive the Eucharist with greater reverence and order.
3. Enhancing Community Unity: The feeling of division caused by the annex part of the current building can be addressed by constructing a new church that fosters a sense of unity among parishioners. An integrated worship space can help bring the entire community together, reinforcing the parish's mission and purpose.
4. Modernizing Facilities: The dated sacristy, confessional and the small-sized restroom facilities will be upgraded and modernized in a new church building. This ensures that the clergy and parishioners have access to functional and well-equipped spaces that support the liturgical and practical needs of the parish.
5. Long-Term Sustainability: Investing in a new church can be seen as a long-term investment in the parish's future. It demonstrates a commitment to sustaining and growing the faith community for generations to come, ensuring that future parishioners will have a suitable place to worship and nurture their faith.
6. Beauty and Spiritual Renewal: The design of a new church provides an opportunity for a fresh, inspiring, and spiritually uplifting space. It can be crafted to reflect the beauty and sacredness of the liturgy, enhancing the overall worship experience for all who enter.
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“I believe in God, and I believe in the parishioners that attend Holy Trinity. And I believe that we will be able to build a church that is inviting, that allows young people to bring their children comfortably to Mass.” - Parishioner Kevin Kent -
Project Frequently Asked Questions
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Our existing church, constructed quickly in 1937 after the catastrophic 1936 Bandon Fire, has structural and accessibility issues that do not meet modern safety and building codes. Some basic examples are: our church restrooms are only accessible by walking in front of the entire congregation during Mass; there are no side aisles to return to one’s pew after Communion; nearly half the church has pews that are facing away from the altar, so that we can accommodate more people.
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This option was reviewed, but the cost to remodel the existing church (without increasing size) would be the same cost, and possibly greater cost, than the cost to build new. Due to this, and the desire to have a church that could serve our area for another 100+ years, the decision was made to build a new church.
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Many of our parishioners are in various age-ranges of newly/young retirees (55+) to elder retirees (75+), as well as community members, longtime family members and newly-arrived Bandon residents. Our responsibility is to ensure that our area has a welcoming Catholic church for now and future generations. Just as the early, dedicated Holy Trinity parishioners did.
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Our existing property is historical to the Church in Bandon, represents many, many decades of memories and sacrifices, and geographically is located so that it truly “shines a light” on the community. For these reasons, in addition to the extraordinary cost to construct all new buildings and infrastructure/improvements on bare land, we will remain at our existing location.
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During a Spring 2023 survey and interview process, our parishioners overwhelmingly support building a new church.
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We have been blessed by committed parishioners, many of whom have already offered to help with the Campaign to raise the needed funds. With God’s help, we know we can do this. Our Capital Campaign Company, Guidance in Giving, has provided one of the co-founders, Joseph Zamorano, to be onsite with us during the Campaign.
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It is anticipated that as early as late summer 2024, the first stage of work (demolition) could begin. We are still working with our architect, who will assist with the contractor bid process, but we expect the new church to be completed as early as 2025. We anticipate the final construction design and elements to be completed by early 2024, in preparation for permit submittal. Current elevations represent the drafted design, subject to final review and design.
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Mass will be held in the Community Center/Parish Hall. Since 2020, we have painted the interior, replaced the floors and lighting, install a top grade AV system, added storage space, and built an attached deck in anticipation of using this facility as a temporary worship space while easing the financial impact by budgeting these improvements over several years.
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Our Parish Hall, where the current chapel is located, lacks adequate space. By incorporating a new chapel into the new church, we gain additional room for classrooms and meetings, fulfilling our immediate and future space needs, thereby enhancing the overall functionality of the parish.
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No. Everyone is asked to support the Campaign with their best sacrificial pledge, not a certain dollar amount, as we all have different financial resources. Campaign support can also be made in other forms, via real estate gifts, investment accounts, etc.
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Pledges can be made over a period of 5 years.
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These are all options. You will know what is best for your situation.
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Yes. Gift naming opportunities (for areas or items in our new church) are possible. For some ideas, click here.
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This project is not just about addressing our immediate needs, it is about ensuring the long-term sustainability of our faith community. While there are indeed many pressing needs in our broader community, our church serves a unique purpose in nurturing and preserving our Catholic faith, fostering spiritual growth, and providing a place of worship and community for generations to come. By investing in our church, we are also investing in the spiritual well-being of our community, which, in turn, enables us to better serve the needs of others. It's about finding a balance between addressing immediate needs and securing the spiritual foundation that empowers us to meet those needs with love and compassion.
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This would be great news! Please invite them to visit our Campaign web page, or if it would be better for Fr. Anthony or a member of the Campaign Team to contact them, please let us know.
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Yes! There are many opportunities. Please call the parish office and someone from the Campaign will return your call.
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Support Our Capital Campaign Today!
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