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November 2007 Issue
Bishop's column
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In the July/August issue of FAITH magazine,
I shared with you the vision for Cathedral Square and
how it will bring together, in one area, the many ministries
and services of the diocese. The work on Cathedral Square
has begun. This new centralized area will enable us
to better serve our 175,000 Catholics who worship in
our 103 parishes and missions throughout our 11- county
diocese. |
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Over a year ago, we began celebrating all
our confirmation liturgies at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew.
In one year alone, these celebrations brought more than 10,000
visitors to the Cathedral, for the first time, creating a
new connection for many to our Mother Church and to the church
beyond the local parish community. Anchored by the Cathedral
of Saint Andrew, Cathedral Square will be a welcoming space,
bringing together Catholic Central High School, St. Andrew
School, our diocesan offices and a diocesan conference center.
It will continue to be a collaborative partner with Saint
Mary's Health Care and institutions in the surrounding urban
Heartside neighborhood.
It involves a shared commitment to provide
and care for the spiritual, educational and physical needs
of all people throughout the 11-county diocese. A significant
feature of Cathedral Square will be the renovated 100,000
square foot building, located on the corner of Wealthy St.
and Division St. in Grand Rapids, which will serve as the
diocesan pastoral center and conference center. Saint Mary's
Health Care has already leased the entire first floor. To
meet the growth and immediate needs of St. Mary's, we will
need to have their portion of the building available for occupancy
in late spring. While this is an aggressive timeline, it reflects
the energy and vibrancy of our church community in partnership
with other institutions in moving forward. Bringing all our
offices and ministries to one location will enable greater
collaboration between them and help us to more effectively
carry out the mission of the church.
A facility of this size is more in keeping
with our needs and will substantially reduce our operating
costs. Upgrading the surrounding areas will provide an improved
environment for Catholic Central High School and St. Andrew
School; and additional parking will be available in the parking
deck. A $22 million funding plan for the Cathedral Square
project is in place. It includes the sale proceeds from St.
Joseph diocesan campus (Burton St., Grand Rapids), $15 million
in a diocesan-wide campaign and some of the project will be
funded by bonds. The funding plan will provide an invitation
for all West Michigan Catholics to be involved and invest
in this important project. The funding plan has the option
for individuals, families and parishes to make contributions
payable over a multi-year period. There will be no required
targets, but an invitation to share in a mission to move the
church forward for years to come.
Details about how you can participate will
be available soon. Cathedral Square is about how we, as a
diocesan church, can more effectively carry out the mission
of our Lord's church, in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, now
and in the future. It is also about taking a significant place
in the community of Grand Rapids that continues to grow and
develop. We need to be at the table, in the midst of this
growth and development. We will soon celebrate Thanksgiving
Day. Though not a church-originated commemoration, Thanksgiving
Day has a deep religious element to it that many believers
identify with. It is family and community oriented.
On this holiday, the entire nation is invited
to give thanks for the blessings we share. I encourage you
to attend Mass on this very special day. In that same spirit,
I give thanks to God for one of the greatest of these blessings,
your faithfulness as the Catholic community in West Michigan.
May you continue to grow in the Lord's life and love.
- Bishop Walter A. Hurley is the
11th bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
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