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VOL. XIV NO. 4 Our
Lady of the Lake Parish, Edinboro, PA December 1999 |
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Architects examine
options for parish |
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In September,
pastoral council approved funding for the architectural feasibility study
and an appraisal of both the church and the Newman Center. So far, both
services have cost about $13,000. That money comes from the parish capital
improvements fund.
Meanwhile, parishioners have been invited to attend informational meetings
about the proposed changes at Our Lady of the Lake. Another meeting may
be held sometime in December.
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By Mary Solberg |
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Two Erie
architectural firms have been hired to study possible changes at Our Lady
of the Lake Parish.
Weibel, Rydzewski and Schuster and Weborg and Rectenwald Architect Inc.
are studying the feasibility of three options under consideration now by
the parish. Those options include: renovating the church on Maple Drive,
renovating the Newman Center on the Edinboro University campus, and building
a new church.
The firms are expected to report their findings in early January to
the parish's Long Range Facilities Planning Committee. The 17-member committee
will then review the results and give the pastoral council its final recommendation
next spring.
"It's in the hands of the experts right now," said the committee chairman,
Jon Foulkrod. "We're in a holding mode."
Since last February, the committee has been trying to figure out ways
to make the parish more effective liturgically and financially. Its job
has been to determine what to do with the church on Maple Drive and how
to best serve Catholic students at the Newman Center on the Edinboro University
campus. |
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Find out what fellow
parishioners are saying about possible changes at Our Lady of the Lake.
Turn to Page 2 *
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"Most people
in the parish are at the point where they know we have to do something,"
Foulkrod said. "Doing nothing is not an option anymore."
Foulkrod emphasized that parishioners will have a big say in what happens
with the whole process. The feasibility study will only state what is possible
or not. It will not be a mandate to the parish.
After the study is in, the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee
will meet over a period of a few months to consider the big picture. Members
will have to reflect on what parishioners think of possible changes. Of
particular concern is the effect any decision will have on the parish outreach
to Catholic students at Edinboro.
"This is an emotional issue and it will continue to be an emotional
issue," Foulkrod added.
He's eager to get as much feedback as possible from parishioners. So
far, the informational meetings have not been heavily attended.
"It's kind of discouraging," Foulkrod said. "So we'd like to get as
much input from the people as we can."
If anyone wants to talk to Foulkrod personally, they may call him at
his home at 734-3326. |
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Inside This Issue |
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What's everyone
saying? 2
News from campus 3
PreCana offered here 3
Q & A with Fr. John 4 |
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2 |
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What Do You Think? |
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Some members
of Our Lady of the Lake attended recent meetings to discuss the future
of the parish.
Many changes could be in store. Among the options being discussed are:
renovating the church on Maple Drive, renovating the Newman Center on the
Edinboro University campus, or building a new church.
Here's what some parishioners had to say: |
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I'm excited
about the possible changes because I do think we need a consolidated worship
space. It would be exciting to have all of us together. The bottom line
is to pray about this because the answer will come. In a community of faith,
we will be led in the right direction.
-- Gina Pilewski |
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My main
thought is that they missed another option: keep the Newman Center and
renovate it and build a new church. I will support building a new church,
but I will not support closing the Newman Center. We have to accept the
responsibility of serving that half of our community. We have to meet the
needs of those Catholic students.
--Ron Baker |
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I'm really not for
or against anything, but they better have some input from people who know
what they're doing. Money-wise, what type of building should they build?
Don't hire a lot of people to do this and that and find out you can't financially
afford it.
--John Brinker |
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As far
as changes, I like an option not there which is to renovate the church
and sell the Newman Center.
--Terry Burbules
I guess it will be good to have a new church. There are so many people
and it's crowded. I would like it.
--Bridget Cole |
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This is
a dream, really. Anyone who wants to should make a drawing or blueprint
of what they think the church should be. Have people make pictures or drawings,
then at the architect stage, you will have a whole pool of ideas. We have
a great sense of community in this church. I think that if we can get everyone
involved in this, we're going to keep this community.
--Rose Scouten |
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A parishioner
reflects |
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PUBLISHER:
Fr. John Jacquel
EDITOR: Mary Solberg |
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Dear Fr.
John,
At the prompting of yourself and various committees we have been asked
to reflect, pray, discuss, and contribute ideas regarding the problem of
the worship sites. It seems that |
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cases,
it's probably more a matter of convenience and schedules. Personally, I
think we have a pretty good parish with some really great people. A little
less talk about division, please!
Why does it really matter so much where we go to Mass? What kind of
chairs we sit on? Whether the floor is flat or not? If a friend invited
you to dinner, would you decline the invitation because you knew their
tableware did not match?
(Continued on page 3) |
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PRODUCTION: Lisa
Mook |
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The
Canticle is published quarterly (March, June, September, December).
The purpose of this newsletter is to inform parishioners of Our Lady of
the Lake about activities, events, and religious developments. It also
is an outlet for personal expression. |
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there cannot
be a function that one could attend that sometime in the discussion it
does not come up.
There seems to be a theory that our parish is divided: those who attend
the Newman Center and the group that attends the church. I really do not
see the division. In most |
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4 |
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Our pastor, Father
John Jacquel went on a pilgrimage to Israel and Italy Nov. 7-21. He traveled
with 30 other people, including parishioners Mary Ann Wellman, Betty Malec,
Julie Green and Mary Jane Eicholtz. |
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Canticle:
How has visiting Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, made Christmas different
for you?
Fr. John: I'm not sure. I know that in visiting Nazareth,
I was touched with the thought that the God who made the heavens and the
earth and all that is in them chose this place to take on human flesh,
which was an incredible sacrifice on God's part. In Bethlehem, we celebrate
the place Jesus was born--and I can well imagine that the six/seven-day
journey to Bethlehem by a woman bringing a child to term had to be quite
an ordeal!
Canticle: Do you have any more insights about the Blessed Mother
since you have visited Nazareth and Cana?
Fr. John: Mary was both deeply generous and a bold leader--accepting
and trusting the plan of God (Nazareth), as well as helping to prod her
son, Jesus,
to begin his public ministry (Cana). What a balanced, strong, faith-filled
woman with tremendous conviction! |
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Canticle: Some
people would like to visit the Holy Land, but are concerned about their
safety. Is that a legitimate concern? |
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Fr.
John: Pilgrims (and tourists, too) are the "bread and butter" of
this economy--whether Jew, Muslim, or Christian. Everyone acknowledges
that it would be "out of line" to threaten this. However, in Egypt,
tourists have been attacked. Still, it isn't without risk and it never
has been. Pilgrimage agencies take special pains to ensure the safety of
their clients. There were places we did not visit due to "political instabilities."
Canticle: What stands out most in your mind about your visit
to Rome and Assisi?
Fr. John: The catacombs (underground burial passages) have
a powerful effect and the village of Assisi (perched on Mt. Subio) has
a charm that will infect the pilgrim (who is required to have good walking
shoes and plenty of stamina), even the most insensitive. You can't help
but be humbled by the faith of the early Christians. |
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Address Correction Requested |
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Our Lady
of the Lake Church
The Canticle
128 Sunset Drive
P.O. Box 838
Edinboro, PA 16412 |
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Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Edinboro, PA
Permit No. 39
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