Catholic Archdiocese Spends $15-$20 Million Per Year on Construction

In good times and bad, the Archdiocese of St. Louis spends, on average $15 million a year on construction, an article in this week's St. Louis Review, the Archdiocese's newspaper, reported.

There are between 10 and 20 building projects going on in the St. Louis Archdiocese at any one time, according to Bob Palisch, manager of archdiocesan building projects in the Building and Real Estate Office.
"About 10 to 15 projects a year are under contract, probably 15 to 20 are going on at any one time with another two or three in some stage of development," Palisch said. The Building and Real Estate Office provides advice and consultation for parishes in the 11-county archdiocese seeking to build, enlarge or renovate their facilities.

The office also works with archdiocesan and regional high schools in their building projects.

"There is an average of $15 million a year spent on construction costs" by archdiocesan entities, Palisch said. "That's not counting land acquisitions."

He added, "It's been like this for years."

To assist parishes, the Building and Real Estate Office has a list of pre-approved architects and contractors who can work with them.

Tom Richter, director of the Building and Real Estate Office, explained, "We set up parishes and schools contemplating construction with three architects to interview separately. They pick one. Then the parish usually starts fundraising activities and figures out what their budget is."

Parishes usually do that with the help of the Archdiocesan Finance Office. David Fairchild of that office explained, "We're the lender. ... By statute a parish cannot borrow outside of the archdiocese, so the St. Louis Archdiocesan Fund becomes the lender."

Father Denny Schaab, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Valley Park, consults with school principal Joan Wojciechowski, right, and Cheryl Degenhart, director of religious educati.on, in front of the new parish building, a 29,000-square-foot gym/auditorium, expected to be completed in April.

Fairchild said, "The Archdiocesan Fund rule is to raise half of what you need first, then come to us. We don't loan out more than half a project." If that doesn't happen, "we suggest cutting back on the project or phasing it over time."

Palisch said, "There are about 12 projects right now under construction. The two biggest are St. Patrick in Wentzville, which is building a new parish hall, and Sacred Heart in Valley Park, which is building a gym/auditorium.

"Our building is about 29,000 square feet," said Father Denny Schaab, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish. "It includes a stage and gym with two junior high basketball/volleyball courts ... and the school and religious education offices, an all-day kindergarten room, a music room and a faculty lounge."

Construction is slated to be completed in April, and everyone in the parish is excited, the pastor said, especially at Sacred Heart School.

The school recently won its third Physical Fitness State Champion Award from the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

"And that's without a gym," said Father Schaab. "We have an excellent physical education program here, and they're very excited about the gym."

The new building will serve the whole parish, Father Schaab said. With 2,760 households, Sacred Heart currently has no space large enough to host a Confirmation reception or other parish social functions.

"We've been renting for our social functions. So now we'll be able to do everything on site," the pastor said. "And the gym will include an elevated walking track, for adults only that overlooks the gym and has a separate entrance. This is for the whole parish."

Other current projects include a new school at St. Joseph Parish in Josephville; parking lot construction at St. Paul in Fenton; a new gym at St. Dominic High School in O'Fallon; interior renovations and a new entrance to John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Manchester; and major renovations to the second floor of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Shrewsbury.

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