Q1  Why are we building a new church instead of using the current buildings that we already own? 

A1  The Parish commissioned a series of studies in recent years to test the viability of just that.  The existing buildings (Corpus Christi and Sacred Heart) would cost $13 million each to bring up to standard.  This is $6 million over the projected costs of construction on the new church building.  There is also the issue of unity as a parish.  The challenging times that we live in are requiring the consolidation of the parishes in Webster County and it is important that we meet those challenges with faith and determination as one body, unified and moving forward into the future.  

Q2 Why are we starting this project now? 

A2  The need for a new church exists today and the challenges we face must be met now.  The Living Our Faith, Building Our Future committee and the Long Range Planning Committee before that, has been carefully planning the steps necessary to build the church and determine the readiness of the parish.  We are ready to suppoort the campaign now. 

Q3  Who will be asked to support the Living Our Faith, Building Our Future campaign? 

A3  Every household in the parish will be asked for its prayerful consideration of a financial pledge to the Living Our Faith, Building Our Future campaign. 

Q4  Why emphasize pledges? 

A4  The Living Our Faith, Building Our Future campaign emphasizes pledging because it allows individuals and families the opportunity to consider larger commitments then they could usually consider in making a one-time gift.  Experience in past campaigns shows that donors who pledge were able to consider gifts 4-5 times larger than those who made one-time gifts.  This is important in a campaign of this magnitude.  

Q5  Why does Monsignor's letter ask for a specific gift amount? 

A5  Prospective donors throughout the parish need to know what level of support is necessary to raise the goal for the new church.  Therefore, a gift amount is suggested for each household in the parish to prayerfully consider.   No judgement is made on the level of a gift you or others make.  Whatever the amount, your pledge should be planned, proportionate and sacrificial. 

Q6  Why ask parishioners for different amounts?  Wouldn't dividing the goal by the number of households be easier and fairer?

A6  It certainly would be easier.  However, it definitely would not be fairer, and would ensure that the parish does not reach its goal.  Because people are blessed differently, a principle of the campaign is equal sacrifice, not equal giving.  We all give to the parish at varying degrees.  While all parishioners should be contacted, those with little giving history are least likely to give to a major campaign.  Therefore, asking for equal amounts from everyone would put the campaign in jeopardy.  However, if we ask for different amounts based on past giving and commitment to Holy Trinity, we challenge all to give as they are able and according to their blessings, and in the process, help to ensure the Living Our Faith, Building Our Future campaign's success. 

Q7  Why is an initial payment requested?  Is it required? 

A7  Living Our Faith, Building Our Future campaign asks for an initial payment to begin a pledge.  This helps to immediately address the needs of the campaign and begin construction as soon as possible.  Many donors actually prefer to begin their pleges immediately.  Some may even give more than the requested 10%.  However, an initial payment of 10% is not required, and the donor also may elect to give less initially or nothing at all.  Initial payment checks should be made payable to Holy Trinity Parish. 

Q8  How should subsequent payments be made? 

A8  You may choose to pay on your pledge monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.  Reminders will be sent according to your chosen schedule.  

Q9  Why is each donor asked to complete a commitment card?

A9  A donor is asked to complete a commitment card so that the gift may be appropriately recorded and acknowledged by Holy Trinity.  The most important information Holy Trinity requests is the total amount of the commitment, the amount of the initial payment (if any), the balance, and the payment plan selected by the donor.  Donors are asked to sign the commitment cards as a good faith commitment, indicating that they have agreed to the terms of the gift indicated on the card.  A commitment card is not a legally binding document and we know that people's financial circumstances change.  If that is the case, please contact the parish to discuss possible options. 

Q10  To what extent are gifts to the Living Our Faith, Building Our Future campaign tax deductible? 

A10  Gifts to the campaign are tax deductible as allowed by law.  The application of such laws varies with individual financial circumstances.  Parishioners with specific questions regarding tax deductibility should contact their attorney or tax preparer.  

Q11  Are pledges and one-time gifts the only kinds of gifts accepted by the Living Our Faith, Building Our Future campaign? 

A11  While cash gifts and pledges are most common, it may be advantageous to the donor to make a gift of appreciated stock or commodities.  For electronic transfer of stocks please refer to our Stock Transfer Instructions.  

Q12  What if we do not raise the full amount? 

A12  We expect that the parish will reach our goal in pledges and initial gifts.  We are not able to begin building the facility until we have raised 50% of the goal in cash.  We will hold the money raised in a special account until we reach this point.  If the projected pledges at the end of the campaign are significantly lower than expected, we will discuss options with the architect to simplify our Phase 1 construction.  The new facility must be built to meet the needs of the parish. 
 

Q13 I (parishioner) am curious as to what your plans are for the Grotto beside Corpus Christi. I would think that it would be great to incorporate it into the new Church Building (or in front of St Edmonds). It would be very tragic to lose this monument.

A 13 Fabulous question!  The Grotto has been a part of the design discussion.  An attempt will be made to move the Grotto over to the Holy Trinity Catholic Church property when the new church is completed.  Determining what will move from other worship sites to the new church is a topic of continual dialogue with the architects and design team.  We would encourage parishioners to share with us what they might like to see in the new church from the other worship sites!  

Q14  Why is the parking for Holy Trinity Catholic Church on the north side and not on the south side where the sun would hit it better? 

A14  As a part of the land swap with St. Edmond Catholic School, there is a designated "line" or area to which we, the parish, can not go south onto.  To have put the parking lot on the south side would have impeded upon the area which we agreed to not build on.  Secondly, street access would have been more difficult.  Third, parking on the north side also allows for the additional Catholic campus "feel", as all of the administrative offices for the school, Marian Home and parish would be located on 6th Avenue North. 
Also note, that on weekends the parish will be able to utilize the student parking lot behind St. Edmond Catholic School as additional parking for masses and parish events.  There will be a connecting sidewalk built from St. Edmond student (back) parking lot to the church buildings. 

*Land swap was for the north part of open land at St. Edmond for the old Phillips Middle School gym and field, which the parish purchased a few years ago. 

Q15   What happens with the monies received from the capital campaign while we wait to begin building?

A15  An account has been set up at the Diocese of Sioux City which gives us 2% on the principal in the account.  This is a non-market related account, so the money is not exposed to volatility of the market.  In addition, no one but the parish corporation may take money out of the account. 

Q16  Will the the church, inside and outside, be architecturally traditional or modern? If traditional, will the statues, stations of the cross, etc., (from SH and CC) be incorporated in the new structure?

A 16  This is a question that was actually answered by the parishioners! Last year the design team asked parishioiners to give their input on what they like about the Holy Trinity worshipsites and what parishioners didn't like. The design team then utilized this information to guide them.

The information gathered overwhelming indicated that staying with a more traditional design for Holy Trinity Catholic Church would be the best route. A traditional design would help to maintain a Catholic identity in Webster County, but also throughout northwestern Iowa. The decision was made to move forward with a Latin cross design, though a bit shorter than one see's in older churches. Additionally the use of three's was chosen to emphasize the Trinity.

The team chose to not have columns in the interior so as not to impede the view of parishioners. The shorter design of the Latin cross allows for a more personal setting and engagement in the Eucharistic celebration. A large Baptismal font is designed to be placed as you move from the spacious narthex area to the entrance of the church.

There is still much work to be done on the interior design. The design team would like to utilize statues, stations and other artwork from the various Holy Trinity worshipsites, including the oratories. First though, the facilities committee needs to determine what will be done with our existing facilities. The facilities committee is gathering information, along with prayerfully discerning, how to move forward with our current worshipsites.

If you have statues or other artwork you would like to see utilized in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church be sure to let us know!

Q17  What will happen with the Stations of the Cross at Sacred Heart?  

A17  Honestly we are blessed to have several sets of beautiful stations in Holy Trinity Parish.  As mentioned in yesterday's Q and A, the design team would like to utilize statues, stations and various artwork from existing worshipsites in the new church.  Which ones will be utilized where?  Well, that's a question that will take some time to determine. The design team will need to consider the following when making those decisions: 
1) Does a piece of artwork fit within the design scheme for the interior of the church?  color, style etc.. 
2) Does the dimentions of the artwork blend with the dimentions of the church? 
3) Would the artwork fit better in a different area of the church grounds - chapel, social hall, courtyard or another room?

I'm sure this is not an exhaustive list of things to consider  However. we do know that our architects from BVH are fully aware of our desire to blend our historical artwork into the new church and connecting buildings. 

Q18  Why build a daily Mass chapel for the new Holy Trinity Catholic Church when the Marian Home chapel sits just across the street?

A18  Church law distinguishes between a parish church and its rightful use by all the parishioners and an oratory / chapel whose use is designed for a specific community for restricted use.  Under the Sioux City diocesan norms for churches verses oratories / chapels, the Bishop has decreed that the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation) be celebrated in the parish church.  Permission can be given for a funeral Mass or a Catholic wedding to be celebrated in oratories / chapels, but doing so also requires the permission of the administrator of the oratory / chapel.

The Marian Home chapel was erected for those residing in the Marian Home and Village.  While the Marian Home administration is most welcoming to Holy Trinity parishioners for daily Mass and other prayer opportunities, it is the administration’s job to restrict access to the chapel in light of protecting the residents.  For example: it might be necessary to protect residents from a stain of virulent flu which could be introduced by visitors to the chapel or residents’ rooms.  Hence, in such a case, the administration could rightfully restrict access to the chapel for residents only.  Whereas, the parish church and parish chapel, are erected specifically for the members of Holy Trinity parish and their spiritual benefit.  And as such, St. Edmond Catholic School, being a major ministry of Holy Trinity, their use of this parish chapel also needs to be taken into consideration. It will support St. Edmond activities such as the annual class retreats, First Friday Adoration, and similar occasions for spiritual formation. 

Holy Trinity parish chapel will also accommodate not only daily Mass, but prayer opportunities such as the Rosary for 40 days for Life, Eucharistic Adoration, and Holy Hours. Additionally, it will provide a proper place for various liturgical celebrations for the formation of our youth: Rock Climbers, Edge and Lifeteen.  This chapel will also support the needs of parishioners whose gatherings require a smaller more intimate prayer setting with the ease of parking and moving into the use of the parish center. The parish chapel assures that these events have a proper place and it also respects the rhythms of the Marian Home, St Edmond, and Holy Trinity parish who will all reside on the Catholic campus along 6th Ave North.
to 
Msgr. Kevin McCoy

Q19 
Why do we need a large multi-story structure for the new church?  

A19  
This particular question is best answered by looking at the guidance that the Church provide, how the current schematic design came to be and what still remains to happen. 

*The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops provide guidance in the designing and building of  Catholic churches through their document "Built of Living Stones".  We've included the document on this website for your review. /design-images-of-holy-trinity-church

*During the schematic design portion of the building of the new church the design team asked for input from parishioners.  This input phase questions such as "What do you like about the parish or worship site that you like?" and "What do wish we had?" were asked.  The answers were then utilized to guide the design.  Traditional was an overriding theme, which lead to the current schematic design. 

*As we move forward we will still need to receive approval from the Diocese Building Commission, consider city ordinances and look at final costs. 

In conclusion, the current schematic design may not be what we end with.  Though the current schematic design does fit well with the guidance of "Built of Living Stones" and what parishioners expressed for design for the new church. 

Do know that this question will be passed on to the current design team.