Capital Campaign Updates

Athletic Field

The Army Corps of Engineers and TDEC have reviewed our updated wetland delineation and concur with our consultant’s findings that the wetlands on the property are significantly less extensive than initially anticipated. This positive development provides greater flexibility in site planning. As a result, we have directed our consultant to reassess the orientation of the football/soccer and baseball fields to enhance their functionality.

Additionally, Leslee Dodd and Ben Garretson from the Nature Sanctuary Committee assisted in identifying and inventorying key trees on the site. These have been incorporated into the revised Master Plan. We should receive an updated Plan within the next few weeks.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace,

We understand that many of you are eager to see visible progress in our Capital Campaign, and we appreciate your patience and support as we work diligently behind the scenes. We want to assure you that significant efforts are being made to ensure the success of our project, and we are committed to maintaining transparency throughout this process.

We are thrilled to share the success of our capital campaign this year. Thanks to your incredible gifts of time, talent, and treasure, we have raised almost $2.8 million. Your generosity has made a significant impact toward the projects that we will begin in the new year—specifically breaking ground for the new Marian Center and relocating the ball fields in preparation for the new gym.

Marian Center
Review sessions were held with the ONE Building Committee and other stakeholders. The architects will now begin the Contract Documents Phase. After we secure city approval, we will begin requesting bids for construction in early February. Construction could begin by summer.

Marian Center
Design work for the new Marian Center is progressing. Bauer Askew Architects have delivered floor plans and renderings, which have been shared through various channels and are on display in the Narthex. Parishioners were invited to vote on the roof design, with over 90% favoring the gable roof option. On August 29, the Finance Committee reviewed the project along with the schematic-level cost estimates and gave their approval to proceed with the final design.

As stated in the June 16 bulletin, the decision was made and approved by the Parish Council, to build a new structure to replace the current Marian Center building. The assessment concluded that space is desperately needed to accommodate present and future needs for a growing parish and school.

The picture shows the revised interior of the new building. The new Marian Center will serve as a meeting space for large groups (50 or more people), as well as housing the Backpack and Bridge ministries, and the Food Pantry. Final design concepts of the exterior of the building are currently in progress with Bauer Askew Architects. These renderings will be available to the parish for viewing in the coming weeks.

This spring we presented our comprehensive campus plan to various stakeholders and parishioners, outlining the funding requirements and interim milestones for each major phase of the program. While contributions have been steady, they have not reached the level necessary for the major projects needed. We hope parishioners will recognize the importance of having adequate facilities for present and future needs, as did the visionaries that previously laid the foundation of our present campus.

After lengthy investigation and consultation with active parishioners, church and school employees, ministry leaders and volunteers, the decision has been made and approved by the Parish Council, to build a new structure to replace the current Marian Center building. The assessment concluded that space is desperately needed to accommodate present and future needs for a growing parish and school.

Let us reflect on the invaluable legacy left by past generations, a treasure too easily overlooked in the rush of our daily lives. This Easter, let us take a moment to express our gratitude to the visionary heroes of Saint Rose of Lima whose dedication laid the very foundations of our present campus. They paved the way for future generations to encounter God. Because of their faith and devotion, we have inherited not only a beautiful church and a thriving school, but also a rich tapestry of stories, traditions, and values – an enduring spiritual inheritance.

Dear Fellow Disciples, Peace.

I hope this message finds you well and filled with God’s blessings. I am delighted to share some wonderful news with you regarding our obligation to the Nashville Diocese’s Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Campaign. Thanks to the graciousness of Bishop Spalding, our parish has been extended a 25% reduction from our $1,139,000 commitment to the diocesan campaign. This generous gesture reflects Bishop Spalding’s support for Saint Rose of Lima Parish and the vital work we do together as a community.

Currently, we have six key program components in motion: the Master Plan and Funding, Marian Center, Athletic Field, Sanctuary, Columbarium, and New Gym.

Master Plan and Funding: We’ve presented the Master Plan to over a dozen different groups, receiving positive feedback. Engaging with various stakeholders has been fruitful, with constructive comments provided during and after the meetings. In May, we aim to meet with the Murfreesboro Planning Department to discuss our plans further. Funding: While our cash balance decreased this month due to our contribution of $854,250 to the Diocesan Legacy Campaign and design expenses, our cash total remains robust and continues to grow. However, all the funds needed for the Marian Center must be secured before construction can proceed. We’re pleased to note the growing membership in the Hundred Dollar Heroes initiative, where households contribute $100 monthly to support the program’s endeavors.

In our last update in January of this year, we stated that the Feasibility Study for the Marian Center Renovation was well underway. We had received approval from the Diocese legal team to enter into a contract on the Athletic Field Relocation Study and were planning to meet with the Saint Rose ONE Building Committee to present the preferred alternative for the Master Plan Update. We also reported that we had completed some clearing on the 30-acre Nature Sanctuary and finalized a federal grant request for EPIC funds to clear out the underbrush on this property.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

From the beginning of our Capital Campaign, we have strived to provide transparency. Our Finance Committee has advised on financial matters and the Parish Council has prioritized our initiatives. Together, we have ensured that all decisions have addressed the parish’s needs, reflected our mission and served our community effectively.

As we further navigate the financial aspects of this campaign, I want to reiterate some important information I shared in the bulletin last October – our original goal, though carefully calculated, was based on cost estimates from 2020 when we initially completed the Master Plan. Our continued research and discussions with architects have proven our assumption that we will need a significant increase in participation and funds to finish phases I and II.

Volunteers are needed to help with the capital campaign (e.g. mailings, planning events, calling nights, etc.). If you are interested in supporting our efforts in this capacity, please contact Karin Gleason via email at kgleason@saintrose.org or call her at 615.898.0555, extension 1070.

Se necesitan voluntarios para ayudar con la campaña capital (por ejemplo, envíos por correo, planificación de eventos, noches de llamadas, etc.). Si está interesado en apoyar nuestros esfuerzos en esta capacidad, comuníquese con Karin Gleason por correo electrónico a kgleason@saintrose.org o llámela al 615.898.0555, extensión 1070.

Last year's International Festival was a huge success! Thank you to all who shared their culture through either food, song or dance. Thank you also to all who celebrated our diversity at Saint Rose of Lima, by attending.

In hopes of making this year's event even better, we need to start planning now! If you are interested in being a part of the 2024 team, please contact Karin Gleason via email: kgleason@saintrose.org or phone: 615.898.0555, extension 1070.

Since our last update in early December, progress on the Saint Rose Development has been ongoing, albeit not as robust as anticipated due to the holiday season. Nevertheless, we have made sufficient strides to forecast a busy January ahead.

In relation to the Marian Center, the structural engineer from Bauer Askew has conducted a comprehensive inspection, resulting in a forthcoming report detailing his findings. Overall, the building's structure is in good condition; however, they identified issues that may impact the optimal utilization of the space. A meeting with the architects is scheduled for mid- January to explore available options. We will provide a comprehensive update on our recommendations following that discussion.

In our most recent update, we shared significant progress in the realization of the Marian Center and Athletic Field Relocation projects. Following the announcement of the selection of designers in our previous update, we have concluded contract negotiations with Bauer Askew Architects for the Marian Center Renovation.

The contract has been reviewed by the Diocese, and we are delighted to announce its execution. To kick off this transformative endeavor, a project Kick Off meeting was conducted on Nov 29th with the Ministry Leaders representing the Food Pantry, Backpack Ministry, Bridge Ministry, Saint Rose Radio, Boy Scouts, and Knights of Columbus. These leaders, being primary users of the renovated facility and additional storage spaces, actively participated in discussions.

We continue to make progress on the Masterplan Update, Marian Center Renovation, and Athletic Field Relocation. After notifying the successful design firms for the Marian Center and Athletic Field

Relocation projects, we began detailed scope and fee negotiations. Some may question what that means since many of the parish are more familiar with low-bid projects than professional services. When it comes to “professional services” like architectural and engineering design, low bid is not the preferred option, in fact, it's against federal and state law when public money is used, as it does give the owner the best outcomes.

Since the last update, the ONE Building Committee met with Bill Heyer, the architect of the 2020 Master Plan. He provided us with some enhancements to better utilize the campus overall and make room for potential expansion, if needed. The building committee is currently working through these ideas and hopes to be ready to present an updated Master Plan in the next several weeks.

For almost 100 years, Saint Rose of Lima has been striving to make a significant impact in the lives of our parishioners, students and the surrounding community through prayer, service, celebration and fellowship. Our parish has changed over the years but has stayed true to our core mission to be the place of encounter with the fullness of Christ in this community. Because growth over the last several years had been substantial and did not show any signs of slowing down, the parish began making plans to expand our facilities. In 2020, we developed a Master Plan to provide more space for our ministries and creating a campus that enables us to carry out our essential mission.