Most of Major Capital Projects
Have Outlived Useful Life

One of the questions asked of members of the OLW capital campaign leadership team last week was, “Is this an indication that the parish has not engaged in good preventive maintenance?”

The question was asked as the co-chairs of the “Preserving Our Foundation/Securing Our Future” campaign began a series of meetings with OLW parish organizations to brief them on the progress of the campaign and answer questions. Last week’s first meeting in the series was with the Worship and Spiritual Life Committee.

This past week, a similar meeting was scheduled for Wednesday night with the Parish Life Committee.

The question provided an opportunity for the campaign team to stress a point that has been somewhat overlooked: that many of the major projects on the capital projects list have exceeded their useful lives – in some cases dramatically – and that it has been good preventive maintenance and attention that allowed OLW to go so long without a major capital program.

The boiler in the church, for example, was 50 years old – 25 years older than its useful life – when it was necessarily replaced earlier this year.

The HVAC system in and atop the Father Mackin Center was 40 years old, 15 years older than its estimated useful life. “Preserving Our Foundation/Securing Our Future” campaign pledges and payments enabled the parish to replace the Mackin Center HVAC system before middle school students reported for class last week.

The boiler in the Elementary School also is 25+ years older than its useful life but replacement will have to wait until funds are committed and available. Recent repairs cost $21,000 and the age of the system is making it difficult to acquire replacement parts.

The air conditioning in the church also has lasted long past the estimated useful life. It’s been there for 40 years – the estimated useful life was 25 years – and problems with the duct work are clearly visible from the ground on the north and west sides of the church.

The church roof, which already has multiple layers of shingles, also has exceeded its anticipated useful life by several years but replacement of the roof and air conditioning need to be done together and the funding has not been assured yet.

The parish had hoped to replace the church and rectory roofs before winter to prevent additional damage inside the church. There are several very visible examples of rain damage in the church and a severe winter could worsen them.

Other “long past useful life” projects include replacement of parking lots, replacement of windows in the Elementary School and Father Mackin Center, and repair or replacement of the church floor and pews.

“The parish has done a good job in maximizing the useful life of many of the parish facilities and systems,” a campaign committee co-chair said, “but you can only keep old furnaces and old air conditioning systems and old windows in workable condition for so long. Those of us who are homeowners know that very well.”

The pace of the “Preserving Our Foundation/Securing Our Future” campaign slowed down during the summer months but it is hoped it will pick up with the end of summer. Approximately 720 parish families – out of 3,000 in the parish – have made commitments.

Pledges have averaged less than $3,000 per family and are payable over a three year period.

The campaign goal is $3 million. As of this week, about $1.85 million has been pledged.

“Two things are certain,” said a management council member. “First is that each of these projects – each of these parish needs – is on the list because it is legitimately needed.” “Second is that every month we delay increases the cost. Even if we make commitments to contractors today for work to be done next year, it is likely to be at a better cost to us than if we can’t make the commitment until next year.”

About 650 Our Lady of the Wayside families have pledged support for the three-year campaign and at least that many more are expected to participate before the campaign reaches its $3 million goal.

The campaign was officially launched by Father Ed Fialkowski on April 13 and will continue into the autumn months.

Parishioners who do not have a pledge card may receive one by calling the Parish Office at 847-253-5353 or the card may be downloaded and printed from this website. The pledge card does not require a cash contribution when it is returned; it represents a commitment to support the capital campaign during the next three years.

Contributions to the campaign may be made in the regular weekend collections. Special envelopes for the Preserving Our Foundation/Securing Our Future campaign are included in the package of weekly envelopes which parishioners should have received.

The envelopes also are addressed for mailing for contributors who would prefer to mail a payment in fulfillment of a pledge.

Complete information about the Preserving Our Foundation/Securing Our Future campaign is available here on the campaign website. Included are complete details of the projects and costs proposed by the Parish Management Council.

Details can be found at these links:

• Power Point Presentation from Town Hall Meeting.

• Photos from the Town Hall Meeting.

• Photos of Numerous Problems in need of repair.

• A Pledge Card.

If you have any questions about the Preserving Our Foundation / Securing Our Future campaign, please send them to us.