No. You have the option of fulfilling your pledge over a 3 or 5-year plan. In other words, you may fulfill your pledge any time and in any manner that works best for you!

Of course! We understand that, for many various reasons, this might be something necessary. Simply contact the parish office if you ever, for any reason, need to change your pledge.

If you have any difficulties, or if you need help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact the parish office. We are always happy to help.

Absolutely! We are happy to keep track of all donations in the parish office, and will send statements to those who have donated for tax purposes.

There are a number of ways in which you can fulfill your pledge. You may make payments on your pledge as frequently as you please over a 5-year period. In order to make a payment, we encourage all to use whichever option works best for you. You can:

a) Mail your check to the parish office of place it in the collection basket with "UBG Campaign" in the memo.

b) Set up an automatic bank draft by contacting the parish office.

c) Utilize the green envelopes included in each parishioner's envelope packet.

We totally understand that times change and the future is not always predictable. Therefore, we ask all people to prayerfully discern a generous pledge, but if circumstances change such that a pledge is not able to be fulfilled, we are grateful for whatever financial gifts anyone is able and willing to give. If for any reason you need to change your pledge, we would appreciate it if you simply notified the parish office.

First, the reason why we are holding a campaign for all three major projects at the same time is because we realize campaigns ask parishioners to make a sacrificial offering. This can often be exciting, and people are often willing to give. At the same time, continual and repetitive asking can also cause frustrations. Therefore, in order to preserve parishioners from multiple and persistent campaigns, it seems best to hold one large campaign for all three projects.

With that, we see all three of these projects as high priorities for the good of our parish. Immaculate Heart of Mary has needed a good-sized parish hall for several years for its various functions, as well as more meeting rooms for its organizations. The new church was designed to hold more stenciling and artwork to fulfill its potential as a place of worship. The parish rectory will greatly serve the parish as it will be used to house priests, guests, and seminarians. Therefore, although we will not be able to officially schedule the completion of these projects until we have the funds to do so, we can guarantee that we will work to complete all three projects as soon as we are able.

The price of inflation of materials has made the estimated costs of these projects rise significantly. Although we hope the prices of materials will decrease, there is also a chance that they may still increase. However, if we raise the necessary funds, and prices of materials decrease, we will place the extra funds raised into an endowment reserved for future upkeep and maintenance of our facilities. If we are able to sign contracts, and costs of materials increase, then we will be fortunate to have signed contracts prior to an even greater increase of price.

The primary reason why we are beginning these projects now, though, is not because the ideal price is now – it is because the opportunity is now. We are fortunate enough at this time to have an active parish, with generous parishioners. A number of our parishioners work in various occupations of construction, and are willing to provide their services to the parish. Now is the time we have been able to contact experts in painting, lighting, sound, etc. for our worship space.

As it is said in the musical, Into the Woods, “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.” Therefore, while these many factors are falling into place, it seems the ideal time to utilize this opportunity for the good and good of our parish.

There are a number of parishioners whose occupations are in various areas of building and construction. We do hope to utilize these parishioners, who have made these areas of expertise as their profession, as much as possible.

However, current insurance and safety policies do not allow others to volunteer labor. Therefore, we will only be able to use the labor of those who are properly certified and employed to provide this work.

It is good to keep in mind that we, as human beings, are created as both physical and spiritual beings. Therefore, we are called to care for both the physical and spiritual aspects of our lives. This is why we can pray for such things like the health of our loved ones, favorable weather for farmers, and even the dignity of life (meaning physical and spiritual) from natural conception to natural death. Prayer for the grace to help with our physical well-being is not only good – it is essential!

At the same time, it must be held that we should not pray for physical things for the sake of selfish reasons. It all must be for the glory of God. Hence, we should not pray for millions of dollars for the sake of being personally wealthy. Still, to pray that God might help us to complete a church basement so as to help unify us more as His people is a noble thing. Praying that God might help to beautify our church in order to help us grow in faith, and also to help bring others to His Church is a noble thing. Praying that all of this may enable us to grow in our lives in Christ and glorify our God is a noble thing.

In all things, we must pray to God. Even if we are uncertain of God’s will, continue to pray; just be sure to include in all prayers, “[…] but Thy will be done.”

We are currently working on a display for the gathering area that will serve to both show the prayers that have been said, as well as provide a place to turn in prayer cards. In the meantime, please feel free to turn in your prayer cards to the parish office, or you may simply put them in the collection basket at Mass. Thank you for the prayers!!!