Newsletter

SAINT ANN’S NEWS

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Ann’s by the Sea:

This letter is a follow-up to the St. Ann’s News sent out by email on August 20th concerning our efforts to obtain a vicarage. There is exciting news to report after the disappointment of the summer.

In response to our invitation, Bishop Wolf, Bob Batchelor, Treasurer and Betsy Fornal, Canon for Congregations and Clergy, came to St. Ann’s on October 14th to discuss with us how to go forward with the vicarage project. The property on Connecticut Ave. remains on the market, and the owners are busy responding to the concerns raised in the inspection report that caused our previous efforts to come to a standstill. During a morning of lively discussion, the diocesan representatives clarified the reasons for the previous decision to stop the process and at the same time encouraged us to go forward with our plans. If the issues with the building inspection are satisfactorily addressed, and the finances are in order, we can expect a favorable response from the Diocesan Finance Committee and the Diocesan Council. Bishop Wolf emphasized that the diocese is strongly supportive of our desire and our efforts to enhance our ministry on Block Island through this project.

Recently, another property had come to our attention as a possibility for a vicarage, so after a lovely lunch hosted by Mike and Anna Lofaro and our regular business meeting, we went to look at real estate. We revisited the Connecticut Avenue house, and looked at the second property on Beacon Hill Road. Our diocesan representatives went on their way, leaving us hopeful for the future.

It was decided by the Bishop’s Committee to focus our efforts on the Connecticut Avenue property. While the house on Beacon Hill had much in it’s favor, it also was considerably more expensive than the other and somewhat beyond our financial reach.

After the disappointment of the summer, it is very exciting to be able to renew our efforts to purchase a vicarage. We have two challenges before us. One is to ensure that the issues in the inspection report have been properly addressed and the house is in good condition. We have every reason to believe that project is going forward in a timely manner. The other challenge is financial. At the June meeting of the Diocesan Finance Committee, St. Ann’s was approved for a loan of $344,000. The cost of the house and the necessary improvements to be made amount to $744,000. After applying the diocesan loan of $344,000 to the cost of the house, we need to raise $400,000 to complete this project. We are already over halfway there! We have sufficient money in the endowment and the growth fund to put $100,000 towards the house, and three families in the parish have already committed $125,000, giving us a total of $225,000 of the $400,000 needed. We have formed a capital funds committee, consisting of Becky Ballard, Henry Hill and Mike Lofaro, to head up our efforts to raise the other $175,000.

You can count on being asked to be a part of this effort. Our immediate goal is to provide a good vicarage for our priest. Once we accomplish that, we can look forward to creating a parish hall and expanding our worship space. All of this is designed to make a more effective ministry in the parish and the community of Block Island.

Peace,
Fr. Dan Barker, Vicar
10/18/2011