Recently I wrote in the bulletin about the current status of office space for our parish and living space for me as your pastor. As you may know, there is a farmhouse and barns located south of St. Raphael Church; this property is owned by the Catholic Cemeteries of Chicago and they permit us the use of the barns and farmhouse. Our parish offices are on the first floor of the house and I live in several rooms on the second floor.

Now that I have begun my fourth year as your pastor, I believe our parish should move toward securing housing for the pastor and also develop a plan for office space. While I enjoy our parish, I realize that someday I will move onto a different assignment and a different priest will be asked to come here as your pastor. Improving the living situation from the current arrangement will help a priest say "yes" to becoming the pastor of St. Raphael. With that goal in mind, let me sketch out some options about housing.

Option One: Build a rectory on St. Raphael's church property, on land that is owned by St. Raphael Parish. The benefit of a house on our own property is that the pastor and other priest staff are close to the church for the liturgies, activities or meetings. The presence of a priest living here would also provide security, acting as a deterrent in case people come onto our campus at off hours for improper reasons. A rectory could be built with suites for two priests, a guest room, kitchen, dining room and parlor for $250,000 (the fact that we already own the land should help keep the price of the project low).

Option Two: Purchase a home in close proximity to our church. The advantage of purchasing a home in the area is that the parish could always sell the home if housing needs for clergy change. Recently several builders have constructed new homes just west of our church, plus there are always older homes on the resale market.

Option Three: Rent a house, town house or apartment that could house one priest. Paying rent would spare us from holding a campaign to raise money $250,000 for new construction. I would still be concerned that this arrangement may or may not be satisfactory for a priest who is asked to be the pastor of the parish.

Option Four: Solicit a donation of a home in our area that would be donated to our parish. Such donations have happened at our parish and others in the past. One uncertainty is how much would repairs cost if we received a house as a donation.

I have discussed this topic with our Parish Council, Parish Finance Council and Building Committee. Cardinal Cupich and Bishop Alberto Rojas, our local Vicar, are aware that this discussion is taking place. If you have comments, questions or concerns, you are invited to join me for a conversation this weekend, October 26 and 27 in the Fellowship Hall after each Mass. Members of our councils will also be present. You may also contact me at the email below.

In our Lord,
Father Mike McGovern
[email protected]