All Join Hands to Raise the Roof
It was on February 12, 2008, that one piece of our 23,000-piece ceiling fell and cost us 6-months closed and several million dollars. It was on February 4, 2009, that we accidentally caught fire and closed for another six heart-breaking months. This February, we plan to party! Firefighters, police, & other emergency personnel are invited – you, too. The ALL JOIN HANDS TO RAISE THE ROOF emergency financial campaign is coming to an end.
Celebrate with us! Come to the 11:00 Mass on February 7, 2010.
ALL JOIN HANDS....YOU CAN HELP
The "All Join Hands to Raise the Roof" Emergency Appeal will raise funds to offset the crippling financial effects of the partial roof collapse and fire. We need your support in this critical effort.
It will take the entire Catholic Community to help rescue the centerpiece of the Chicago Archdiocese. If we "All Join Hands" together, we will "Raise the Roof", ensuring a rich future for our historic Holy Name Cathedral.
HOW CAN YOU HELP? click here
Holy Name Cathedral has a long and glorious history of providing sacraments and ministries to downtown residents, visitors and Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago. However, the latest chapter in the illustrious history may go down as one of the Cathedral’s most challenging periods. In just over a year, Holy Name has endured two debilitating events that have limited access and availability to the church while jeopardizing the safety of this iconic structure.
In February, 2008, a sizable piece of the ceiling broke off and fell to the church floor. Engineers determined a total structural repair of the ceiling was needed, as well as restoration to the 32 columns supporting the roof. The church was closed for seven months while workers meticulously restored and refitted every square foot of the ornate ceiling, and work continues in restoring the columns.
In the early morning of February 4, 2009, a fire was discovered in the church roof. The blaze destroyed much of the previous restoration and left the Cathedral with severe water damage.
THE AFTERMATH
In the wake of these two devastating events, the parish is left to deal with practical, spiritual and financial consequences. no one anticipated the partial roof collapse in 2008. No one could predict a fire just a year later.
Here's a summary of why Holy Name Cathedral needs you to respond today to the All Join Hands to Raise the Roof Emergency Appeal:
The Structural Renovations: February, 2008
The cost of structural renovations are currently more than $5 million and could climb to a total of $8 million (according to Archdiocesan Office of Facilities and Construction)
The ceiling, as well as the 32 supporting columns, has been and continue to undergo a total reconstruction since February, 2008.
The debt for the structural renovations has included costs related to:
- Over 23,000 individual pieces of the ceiling removed, refurbished and restored.
- Each of the 32 columns had to be deconstructed, refurbished and strengthened with a specialized bonding material, and reconstructed for long-lasting and secure support.
- Between 75-125 construction workers, architects, engineers and artisans worked AROUND THE CLOCK so Holy Name Cathedral could reopen as quickly as possible.
- The interest from the mounting debt is more than $20,000 per month and CANNOT be absorbed by the parish in the operating budget. This amount of additional expense would disable the Cathedral financially.
The Fire: February, 2009
The costs related to the fire are currently unrealized. The costs related to the fire may be covered by insurance, but they may not be.
A cause has yet to be determined. Once it has, and only when a cause has been determined, will the insurance company/companies become involved.
A TIMELINE OF RESTORATION AND FUND RAISING FOR HOLY NAME
2006-2007
Restore and Renew Campaign
02/2008
Piece of ceiling falls
02/2008-09/2008
Cathedral closes for structural renovations to the ceiling
09/2008
Work continues on structural renovations to the ceiling. Costs are accrued to $5 million-plus.
02/04/2009
Fire breaks out in the roof
02/05/2009
Parish Council and Young Adults Ministry create the name, All Join Hands to Raise the Roof for an appeal to reduce the mounting debt on the structural renovations
03/2009
Fund raising dinner donated by the Palmer House. Please refer to the 2 videos attached above on this page. The first video was shown by HNC during the dinner for audience attending the dinner. The second video was recorded during the dinner at Palmer House showing support from Cardinal George and Mayor Daley.
05/2009-02/2010
All Join Hands to Raise the Roof Emergency Appeal
UNLUCKY LUCK?
According to structural engineers and firefighters, if the piece of the ceiling had not fallen and structural renovations were not undertaken in 2008, the water from the fire in 2009 would have been too heavy for the structure to accept and the roof would have collapsed. We were lucky to have found out about our roof when we did.
The All Join Hands to Raise the Roof Emergency Appeal will see funding from many various constituencies, including Holy Name Parishioners, grants and foundations, and local businesses. The Appeal is also seeking other means and entities to approach in support of these endeavors.
The Appeal comes because of unique circumstances. We hope you understand and realize this unique situation, and consider your gift to assist in this critical effort.
METHODS OF GIVING
Gifts and pledges will come in two forms:
- New gifts and pledges
- Extensions to the Restore and Renew pledges from current parishioners.
- CASH
- The most common method of making a gift is to contribute cash. You may benefit from such gifts with a charitable deduction on your tax return.
SECURITIES- Stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares that have appreciated can have an immediate impact on our appeal and also create an income tax deduction for you based on their current value. Because there is no capital gains tax when you make the gift, you double tax savings on shares you’ve held for over a year.
IRAs- In 2007, distributions from an IRA owned by an individual who is at least 70 1/2 years old, which would have been taxable, will be excluded from gross income if made to attempt organizations like Holy Name Cathedral. These tax-free roll over gifts may be any amount up to $100,000per year. This option is also available to ROTH account holders. This allows you to avoid paying tax on your IRA distribution.
ONLINE- Click here to donate on our secure site
Holy Name Cathedral’s Stewardship Coordinator, or your tax advisor, can provide more information about these options. Call Alex Lucio at 312-573-4425 or alucio@holynamecathedral.org.
THE CATHEDRAL HAS REOPENED BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW THE STORY WAS COVERED BY LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
ABC Channel 7, Chicago - (July 31, 09) Holy Name almost ready for worshippers
CBS Channel 2, Chicago - (Aug 1, 09) Fire-Damaged Holy Name Sanctuary Reopens
ABC Channel 7, Chicago - (Aug 1, 09) Holy Name reopens for mass
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