Letter from Father Killian

August 2024

Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Hope:

I wish to provide you a summary of the important improvements and repairs which have taken place at our parish, school, and rectory during the past twelve months or so.

Most obvious is the recent repaving of our church and school parking lots. Parishioners have expressed how much they like the lots’ new appearance. We are looking at ways to improve the lighting on our campus for better safety and security.

We repaired, replaced, and in some sections painted almost 1,000 bricks of the church, school, and retaining walls. The 16 church dormers were newly painted and the concrete capstones of the roof area were cleaned. Meanwhile, damaged seals of eight stained-glass windows of the church were replaced.

We also replaced a 5-ton HVAC unit that provides heating and cooling to the restrooms and the St. Joseph Room which is in the area of the parish hall.

And, the audio system in the school gym was upgraded for better sound during our special programs.

All of these measures followed the security-related construction of a new entrance at the school which took place last summer.

Additionally, the rooms on the second and third floors of the rectory were painted. Further work, involving replacement of sinks and tile flooring in one of the bathrooms, is expected.

Taken together, these projects cost approximately $277,000.  They were funded by the generous gifts to the weekly offertory collection and the interest and dividends which accrued to our parish’s savings accounts at the diocese. I am most grateful to all of you for making this necessary work possible.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Killian