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Join Us in Restoring the Roof and Bell Tower through St. Michael's Generation to Generation Campaign
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Generations of Support
Every generation stands on the shoulders of the ones who have gone before, and St. Michael is a shining example of that. Founded in 1852, the first parishioners built a wooden chapel to serve as their place of worship. These first-generation German immigrants began building the current church on this site in 1866, so their community could have a safe and protected place to worship. Their labor of love was complete in the fall of 1868, and the church was dedicated on September 29. Just three years later, the community could only watch as much of the church they built was decimated by the Great Chicago Fire. With only the outer walls still standing the community was undaunted and began the work of rebuilding their beloved St. Michael. Generation to Generation our parishioners continued to answer the call to ensure St. Michael was a beacon of hope in the Old Town community. Now it’s our turn.
Replacing the Church Roof
When the church was reconstructed in 1872, the parish leaders wanted to build something that would last and installed a slate roof. In 1982, 110 years and four generations later, when it reached the point it could no longer safely withstand the elements, the next group of parishioners replaced the slate roof with asphalt shingles that had a projected lifespan of around 25 years. Right on cue, around 2011, issues arose around the edges of the roof, and necessary repairs were made. In 2020, more serious issues were identified and the parish repaired significant roof damage on the East side at the base of the bell tower. Today, we are 18 years past the roof’s projected lifespan, and we are unable to “just make repairs” any longer. We must replace the entire roof to keep our parish a safe and welcoming place to worship. At the recommendation of our restoration architect and structural engineers, the Building and Grounds Committee reviewed multiple options for replacing the roof, including tearing off the current shingles, repairing the damaged sections, and re-shingling the entire church roof. The results would be an expected lifespan of 25 years for this new shingled roof. The other option explored, and recommended as the most cost-effective solution, was to go back to a slate roof, with an expected lifespan of 75-100 years, 3-4 times that of shingles. Our early cost estimates suggest replacing the current roof with slate would run close to $2.5 million and would ensure the parish remains a center for discipleship and worship for three or four generations. Replacing the current shingles with new ones is estimated to cost closer to $1.5 million, and it will need to be re-done every generation for the next hundred years.
Invitation to Join
The roof and bell tower projects are urgent and must be started this year to ensure St. Michael continues to be a safe and welcoming place to worship and avoid continually rising construction costs. Our goal will be achieved through prayer and the financial participation of every St. Michael family. While not everyone will make the same sized gift, if each family makes a gift of equal sacrifice, we can fund these projects from within our community. This will allow us to rely less on loans and other funding sources and leave us more resources to focus on our true calling; discipleship. Your gift to St. Michael Generation to Generation is a choice to share God’s generosity. Our generation can make a long-lasting impact on St. Michael parish that will ensure the next two to three generations can focus on building disciples and community in a safe and welcoming church.
Case for Support
Methods Of Giving
Pledges payable over five years will allow donors the opportunity to make a larger investment into the campaign than may be possible with a one-time gift. Donors may determine payments schedules to meet their own charitable or tax needs. If you are able, please include an initial payment with your pledge. Credit Card, Automatic Bank Withdrawal or Check: Make checks payable to “Generation to Generation” and write “St. Michael Old Town” on the memo line. In recognition of our shared responsibility to care for creation, we promote and encourage donors to sign-up for online payments to reduce the cost and waste of sending billing reminders through the mail. Donors wishing to fulfill their pledge via credit card or automatic bank withdrawal can complete the necessary information on the payment schedule of their pledge form or go online to giving.archchicago.org/gentogen.
Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA
A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) allows individuals age 70 ½ or older to authorize their administrator to directly transfer funds from their individual retirement account (IRA) to qualified charities, tax-free (currently up to $108,000 annually). If you are age 73 or older, the amount you transfer could satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution. If you have questions regarding QCDs, please call (312) 534-7959.
Gifts of Securities
Gifts of securities (stocks) will receive credit for their gift based on the date the shares are received by the archdiocese’s broker. The Archdiocese will liquidate the shares as soon as possible and credit the campaign with the net of the sale, minus any brokerage fees. Gift acknowledgements will reflect the value of the stock on the date of receipt. Donors must complete and submit a Letter of Intent to the Archdiocese of Chicago to identify the shares being transferred and “For the Benefit Of” information. If you have questions regarding gifts of securities, please call (312) 534-7461.
Matching Gifts
Many companies have matching gift programs, enhancing employee’s charitable contributions. Please contact your employer about its specific requirements and paperwork to attach to your pledge card. If you have any questions regarding matching gifts, please call (312) 534-7959. In addition to a campaign gift, please consider including St. Michael in your estate plans via a bequest, charitable gift annuity, life insurance policy, etc. Your long-term commitment will allow us to plan for future maintenance and other parish needs. If you are interested in planned giving, please call the parish office at (312) 642-2498.
Campaign QR Code
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