St. John’s in Riverhead hard at work ‘preserving tomorrow’

The parish community of St. John the Evangelist Church has answered the call of its leadership in a parish restoration campaign to raise at least $750,000 for facility repairs and debt reduction.

Since the fundraising campaign began this summer, 300 parishioners have pledged donations totaling more than $700,000, said Joe Cascio of Parish Development Consultants, a firm brought in by the parish to coordinate the campaign.

The parish buildings are aging and in need of serious repairs, Father Larry Duncklee told parishioners in a letter earlier this year announcing the restoration campaign, called “Celebrating today…Preserving tomorrow.”

The campaign’s “dream goal” is $1.1 million, which would cover additional improvements and additional repayment of the parish’s existing $945,000 debt to the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Duncklee said. It’s already been reduced from $995,000 since 2011, when Duncklee became pastor there. About $550,000 of the debt was incurred when the diocese carried the costs of the parish elementary school for two years, he said. The school debt stands at just under $499,000 today. The rest of the debt to the diocese is a combination of assessments and unpaid bills to the diocese; no debts are owed to any of the church’s vendors or contractors, the pastor said.

Phase one of the repairs — underway right now — includes replacing two old boilers in the parish center, which dates back to 1952, installing a handicap access ramp to the rectory office, repaving the parish parking lot and re-grouting the front steps of the church.

The next phase, planned for next spring and summer will include replacing the parish center roof, upgrading the lighting in the church and painting its interior and paying down about $250,000 of the parish debt.

Phase three will update the bathrooms and kitchen in the parish center cafeteria, installing a handicap access ramp to the parish cafeteria and a ‘timed’ candle stand for the church.

If the church can meet its $1.1 million challenge goal, it will pay down more debt as well as refinish the tile floor in the church, repoint the parish center and install a new baptismal font.

The proposed renovations and repairs were detailed in a booklet sent out to parish households in June. There are currently 1,600 to 1,700 registered households in the 150-year-old parish, Duncklee said.

“We always look to get about 400 donors,” Cascio said. His organization works exclusively in fundraising for the Catholic church. The goal is to raise a minimum of $580,000 from about 100 donors and reach the $750,000 goal raising the rest from donors of under $3,000.

Duncklee said he is very pleased with the parish community’s response to the appeal.

“We’ve had a wonderful show of support,” he said in an interview last week. “What’s really been nice — the letters we’ve gotten from some of the elderly parishioners who write to say ‘We’re have a limited income. Here’s $5 and we’re praying for you.'”

The campaign committee will begin to reach out to St. John’s Hispanic parishioners in October. “During the summer they are working 160 hours per week,” the pastor said.

The Spanish Mass on Sunday evening draws a crowd of more than 600 people each week; it is often standing-room only.

The North Fork Spanish Apostolate is moving into the parish center Oct. 1 and its director, Sister Margaret Smyth, will be taking over management of the parish outreach program, Duncklee said. The diocese will be paying rent to the parish to occupy part of the parish center, the former elementary school building, and the parish will compensate the diocese for running the outreach program.

In another change involving collaboration with the diocese and aimed at alleviating the parish’s financial burdens, the diocese — as Sept. 1 — has taken over management of St. John’s cemetery. Diocesan fees and management policies went into effect with the new arrangement, Duncklee said.

St. John’s parishioners can buy cemetery plots at reduced rates until Oct. 31, the pastor said.

Interested donors can obtain pledge forms from Joseph Cascio by calling 631-591-1436. Donations can also be mailed to: St. John the Evangelist Parish, 546 St. John’s Place, Riverhead NY 11901.