Giving to Old Saint Mary'sStage One of the seismic retrofit of our beautiful church is at long last coming to a close. This part of the construction was the major portion of the work to protect this historic building in the case of another earthquake. The main portion of the church, the Paulist Center Bookstore and the meeting rooms, the sacristy, the crypt, the auditorium and surrounding stairways and hallways have all been greatly strengthened and brought up to current earthquake codes. All of us who lived through this stage of construction know it was a massive undertaking. But now the major portion of our church home is prepared to proudly stand for at least another 150 years, and well beyond. The benefits of this project will be enjoyed for generations._The interior of our church has been modified only slightly, and we have succeeded in maintaining its special charm and spiritual beauty. But there is more to do. The structural reinforcement of the tower (StageTwo), making the building fully accessible to the disabled, and meeting current building codes for fire alarms and life-safety systems (Stage Three), and completing the finishes, liturgical arrangements, acoustical enhancements and rebuilding the organ (Stage Four) are still before us. We have come a long way. We still have a long way to go. I am also hereby announcing the Old Saint Mary's Living Landmark Campaign, a new chapter in raising the funds to complete this important project. For several months now, a Steering Committee made up of parishioners, our fund-raising counsel from Netzel, Inc, and myself, have been working to plan and organize the Living Landmark Campaign. I am very happy with the support and enthusiasm for this project that we have encountered all along the way, both within and outside of the parish. And I believe that we have put together an excellent plan for bringing this project to fulfillment. We are a small parish, and to pull off this project will require the participation of very many people. We would love to hear from you! This is a very special church: special for its historic importance, special for its continuing positive impact on the community through service and outreach, special for its artistic beauty and spiritual serenity. The Historic Presentation Fund has raised $6.2 million towards the retrofit. This money has come from many sources, proving that this beloved structure has many faithful friends. Parishioners surpassed their goal of $1.5 million, and visitors from across the United States, countries as close as Canada and Mexico and as far away as Germany and the Philippines have contributed to the cause. Please keep the Old Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in your prayers. With the participation of all of us together, and with God's help, this special place of spirituality and peace will be preserved, enhanced, and beautified for many years to come. If you have questions or comments about the Living Landmark Campaign, or about the seismic retrofit of the Old Cathedral, do not hesitate to contact us at (415) 288-3800. God bless!
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