St. Benedict Church Mulls Possible Expansion

St. Benedict Church and School is researching the possibility of expanding its church and school facilities, according to a church newsletter. 

Since the subject was first brought up last fall in the annual report by Reverend Daniel F. Swift, Lynch Development Associates of Huntington NY has been selected to conduct a feasibility study to help church leaders decide whether to move forward on a capital campaign, the newsletter said. Questionnaires are being sent to all registered parishioners and on-parishioner school families, and others are being invited to the church for interviews. 

According to the June 5 bulletin:

Parish leaders see a need for better administrative offices, additional meeting rooms to accommodate the 45 ministries of the parish and school, and a separate cafeteria. The present situation, an all-in-one "cafegymatorium," causes scheduling conflicts and is not ideal for maintaining the $40,000 gymnasium floor.

The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, which serves the surrounding communities, is envisioned to be expanded into an outreach center. It presently operates out of very tight quarters on the bottom floor and part of the upper floor of a rectory. An expansion could allow for more inventory and storage, as well as meeting rooms for non-profit agencies and quarters for a homeless family to transition into affordable housing. A new, separate two-bedroom home could be constructed for church personnel. 

Other items on the wish list include a school resource room for small group instruction, school air conditioning, the construction of a small chapel free of disturbances and accessible to parishioners anytime day or night. 

Also, to make the church more pleasing and comfortable for worshipers, St. Benedict visionaries would like to stack up the chairs and install traditional pews.