The following is taken from the Diocesan website: http://observer.rockforddiocese.org/Archives/2011Archives/August52011/South%20Beloit/
South Beloit Ends Building Fund Effort
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
SOUTH BELOIT—About 100 parishioners met in the basement of St. Peter Church for a town hall-style meeting July 25 to hear for themselves the status of a building fund campaign started in 2007.
The meeting was called by Father Nicholas Federspiel, parochial administrator of St. Peter Parish, to tell parishioners that the capital campaign to raise funds for a proposed new church and school in the Rockton-Roscoe area was being cancelled.
The campaign was halted because sufficient funds had not been raised in order for the project to gain approval to move forward from the Diocesan Building Commission, he explained.
Father Federspiel provided a timeline dating back to April 16, 2007, when the project began. The parish’s original plan was to construct a new Catholic school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and a chapel on approximately 15 acres of land owned by the Rockford Diocese off Elevator Road in Roscoe. Initial plans were to finish the school and chapel, then build a church with seating capacity for 1,000.
Due to a diocesan building moratorium, the parish and its pastor at the time, Father Jerome Koutnik, were informed they would need 100 percent of the cost of building in pledges, cash and savings before the project could be approved for construction.
The timeline documented financial progress of the campaign and the repeated cautions from the Diocese that “of critical importance for the Diocese is the parish’s ability to fund the entire project in its construction and then in its maintenance, while not failing to maintain its other diocesan assessments and commitments.”
Attendees also were provided the financial history of the building fund and a dated listing of all withdrawals made to the building fund.
Joining Father Federspiel at the meeting were members of the parish finance council, Tim Wick, Ed Froening and Kevin O’Grady; the director of finance and administration for the Rockford Diocese, Dr. Wayne Lenell and Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Rockford, Michael Kagan. Together the group shared information about the options regarding money donated to the building fund.
Father Federspiel explained that since the project was cancelled, all pledges and donations would be refunded. Donors are being given two options:
Option one: The donations would be refunded (IRS income tax implications may apply to some)
Option two: Allow St. Peter Parish to keep the donation for needs of the parish and school.
Dr. Lenell helped explained in general terms how the Internal Revenue Service Tax laws might apply to the refunds and advised everyone present who might choose a refund “to consult your personal tax preparer as to your specific situation.” Forms for refunds were available at the meeting and were mailed to all donors.
Prior to the meeting, packets including a letter explaining the cancellation of the building project, the options for refunds, project timeline and financial information were mailed to all parishioners of St. Peter. The information was also printed in the July 24 bulletin along with an invitation to the meeting.
After almost two hours of sometimes tense and emotional discussion Father Federspiel offered apologies for any shortcomings he may have had in his first year of taking on the pastorate at St. Peter. “I’m sorry for falling short in some areas, but with your help and advice, I hope to do better,” Father said. Father Federspiel also recognized and thanked all those who worked on the building campaign over the years.
He promised the group better communication and asked for their help in moving the parish forward and ended the evening with a prayer
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