Mass
Schedule

Donate to
the Elevator Fund

September 29, 2006          
St. Michael the Archangel          

Dear Parishioners and all who care about Mt. St. Michael,

On September 20th we ended our 9-week novena of Wednesday Communions in honor of St. Joseph, having implored his help to replace our 91-year old broken-down elevator. We don’t have a new elevator yet, so either we need to have more faith, or to pray with greater fervor and perseverance. At the end of my letter, I propose what we can do in this regard.

First, a quick summary of what I mentioned in the first appeal letter on July 2nd of this year: After the bearings of the elevator’s motor seized last December, Otis Elevator Company quoted us a repair bill of $27,446 (not including parts replacement costs or sales tax) to get the elevator functioning again. Putting this kind of money into repairing our ancient elevator seemed wasteful, since this would not guarantee it to work in the long run. The conclusion was obvious — it’s time to replace it.

As you know, we badly need an elevator for this four-story building (plus basement). Without it, it is impossible for some — and very difficult for many others — to get to the second-floor chapel for Holy Mass, to get to other floors, and to move freight around. It’s a necessity, in other words, for the parish, the school, the convent, and for visitors to our historically-designated site.

We sought bids from three elevator companies in the area: Otis, Schindler, and ThyssenKrupp. Of the three, Otis’ offer was the best. Then we had to seek general contracting bids as well, settling on Walker Construction. Let me assure you that this was a long and intensive process; no “quick-fix” solution is possible for such a major project. Let me also assure you that the cost is not exorbitant, either. What drove up the Otis bid is the fact that our elevator shaft is not a standard size, so it is necessary that an elevator car be custom-built for our shaft (it will be about six inches less in width than what we now have). Also, what drove up the contracting bid is the major work involved in bringing the shaft up to code. Remember, this elevator was installed in 1915!

So, here are the figures that we had as of July 2, 2006 (unfortunately, they will go up with inflation and materials cost increases):

As you can see, we’re not quite halfway there, but we have to keep trying to do our best. The good news is that we have received $90,000 in donations so far! Not only that, but a number of donations are coming from outside contributors. Mt. St. Michael will not have to bear the entire burden alone. As with the first letter, this appeal will be circulated as widely as possible. There are people “out there” who really would like to help us. We just have to find them and make our need known to them.

Here’s what we will do here at Mt. St. Michael to help make the elevator replacement a reality:

1. We must above all else believe that with God all things are possible. According to St. Teresa of Avila, with God and five cents she could do anything.
   
   
2. Keep deepening your devotion to St. Joseph! Remember that he built the Miraculous Staircase in Loreto Chapel, Santa Fe, New Mexico, for the Sisters there: “According to legend, the unknown carpenter was none other than St. Joseph, in whose honor the Sisters had communicated every Wednesday that he might assist them in erecting a staircase” (Rosalie Marie Levy, Joseph, the Just Man, Daughters of St. Paul, 1955, p, 199). Also, another inspiring story from the same book: “In the same house [a home for the aged operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor] an elevator was needed to enable the Sisters to serve hot meals to their dear old guests and to transport the infirm from one floor to another. As usual, St. Joseph was petitioned, and good St. Joseph inspired a generous benefactor to install the elevator” (p. 203).
   
   

3. We will pray the following prayer daily after Holy Mass:

   Prayer to St. Joseph

   O Glorious Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to thee do we raise our hearts and hands, to implore thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the benign Heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the favor we now implore, a new elevator for Mt. St. Michael. O Glorious St. Joseph! Through the love thou bearest to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His name, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist us!

4. Unless announced otherwise, the parish will continue having a second collection every Sunday for the elevator fund. Please give generously!
   
   
5. Please circulate this letter to whomever you can.
   
   
6. We are continuing to apply for whatever grants we can. Also, if you have any practicable fund-raising ideas and offers of help, feel free to communicate them to me or to Tim Drahman in the accounting office (msmacctg@yahoo.com or 509-462-4327) here at Mt. St. Michael.
   
   

I am not asking for loans, for the simple reason that Mt. St. Michael’s cash flow is generally not healthy enough to handle repayment of major loans. I’m humbly asking, therefore, on behalf of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen, and on behalf of St. Michael’s Parish, Academy, and convent, for your help in whatever way you can.

I heartily thank everyone who has given so far to the elevator fund, and I assure you of my sincerest gratitude and prayers.

In Jesus and Mary,
Fr, Casimir Puskorius, CMRI, Pastor
Email: frcasimir@stmichaels.org
Cell phone: (509) 868-5867

Make a donation online.