Dear Donor to the Mary Star of the Sea High School Capital Campaign,

The Mary Star High School community wishes you and your family a blessed and joyful Christmas Season. At the same time please accept our sincere “thank you” for the pledge you have made to help build our new high school. Your gift is very meaningful during this time of year when we think about giving to others.

Since little has been published about the progress of the new school over the last 12 months, we recognize the need to inform our benefactors of the project’s current status. We thank you for your support and patience. Here is an overview:

In 1995 we began an effort to alleviate our problems of overcrowding and inadequate facilities with the plan to build a new high school that would accommodate our students and provide a state-of-the-art learning environment. The same year we successfully acquired 27 acres of land from the United States Navy, and thus we began an active campaign to raise funds for construction of the new school.

By mid-2001, the capital campaign had successfully raised close to $10,000,000 in grants and pledges. Of the $10,000,000 approximately $4,000,000 in expenses has been incurred to date, $3,000,000 in cash in the Campaign account and $3,000,000 outstanding in pledges and grants. The expenses include the demolition of the contaminated Navy housing, land development, seismographic studies, consultant fees, a mandatory major contribution to Harbor Interfaith, Norbertine housing, architectural drawings, movement of utilities and administrative expenses.

In mid-2001 Architectural plans were completed in January 2001 and the City of Los Angeles granted Conditional Use Permits and the Norbertine Fathers moved into residence on the new campus site.

In the summer of 2001, with the blessing of Cardinal Mahony, we were ready to expand our campaign to our larger community, the local parishes and were about to sign a contract with a new campaign director. However, in a last minute meeting the regional bishop asked us to seek a loan instead of campaigning in the local elementary school feeder parishes, as the local pastors had fundraising campaigns in progress and did not want our interference. The cost for construction of the initial operating campus (phase one) was budgeted for $15,000,000.

The Parish Finance Committee recognized the need for a loan of $11,000,000 to complete the first phase, which included the classroom building, the administration building and the gymnasium. The Archdiocese, at that time, judged that $11,000,000 was unfeasible, and recommended us to broker a loan for $7,000,000, enough for the completion of the first phase, contingent upon our modifying the project’s design (for the first phase) by omitting the administration building and erecting a temporary gymnasium.

Brother Hilarion O’Connor, Director of Construction for the Archdiocese, immediately hired a firm to research the exact nature of the property and building design (soil compaction, layout of land, road access, etc.) and gave us a new cost estimate. He suggested that we ask for a $8,000,000 loan instead of the original $7,000,000.

There were several unanticipated obstacles that occurred during the past year:

Access to the site via the major thoroughfare was unexpectedly delayed because the City of Los Angeles had not acquired ownership of Montgomery Drive, a Navy owned private road. This meant we had a defective Conditional Use Permit for the new site. Since then the problem has been resolved and the final paperwork is being completed.

Several personnel changes occurred in 2001, slowing the momentum of the campaign. In early 2001, the Capital Campaign Director resigned. A search for a new director was initiated. In late spring of 2001, the Capital campaign Secretary resigned due to military relocation of her husband. Also in 2001, Rev. Norbert Wood, O.Praem. fell ill and was replaced as Rector of the High School by Rev. Nicholas Tacito, O.Praem. He is currently residing at St. Michael’s Norbertine Abbey in Orange County. He participates in the Abbey’s community life as his health permits. For the most part, involvement in external apostolic work has been reduced to a minimum. He has been editing Norbertine documents, which are being translated into English, and has been providing his service as chaplain for the Norbertine Sisters in Tehachapi, CA. The exact nature of his health problem is yet uncertain and his doctors have recommended that if there is no significant improvement in the near future, that he should be evaluated at the Mayo Clinic. Please keep him in your prayers.

A continued search for a new Campaign Director is in progress, however before hiring the new director the Parish Finance Committee has first to determine the details of the loan. In the meantime a new Campaign Secretary/Administrator was hired to continue to collect outstanding and new pledges.

Because of the present financial situation of the Archdiocese and even though we had prior approval of the loan (as stated in the Cardinal’s presence at the 2002 Easter Vigil) the Finance Council of the Archdiocese is presently reviewing our request. There was a meeting on December 18 by the same committee and a follow-up meeting scheduled for December 23 at which time we hope the decision and/or opinion regarding the loan will be given.

The present modified plans therefore include the classroom building (the plans of which have not and will not be modified) a temporary gymnasium with the administration offices temporarily housed in the actual classroom building. The architectural plans and construction drawings for the changes stated above are currently being drawn. It is anticipated these plans will be finalized in March, 2003. The drawings will then be submitted to the City of Los Angeles for approval and issuance of permits. The city has assured us that these permits will be expedited and the plans should be approved within thirty to sixty days of submission. Construction is slated to begin the summer of 2003, and the projected opening of the new school campus is slated for September 2004.

We hope that this overview clarifies the status of our new school project. This much needed project will offer both the future students of Mary Star and our community bigger and better opportunities. We all eagerly look forward to completion. Please continue to keep the project in your prayers.

Thank you again for all your support and patience. May the Christ Child fill your hearts with His love, peace and hope during this Christmas and throughout the new year!

Sincerely, In Mary, Star of the Sea,

Monsignor Patrick Gallagher
Pastor

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