From the Desk of Fr. Thomas - June 2025 Newsletter
- Pompeii Rising
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
Dear Friends of Our Lady of Pompeii,
July has been a wild ride. It comes with celebrations and challenges. But that's what we’re here for. In order to tell the tale, I need to explain what the term Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) means. A general contractor issues a GMP once all of the jobs included in their scope of work are sent out for bid to the market. This contractual obligation guarantees the contractor cannot exceed the price stated. Once the work permits are issued and the document is signed, the hard hat crew is mobilized and work begins.
Last month, we learned that our GMP was projected at $6.9M, due to the requirement of an underground water retention system and the need to restore the ceiling. This number did not even cover the other tasks that are going to be handled directly by the church (like altar installation and pews.) We had two choices - panic or pray. After sleeping on it, I told our team at Auld and White Constructors (AWC) that the figure was simply too high. I asked them to get creative to bring the total cost down. There are not many upgrades or non-essentials to scale back, but Buck Smoak felt confident his team could improve the price. Without compromising the integrity of the project, AWC nipped and tucked, providing a final GMP that is more feasible: $6.03M.
Sometimes, we need to see how the sausage is made. I share with you a summary of the 2024 cost projection versus final 2025 costs. I'm including this information in this newsletter so you can appreciate all of the hard work that accompanies the higher price tag. Each category, each dollar sign, carries a story. AWC interviews each subcontractor and only hires those that are the best fit for Our Lady of Pompeii’s project. This restoration needs a skilled and specialized workforce. No cutting corners for God.
At the top, I mentioned ups and downs. It’s true: the spike in price needs to be addressed. Because I knew this would be the case, I knocked on some doors, cap in hand, and asked for some help. Thanks to the generosity of a few souls, we are exactly where we need to be. Cash-in-hand has increased $250,000 over the past two months. Glory be! This allows us to maintain the 50% requirement for cash reserves.
More good news. My superiors have signed the contract. Allow me to stress what this means. AWC is authorized to mobilize. Since the remainder of our project is being financed, there are no financial barriers that will stop us. Therefore, it brings me great joy to share with you that construction will begin in the next month or two and will not stop until we have a completed church! More details to come.
I’m also providing a status update of our permitting process. This is a list of all the hurdles we’ve cleared over the past year. Every inch of ground reclaimed in this project has been fought for, tooth and nail. As I said from the pulpit, the devil does not want to let go. However, he lies in wait for the heel of Our Lady of Pompeii.
Keep saying your Memorares,
This month’s mailbag comes to us from Peggy Reed, a parishioner who attended Old Holy Rosary from 1947-1960. She shares some wonderful memories with us and snapshots from the Hay Day of parish life in Springfield.
It was a lively group. Fr. O’Farrell was one of our priests. I remember Father Barry and the following nuns: Sr. Mary Paul, Sr. Claire, Sr. Michael, Sr. Gabriel, Sr. Ephram, Sr. Mary Grace & Sr. Josepha. We would love to visit you & your church one day.
And we would love to have you, Peggy! If you have any stories to share for time spent at OId Holy Rosary or would like to make us aware of how Our Lady of Pompeii has found her way into your life, please email me at info@pompeiirising.org for a chance to be featured.
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