Investing in the Future of Our Church...

September 25, 2025

Dear Friends in Christ,

Dear Friends in Christ, Thank you for supporting our BELL TOWER FUND. Within only a few short months, we successfully reached our goal of raising $300,000 and completed the repairs of our bell tower. Now we can rest assured that our church bell tower foundation can last another 65 years, hopefully more!

As we mentioned at the beginning of our Campaign, part two will consist of replacing our 20-year-old parish heating and cooling systems. Since my arrival in July 2022, both systems have broken down on a number of occasions, with the repair costs being quite substantial as a result. In 2024, for example, the parish spent more than $50,000 to replace some aging and leaking valves. The manufacturer told us that although the systems might be able to provide a few additional years of service, we should nevertheless expect future problems to occur. Moreover, they informed us that our parish would most likely have to incur additional costs in order to maintain the system, as the technology continue to improve on newer systems.

We began a 2-year pledged donation program and we are continuing with it for part two of our Campaign. I am grateful to all those who signed up for this program that continues to support the needs of the Campaign. If you are interested in signing up to support our church and for the convenience it provides, please send an email to slmparishfund2024@gmail.com. Dividing an amount by 12-24 months makes for easier payment of larger gifts.

A few days ago, I received the much-anticipated proposal on how to upgrade our systems from our engineering consulting firm. They estimated that the cost of the project would be approximately $700,000. I have forwarded the proposal to each member of our parish Finance Committee and to a handful of parishioners, who have a great deal of expertise and knowledge in the heating and cooling industry. I am looking forward in hearing their inputs, feedback, concerns, etc. Be assured that I will take everything they offer into consideration before making a final decision on how to proceed with the project.

Once the details are finalized, I will provide you with an update. Meanwhile, I encourage you to continue to support our SACRED JOURNEY CAMPAIGN. The target for our CLIMATE CONTROL FUND is set at $700,000. While this number is certainly a larger goal to raise, these funds will undoubtedly help ensure that St. Lawrence Martyr continues to be a vibrant place for worship and community fellowship for years to come. Please note that ALL your donations, that is, 100% of it are directed to the Campaign. No administration expenses are incurred because the campaign is run by our wonderful volunteers under my direction, except for software and banking fees.

You can continue to make a donation: Online through our website; Parish Campaign envelopes; By submitting to the parish office a completed donation form downloaded from parish website picked-up from foyer; Square POS (Point of Sale) terminal for donations with a credit card or interact at parish office. * Please make sure to enclose your completed donation form in a sealed envelope to protect your personal/financial information. * If you choose to donate via the debit option, please make sure to include a void cheque.

Although my hope is that you won’t, nevertheless, you can cancel your donation or pledge at any time, no questions asked. Just complete the Change Form available on the website and send it to the parish office. A consolidated (Sacred Journey, offertory, special projects, etc.) official charitable tax receipt will be sent to you following the end of each year. If you have questions, send an email to slmparishfund2024@gmail.com and our volunteers will respond within the next business day.

Let’s pull through together in order to make the second part of our Campaign another success story. Again, Thank you for your kindness and love for St. Lawrence Martyr Church.

Rev. Fr. Thomas Lim - Pastor, St. Lawrence Martyr Parish