The Catholic Parish of Ivanhoe Our Parish Redevelopment

The Catholic Parish of Ivanhoe Our Parish Redevelopment Updated May 2018

Our Journey 2005 – Formation of the Catholic Parish of Ivanhoe 2007 – over a decade ago the realisation that things had to change The drivers for change Falling Mass numbers One priest with no pastoral associate Three small communities with inadequate income or resources to maintain 3 churches and associated properties 2008 - Architects engaged to develop Master Plan

Findings from Master Plan Poor condition of Parish assets – inability to properly maintain Redevelop the St. Bernadette’s tennis court site as a 1 st step Good stewardship and mission require the development of one Parish Centre The MI site on Upper Heidelberg Rd is the preferred site for redevelopment: high civic visibility, geographically central, the historical birthplace of the Catholic Parish of Ivanhoe MI church and associated buildings are currently inadequate and inappropriate as a future Parish Community Centre Poor amenity and very expensive to upgrade to modern standards Not accessible for persons with disabilities Not environmentally compliant Not meeting current or anticipated future needs The MI site needs major redevelopment moving into the future

Objectives Our objectives: Provide pastoral care and support for the community Provide adequate income for the Parish Priest Employ a Pastoral Associate Develop buildings and resources appropriate for the future Meet the operational costs of the Parish Provide maintenance for the Parish buildings

Objectives - continued Accepting that current collections and sacrificial giving will not support either the current or future needs of the Parish we must: Establish an ongoing income stream to support the Parish Rationalise assets and build a single united Parish Centre In redeveloping our site in Upper Heidelberg Rd we will provide facilities that are modern and appropriate to the future: Geographically central with high visibility in the heart of Ivanhoe A church / chapel open during the day Welcoming and accessible for all An expandable worship and gathering space A place for mission, outreach, social gathering and hospitality

Continuing the Journey Steps Acknowledge that there is insufficient demand funding to support and maintain three churches / properties Understand our objectives can only be realised with the rationalisation of our current properties Ensure all funds from all property sales will be held for parish redevelopment and the fulfilment of our objectives Facilitate the use of St Bernadette’s facilities for the school, the Korean community and/or other community use Accept that Mother of God Church and Presbytery will be sold as a part of our rationalization

Our New Parish Centre An interconnected (under one roof) Parish Centre which includes: Church with Chapel access throughout the day Parish Office and administration centre Community Gathering and Meeting spaces Facilities for Outreach, Community, Social and Support groups An apartment that can be used as a presbytery A Memorial Garden Our Catholic ‘Community Place’ in Central Ivanhoe

In Summary A consolidated Parish with the resources to progress its spiritual, pastoral and social objectives into the long term future A Parish not solely dependent on sacrificial giving for its future A Parish where the priest can function effectively supported by a Pastoral Associate and adequate resources A Parish where assets are maintained and continuously refurbished to respond to changing needs A Parish exercising good stewardship of its resources

Communicating the Journey 2005 – Formation of the Catholic Parish of Ivanhoe 2007 Development of Master Plan to prioritize works and redevelop a single Parish Centre at the MI site 2014 Strategic review across the Parish with surveys, workshops and community meetings 2015 Parish forum/workshop to further develop the strategic review with the objective of a single worship centre 2016 Architects invited to submit plans for development options together with costings. A review committee of parishioners with expertise in architecture, town planning and financial modelling appointed to make recommendations on the architects’ submissions

Communicating the Journey Recent Updates in Parish Newsletter 28. 05. 2017 Update re the recommendations of the Parish Redevelopment Review Committee that we formally engage FPPV Architects and move to next phase of the development of our new Parish Centre on the Mary Immaculate site ie. design development and drawings 29. 10. 2017 Update re further delay to Parish Centre planning and development because of submission to Heritage Victoria by Alison Alexander to list MI church on the heritage register. Information given re inviting public submissions. 4. 02. 2018 Update re development project and Heritage Victoria Executive decision to oppose the listing of MI church on heritage register – Tribunal hearing listed for April 17 th

The Present The Mary Immaculate site is set for redevelopment Proposal for redevelopment submitted to the Archdiocese and agreed to in principle Outside submission to Heritage Victoria to list MI Church Heritage Victoria Tribunal hearing on 17 April 2018 Basis of submission is heritage value of the church Heritage is considered limited to the Stations of the Cross, bronze statues of Madonna and Child, and the Altar Crucifix rather than the overall structure – these will of course be incorporated into any redevelopment

The Present - continued While awaiting the outcome of the Heritage Victoria tribunal hearing (due approx 17 th June) the Archdiocese, together with the Parish, is investigating the following three options with the Architect: Option 1: Demolition of all buildings, sale of part frontage onto Upper Heidelberg Rd (excluding corner block), building of new Parish Centre on corner block and along Waverley Rd frontage Option 2: Retention of existing church with upgrades and addition of ancillary buildings (gathering space, offices, presbytery etc) connected to the church; sale of N/E block (current chapel) Option 3: Demolition of existing church, rebuild as in option 1 but full frontage onto Upper Heidelberg Rd

And Then Once the Heritage Victoria issues are clear the Parish and Archdiocese will move forward with the Architect’s model for development of the preferred option Design development, drawings finalized for tendering and contract Building Celebrate a new beginning for the Parish blessed with the facilities and resources to deliver its Spiritual, Pastoral, Social and Educational mission into the future

Addendum: MOG School Our Parish Schools were deliberately excluded from our initial Master Plan and so are outside the scope of our development project. However the fact that Mother of God School has been forced to close because of lack of enrolments, changes to federal government funding and the need for ongoing and unstainable financial subsidies does play into the psyche of our Parish redevelopment. The pain of the closure of one of our schools is a reminder to all of us that a Parish of this size, with limited resources and people, cannot maintain multiple properties that are beyond its needs or its ability to maintain or resource.

MOG School: continued One of the lessons that must be learnt from the school closure is that if we are to secure a viable and resilient Catholic presence for our community into the future then we must exercise good stewardship and consolidate our resources. Our current plans for the MOG school site are that it will be leased to Fairy Hills Kindergarten for the remainder of 2018 and to East Ivanhoe State School from 2019. The property will remain a parish asset.

Epilogue All change and development will have its challenges and sometimes even heartache and a sense of loss but it also brings with it, despite the birth pangs, the breathe of new life and the hope of a future that begs to be fulfilled through vision, sacrifice, and faithful discipleship. v Out of ashes comes new life v Out of death comes resurrection v Together we can build a Parish Community and Centre that can speak the Good News of the Gospel to the people of Ivanhoe.