With a project as significant as building a new church, we know that many questions can come up relating to the building project and its status.  Here are answers to the questions that we hear most.

For a detailed view of our building project timeline, go to our new Road Home page.

Have more questions?  Reach out to us at building@stphilipcc.org.
 

Q. What’s the timing for groundbreaking?

A.  We are working to break ground and begin construction as soon as possible.  Depending on how quickly we can achieve some of our milestones, groundbreaking could happen as soon as the 2nd quarter of 2019.  Prior to groundbreaking we need to complete a number of milestones that include completing a variety of site and building plans and getting Flower Mound approval and building permits finalized.  Please watch out for updates to the Road Home display in the narthex and on the website to see how we are progressing. 
 

Q. When are we expecting to be able to move into the new church?

A.  Based on the current plans and the timeline that we are getting from the Diocese, we are estimating that the grand opening of our new church will be towards the end of 2020.  Construction projects like this are complicated and have a lot of moving parts.  That’s why we established the Road Home display and will be keeping you up to date as we meet each one of the milestone steps.  Once we break ground, we will be swapping out this display with a new set of milestones to illustrate the construction process from the ground breaking to the final grand opening of our new Parish Home!! 
 

Q. After this initial phase to build the church, what other phases are coming next? What’s the long-term timeline?

A.  The overall project includes additional phases that include the creation of dedicated classrooms and meeting spaces that will help our community to come together.  These additional phases will move as quickly as the financial support allows.  As the first phase of construction is being completed, we will evaluate the move and priorities for the next phase of fundraising. We hope that the move and the construction will generate additional support from current and new parishioners.  At the same time, we understand that this is a multi-year capital campaign, and that it needs to run its course.
 

Q. What are examples of why we need more parking and more classrooms/meeting space?

A.  Everyone knows that parking is a severe problem at Christmas and Easter. But even on a routine basis, parishioners must in some cases park several blocks away. This is a particular hardship for senior citizens and families with young children. Also, we don’t want parishioners parking on the other side of West Main Street and walking across it to get to Mass.  For that matter, it’s hard to measure how many people don’t come to St. Philip simply because of the parking situation.  Further growth of the parish would put the parking problem at a breaking point. 
As for meeting space, during the school year there are many instances when all the rooms are used on a given evening and groups have to find other locations for meetings or events.  We have no dedicated space for our youth ministry program, and our religious education enrollment is capped because we simply don’t have room for more classes.
 

Q. What is going to happen to the current St. Philip Catholic Church?   

A.  Our current campus is an asset to the parish as we move forward in concert with the Diocese.  We'll obviously keep it until we have appropriate facilities on the new property to move and continue to grow.  At that point the Diocese will have to decide what to do with the current property.  There are two possibilities:
1) It could be sold and the proceeds used against our debt. 
2) The Diocese could keep it and use it in some fashion, but they have indicated that in that event we would get appropriate credit toward our project.  
 

Q. What happens to the columbarium?

A.  Our current plan is to move the columbarium (it was specifically designed to be mobile) to the new location, incorporate it into the new campus design and ensure it has an appropriate and reverent location, with room to grow.
 

Q. Could we add a Spanish Mass or do other things to attract the Hispanic population?

A.  The addition of a Spanish Mass is a decision that rests with the Bishop; in the meantime, we will continue to serve all people who come to St. Philip’s to the extent of our resources.