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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are we embarking on this campaign now?
Since January 2023, St. Francis has added more than 1,500 families and more than 4,000 parishioners to our rolls. Weekly Mass attendance has increased by 750 and continues to rise each month. We are at maximum capacity in our youth and children’s programs. Our rectory is not big enough to house all four of our priests. With all this growth, we have an exceptional need for more space for worship, formation, discipleship and outreach. These new facilities will enable us to accommodate the growth that we’ve had, and will continue to have, as our community grows.
How did we determine the priority of the projects?
In 2023, parish leadership, with input from our parish councils, ministry teams and staff and through listening to ideas and feedback from many parishioners, collaborated with HH Architects to create a long-range plan to address current and future needs. After the plan was completed, we conducted a parish-wide survey to gather feedback about the proposed long-range plans and to help determine what projects parishioners thought were most important. Using that feedback, parish leaders made adjustments and created phases for projects to best meet the needs of our growing parish family.
Why are the construction costs for the project so high?
Since 2020, construction costs have increased exponentially and continue to rise. For example, to construct our church and chapel today, which cost $30 million in 2010, would now cost an estimated $60 million. While costs are high, we know that waiting even longer will only incur higher construction costs.
Is the Diocese of Dallas committed to St. Francis being the only parish for Frisco, Prosper and Celina? Why doesn’t the Diocese of Dallas just build another church in Frisco?
Presently, St. Francis is not aware of any plans to establish an additional parish in Collin County or build another church. Even if the diocese began that process today, it would be at least eight to 10 years before a project of that magnitude could be completed. In addition, Frisco and the surrounding areas continue to grow with many new communities planned for construction in the next three to five years. We don’t see any end to the population growth, and growth of our parish community, with each passing month, limited space will continue to be a major concern.
Who will be asked to contribute to the capital campaign? Everyone in the parish will be asked to contribute a sacrificial gift to the campaign according to their personal financial situation. We recognize that some in our community can give more than others, but we ask that everyone prayerfully discern what they are able to give to support the needs of our growing parish.
MOTHER TERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Why is support for the new Mother Teresa Catholic School included in this list of projects?
St. Francis has always been aware that it would be asked to support the effort to build Mother Teresa Catholic School in Frisco. Parish leaders initially thought that the timing for the school would occur after our capital campaign, but the Diocese of Dallas is moving forward with the school sooner than expected. Bishop Burns has asked that St. Francis lead the charge for our diocese and partner with the diocese and Mother Teresa Catholic School to ensure success for both projects, while providing a positive example for other parishes in the area that will be asked to do the same in the near future.
How does the new Mother Teresa Catholic School impact our plans?
St. Francis of Assisi is in full support of the proposed Mother Teresa Catholic School that the Diocese of Dallas plans to build in Frisco. Currently, a complete timeline for the construction of the school is not in place, but we do not expect the construction of the school to impact our immediate plans at St. Francis of Assisi. One of St. Francis’ Core Values is to support families in our parish and the growing surrounding community. A regional diocesan Catholic School, located in Frisco, minutes from St. Francis provides an excellent opportunity for our families to provide a Catholic education for their children.
Why is St. Francis not building a school on campus like originally planned?
At this time, the Diocese of Dallas has decided to focus its efforts on a new regional school in Collin County instead of local parish schools. In fact, in 2019, the diocese purchased 26 acres of land at Independence and Main for a new Pre-K-8 school. By doing this, multiple parishes are able to join together to support the school instead of placing all of the financial and administrative burden on a single parish community.
What other details can you provide about the Mother Teresa Catholic School?
Mother Teresa Catholic School will be located at the northwest corner of Independence and Main Streets in Frisco. It will consist of grades Pre-K-8 with a target enrollment of 780 students in three sections per grade at full capacity. Financial assistance will be available for families.
FAMILY LIFE CENTER
What is the purpose of the Family Life Center?
In Matthew 28, the Lord commands us to worship, make disciples and to teach through the power that has been given to Him. With the construction of our Family Life Center, St. Francis of Assisi will be able to provide additional space for Mass services each Sunday and Holy Days such as Christmas, Easter and Ash Wednesday, create needed rooms for formation for our children, youth, and young adults, as well as provide opportunity for adult formation and discipleship, and construct a new parish hall that will allow our community to gather and build relationships and faith.
If we already have a parish hall, why are we building a new one?
In one word: space. Our current parish hall has served us well, but for many events, we simply do not have enough space for everyone who would like to be there. The new parish hall will seat 500 dinner-style and over 800 theater-style, a significant increase over our current hall. The existing parish hall will continue to be used for medium-sized events, but will no longer be used for Mass. The new parish hall and auditorium will allow us to increase enrollment for children’s faith formation, middle school and high school youth ministry and Vacation Bible School.
Do we really need more meeting rooms?
St. Francis coordinates over 60 ministries, groups, youth events, Baptism prep classes, OCIA (formally RCIA/RICA) sessions, funeral receptions, parish meetings and more, with only nine meeting rooms available. Many evenings and weekends, all meeting rooms are full with a waiting list for available space. Multiple groups and ministries meet off campus or are not able to meet at all, because there simply isn’t space for them. In addition, our formation and youth programs require additional space for education and meetings and often must face situations with families on waitlists.
How will this project enhance the youth programs at St. Francis?
Current plans call for the second floor of the Family Life Center to be dedicated primarily to youth programs, with seven meeting rooms and a youth lounge. In addition, youth programs will have access to the new parish hall and auditorium for teaching, gathering and other events to allow these programs to serve our growing youth programs.
Will there be an opportunity for this new building to generate new revenue through banquets, outside rentals or other uses?
The primary function of these buildings will be for use by the parish for ministry and activities; however, there could be certain opportunities for revenue generation through facility rentals and alternative uses. All these opportunities would be vetted by parish leaders to determine suitability and whether these activities align with the mission of St. Francis of Assisi.
What if we can’t raise the money to fully fund the Family Life Center?
If we are not able to raise the funds needed to complete the new Family Life Center, the project will be completed in phases. To reduce construction costs, the full shell of the building will be completed initially with spaces being finished as funds allow.
What if we can’t raise the money to fully fund the Family Life Center?
If we are not able to raise the funds needed to complete the new Family Life Center, the project will be completed in phases. To reduce construction costs, the full shell of the building will be completed initially with spaces being finished as funds allow.
OTHER PROJECTS
Where is the parish considering moving the rectory?
The proposed construction of the Family Life Center will require us to remove the rectory, meeting the demand for parking (see below). The location of the new rectory will ultimately depend on how we develop our campus. The final land usage map will be determined by the leadership of the parish and the diocese. The primary objective and desire is to locate the rectory campus. However, in the relatively unlikely scenario that the rectory cannot be located on campus, we will develop or secure a property as close as possible to ensure ease of access for priests. Regardless of the location of the rectory, everyone is in agreement that our dedicated priests deserve a comfortable home.
What is being done to address parking in this plan?
While we will lose some existing parking spaces due to the construction of new facilities, by removing the existing rectory we will have an overall gain of parking spaces near the church, as well as some additional parking on the west end of the property. Overall, we will have a net gain of 26 parking spots.
Why is a columbarium not a part of the long-term plan?
In 2022, the Diocese of Dallas re-affirmed Cardinal Ferrell’s original order to cease building columbarium on parish grounds. Because of this, St. Francis is not able to add this feature to our property. However, the parish has entered a partnership with Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home to construct a St. Francis Memorial Garden at the Ridgeview West Memorial Park Cemetery directly north of the St. Francis campus. More details on these plans will be issued soon.
When will we start to see changes on our campus?
Pending the result of our capital campaign, initial gifts and approval from the Diocese of Dallas, our hope is to begin construction as soon as late 2025. Some changes, such as construction of the new rectory, could begin sooner if funding allows. Some of the timing is dependent on approvals from the diocese and especially the City of Frisco (i.e. permits).
FINANCES
How will these facilities be maintained? Is there a budget to support them?
Maintenance of the new facilities will be covered by the existing parish budget and maintenance and facilities staff and porters. We are planning for additional utilities, cleaning and maintenance for all new spaces.
How does St. Francis plan to address the debt from this project and previous debt remaining from the church? What about the current debt of the parish? Will more debt be incurred for these new projects?
The answer to this question will depend on the success of the capital campaign. Currently, St. Francis carries a loan of $2 million from the construction of the church and chapel with a fixed interest rate of 3%, a very modest interest rate. The parish finance council, in accordance with diocesan financial regulations, would review any proposed additional debt to ensure that it is serviceable and carries a low risk. Our hope is to raise enough funds to be able to construct these new facilities with limited or no new debt being incurred, but that will depend on the generosity and support of our parish community.
How can we know how the church will use the gifts made to the capital campaign?
In preparation for this campaign, our parish finance team established a separate banking account along with procedures specific to this capital campaign to ensure that funds received are stewarded well and invested in the proscribed priorities. Parish staff and the finance council will govern these funds to ensure your generosity is treated with the highest level of integrity. All funds given to this campaign are restricted to the goals outlined in the campaign documents, and oversight comes from parishioners and staff together.
Does the Diocese of Dallas support us financially for any of our projects?
While the Diocese of Dallas is in full support of our proposed projects at St. Francis and will assist the parish in procuring low-interest financing and loans for construction, the diocese does not directly support the projects financially. Each parish must be self-sufficient in regards to construction and operational costs.
Can I transfer money from my regular giving to the capital campaign to make a pledge?
All gifts for the campaign should be considered above and beyond regular tithing. Existing giving is budgeted to address the regular operational needs of the parish. Reducing regular giving to make a gift to the capital campaign could result in the parish falling short of budgeted dollars to support day-to-day operations.