Bishop Scharfenberger has appealed to all parishes in the Albany Diocese to embark on a campaign journey called Re-Igniting Our Faith. The Bishop’s intent is two-fold; first, that each parish identify their specific needs and plan on how they might implement them over a period of time, and secondly, that we are assured that each parish contributes funds to benefit the pastoral needs of our larger parish community.  We will be working to make certain that our parish structure is safe and can be continued to be cared for.  We are the current generation of parishioners, and like so many that went before us who cared for the church, we are entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that St. Isaac Jogues’ assets are treasured and prepared to serve those who follow for years to come.
            To begin this undertaking, we have formed a committee and asked several parishioners to identify areas of concerns in the parish.  Seventy percent of funds raised will be allocated to fund both the Evangelization Programs and building and maintenance issues as listed below​.

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St. Isaac Jogues

• The front steps and walkway have deteriorated and will likely become a liability.
• Upgrade the sound system to modern technology to accommodate all parishioners, particularly our seniors, while having the ability to easily replace worn parts.
• The rectory garage is starting to crumble and is in need of serious repair.
• The rectory has two bathrooms but only one shower. With the need to provide housing to seminarians and guests of the church, we need to add a shower to the half bath.
• Building a bathroom on the second floor of the parish center would allow staff and children to have easier access to a restroom without disturbing activity on the first floor. The pipes are all in place, and the bathroom just needs to be built.
• Meet the needs of our elderly and young families by installing a bathroom in the church.
• Unfortunately, the beautiful stained-glass windows are in serious danger of falling apart. To maintain the integrity and beauty of the windows, costly repairs must be addressed by a specialized contractor.
• Create programs that suit the needs of the parish which will build a dynamic faith community and lead more of your friends, families and neighbors back to Mass.

St. James

• Our two boilers are very old and in desperate need of replacement to more efficient technology, thus reducing our heating bills.
• We cannot expect the parish to continually hire contractors who scrape, sand, and repaint the exterior walls. We recommend that the existing wood siding be removed and replaced with vinyl siding, thus improving the look of our building while saving money in the future.
• A thorough review of the slate roof is necessary to spot potential weaknesses and avoid leaks.  In addition, the slate requires a good cleaning.
• The front doors of the church are in bad shape and trying to repair them may not be prudent. Rather, total replacement with wooden or glass doors that would keep the cold out and reduce our fuel bills would be essential.
• Areas of the rectory have no insulation.  We have already dealt with frozen pipes, necessitating our maintaining the heat at an exceptionally high temperature.
• The back-parking lot presents imminent danger without some type of protective wall or other solution to keep motorists/pedestrians from going over the edge.
• Some tree extraction work behind the church is warranted.

• Others identified by the parish-at-large.

St. Isaac Jogues - Hague

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• The roof leaks and must be repaired.
• Brighten the interior walls with new paint.
• Fresh paint around the exterior of the stained-glass windows.
• Add benches on the side of the church to encourage conversation and for reflection.
• Spruce up the exterior with additional plants and bushes.

Diocese

 In addition, the Bishop would like us to take steps that will lead our parishes to know Jesus and his merciful love.  Tom Cronin, who is an Advisor to the Bishop for Family & Parish Evangelization, will help us to develop programs specific to our parish. 
 
                As such, the remaining thirty percent of funds raised will be directed to pastoral needs of the Diocese.  These include:

• Providing adequate income and housing to retired priests who have served parishes well beyond their retirement years. The Bishop’s Appeal does not address this need, nor does it currently fund this group of priests.
• Support for vocations; additional funds are required for seminarian formation and education because we have more seminarians than we ever had.
• Investing in our future and developing Catholic educational programs.
• Updating and developing new youth and young adult ministries.
• Evangelization and communication, including workshops, innovative marketing, and access to written and electronic communication resources. Additionally, programs that support baptisms, family needs, and grief counseling, to name a few, are necessary.