ASSUMPTION CHURCH GETS $1.25M LIFT
Donation to revive fundraising
The local owner of a provincewide health club chain has stepped forward with a cheque for $1.25 million to help revive the campaign to renovate historic Assumption Church.
Al Quesnel, president of the Athletic Club Group, said he hopes his donation will prompt others to contribute and ensure the crumbling 167-yearold church does not close.
“I just felt somebody had to take the lead, otherwise the church is going to close,” he said. “The church is not in a position to do what needs to be done.
“I felt it was important because with a church like this you don’t want to look back with regret of not doing what this community is capable of doing. I thought I would take the lead. Five and $10 donations are not going to get it done. I’m trying to set an example for other Catholics or Christians with wealth in the community and it will get done.”
With a two-year, high-profile $9-million fundraising campaign in the trash bin, leaders of the parish and diocese of London said Wednesday they are renewing efforts to save the national historic landmark, which opened in 1845.
Rev. William Riegel issued a two-page letter of concern to parishioners Sunday that highlighted the church’s state of disrepair and touched on the failed fundraising campaign and the hiring of a new architect to evaluate its condition.
“I must be honest and tell you that closing the church may indeed be a possibility,” Riegel said in his letter.
A meeting will be held with parishioners at the church Tuesday at 7 p.m. to gauge whether they will support a new multimillion-dollar fundraising effort to save the church.
The diocese several months ago questioned where $2.6 million in donations raised since the renovation campaign started two years ago have gone and fired Philanthropic Management Consultant Inc. — the fundraising team spearheading the effort.
Only $521,750 went toward the church and its surrounding grounds, according to the diocese, citing a review of financial statements by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The fundraising firm’s partners, John LaFramboise and Jo-Anne Mancini, were fired in February by the diocese and a high-profile corporate board resigned in support.
A new boarded headed by Bishop Ronald Fabbro, Riegel and Campus Minister Rev. Chris Valka has taken the reins.
This time it will be different, with the church closely involved in guiding the campaign and not allowing it to be steered by a third party — as was the case with PMC, Riegel said.
The parish, which under the former campaign lost control of its revenue from a parking lot next door, had no say in decisions by PMC or how repairs were being handled, he said.
Some restoration work was completed — the heating system was replaced and asbestos was removed from a crawl space. But the failed campaign under PMC left behind no money and several unpaid bills, Riegel said.
“From our analysis it’s clear the majority of money went to administration and campaign costs,” he said. “Very little work was done on the parish.
“There is no money left and there are bills still not paid 2½ years into the campaign.”
There is laundry list of emergency repairs needed that will cost close to $700,000, according to a preliminary report prepared by the new architect, Allan Avis. They include reinforcing the roof structure, restoration of roof-wall connections and replacing the asphalt shingles.
It is anticipated Quesnel’s surprise donation will help address those needs.
Riegel anticipates the direction needed to save the church — in terms of committees and people — to be clear within about a month.
“I’m optimistic this can continue with the right structure and people in place,” he said. “Now we need to get going.”