Our Statement of Needs
Our Lady of Refuge stands as a focal point in the Midwood & East Flatbush communities.  Our parish serves these communities very well but we are faced with many challenges including structural, fiscal and social  needs.  In order to renovate and upkeep the buildings of our parish plant, and continue the programs and  services to those in need, we are burdened with the daunting task of generating additional sources of income.

We believe that through the Centennial Celebration Campaign: Our Lady of Refuge for 100 Years!, we will be able to address the structural needs of this parish. These needs are identified below as we move  forward in an effort to restore our physical structure to perfect working order for our parish’s centennial celebrations in 2011.

Church Interior
The interior of our church building is in need of restoration and refurbishment in order to ensure its structural integrity. Although we have solved the problem of water damage to the inside of the church, our walls and ceiling have sustained damage. Seventy-five years of dirt has endangered the structural integrity of the inside of our church. Below is a list of projects which we intend to complete in order to restore and refurbish the interior of our church building:

- Re-point the interior of the church
- Repaint the church ceiling
- Refurbish our pews
- Thoroughly clean and steam blast the interior of the church
- Restore the church murals
- Re-do the woodwork in the sacristy
- Restore the roof in the bookstore
- Further repairs to the area around the chruch’s pipe organ
- Restoration of the church’s pipe organ

Boilers
The boilers which serve our church, rectory and school have served us well, but they are old and worn. We have been advised that it would be more economical for us to upgrade the system and replace the boilers.

Electrical System
The electrical system in the church and the rectory is old and presents a liability.  The system must be replaced for safety reasons and to lower energy costs.

School Roof
The school roof must be repaired because of interior leaks and water damage.

Rectory
The rectory has sustained similar damage as the church, mainly due to water. To prevent further damage repairs must be made. Below is a list of our plans to restore our rectory:
- Replace the roof
- Replace the outer walls
- Waterproof the foundation to the basement

Landscaping
Landscaping to the entire property must be done to better support the drainage system.
TOTAL CAPITAL GOAL: $600,000

Bishop DiMarzio has invited our Diocese to renew itself and to study its future way of serving the people. This process is called: Christ Jesus, Our Hope. Please view the website: www.ChristJesusOurHope.org
It contains:
• Information relevant to this process
• Answers to some frequently asked questions
• Provides a forum for you to submit your questions and thoughts
As the process continues, you are encouraged to check this site for up-to-date information regarding the planning process and the changes happening in our Diocesan Church.

We have experienced great success with our fund-raising, and as of January of 2010 the organ committee has raised over $113,000 of our $200,000 goal to pay for the restoration of the Kilgen Organ. The majority of these funds have come from small donations from around the world, plus two large gifts and several creative fund-raising campaigns by the parishioners. The inside of the church has been repaired and the nave’s stonework and ceiling are being cleaned and repaired (see photo taken 3rd week of March 2010). We are ready to return the pipe organ to its home…but we need to raise the restoration project’s remaining $87,000.

Click here to sponsor a pipe. Thank you

Masses at 7:00am, 9:00am in the chapel and tri-lingual mass at 7:30pm