September, 2025
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Rebuilding Our Church Campaign,
Here is the latest update on what’s been happening with Holy Rosary Cathedral Renewal.
Phase 2: Spires, Towers and North Façade ($5M)
As we previously shared, JCK Engineering has advised that Holy Rosary’s spires have reached the end of their service life.
Their deterioration is accelerating as moisture and weather infiltrate through the metal cladding and rot the wood structure underneath.
Due to this advancing degeneration, it is urgent to proceed with spire replacement in 2026. In order to get the best competitive pricing, we are hoping that a construction contract can be awarded this fall.
After much deliberation, Abp Don, the Archdiocesan Admin Council and the Archdiocesan Finance Council have decided to prioritize the replacement of the spires over setting aside funds for a future Pastoral Centre. As a result, initial donors to the Rebuilding Our Church Campaign are being approached to ask for their approval to redirect the Pastoral Centre portion of their gifts to the spire replacement. To date, donors are indeed supporting this plan.
Even with the full amount redirected from the Pastoral Centre, and other initial gifts already received towards the $3.8M needed to replace the spires, there would still be approximately $1.1 required in order to commit to spire replacement next year.
We are asking past and new donors to consider helping with this shortfall, via gifts or 5-year pledges. Others might be inspired to help with the rest of Phase 2, which includes renewal of the belfries, rose window and the masonry on the towers and north façade ($1.2M).
If you would like to learn more about how you can help support this important effort financially, please contact James Lipoth at [email protected]. You can also learn about ways to donate HERE.
Phase 3: Infrastructure and Lower Level Renewal ($4M)
As mentioned previously, Holy Rosary’s heating, electrical and ventilation systems, as well as sanitary pipes, are beyond their service life and are beginning to fail. While the lower level is torn apart to make these replacements and repairs, we have the chance to reconstruct the hall, kitchen and washrooms in order to comply with building codes and better serve archdiocesan and parish gatherings.
Early this year, Phase 3 received an allocation of $500K from the original Rebuilding Our Church fundraising, and since then Holy Rosary parishioners and other friends of the cathedral have generously offered a further $474K in gifts and pledges towards renewing essential systems in the lower level of the church.
More gifts and pledges are needed to make up the $3M still required for this important work. Make a gift or pledge to support this renewal HERE.
Rebuilding Our Church Website Updates
New information has been added in the following areas:
With gratitude for your friendship and support,
Your Campaign Team
Archbishop Don Bolen, Lisa Polk, Michelle Sanche, John Dipple, Mo Bundon, Samy McCarthy, Garth Herbert and James Lipoth
P.S. Feel free to contact us if you have questions or comments: [email protected]
P.P.S. You can find past updates here: https://rebuildingourchurch.ca/blog/2021/02/27/campaign-news-and-updates/