Campaign payment lets light in

St. Martin, Bay Ridges, in Pickering has used its first payment from the Our Faith-Our Hope campaign to install glass doors and an awning, making the church more welcoming. “It feels absolutely amazing,” says the Rev. Millie Hope, incumbent. “I often wonder when I’ll walk out of my office and not think, ‘Wow.’ It even looks welcoming from the parking lot.”

St. Martin’s, which has about 180 families, pledged $274,000 in the Our Faith-Our Hope campaign, soaring past its goal of $170,000. Its first cheque back from the campaign was for $29,000, enabling the church to pay for the improvements in full. Ms. Hope says replacing the church’s wooden doors with glass doors is beneficial to both newcomers and parishioners. “I think when people are looking at coming to church, if they see wooden doors and don’t know what’s behind them, it can be daunting. Now, people can look in and see what’s here. And at the end of the service, when we say, ‘Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,’ they can see they’re heading out into God’s creation.”

Parishes will receive 40 per cent of all funds collected up to their campaign goal. After their goal is surpassed, parishes will receive 75 per cent of the funds. For St. Martin’s, that means a return of $146,075.

St. Martin’s plans to use that money to finish replacing all the skylights in the church and erect a new sign out front. “The new skylights will allow the sun to stream in without letting the rain pour in,” says Ms. Hope. “The hope is that the new sign will let the community know we’re here and invite them in to experience God’s love in action.”

“People are incredibly generous here, in every way,” she says.