By D.F. Kratzer

WHEELING—The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has established the Building and Renovation Commission to review and make recommendations concerning all construction and renovation projects at parishes, schools and other diocesan institutions.

“This allows the diocese and parishes to work together with everybody involved (in a project) and make sure we are on the same page so that there is a clear understanding of everything behind it, including the finances,” said William Fisher, C.P.A., chief financial officer for the diocese and a member of the Building and Renovation Commission.

The commission is an advisory board that will discuss every aspect of any building or restoration project with the institution initiating a project and will provide suggestions for moving forward or improving the project and will provide advice to Bishop Michael J. Bransfield concerning whether or not the project should move forward, said Bernadette McMasters, director of the diocese’s Office of Worship and Sacraments, who is also a member of the commission.

The process of working with the commission, she continued, begins with a parish contacting a member of the commission to schedule a presentation concerning the proposed project. During the project proposal, the board will discuss each aspect of the project, including the parish’s demographics, ability to finance the project, cost estimates based on research and blueprints for new structures. Following the proposal, the board will prepare a recommendation for Bishop Bransfield on whether or not to move forward with the project and any modifications that should be made to the proposal. If changes to the proposal are requested, the party initiating the project will present it to the commission again.

The commission and the approval process, McMasters said, are important because they assure that any renovation or building projects are within the means and needs of a parish, school or institution and that the plans adhere to structural and liturgical demands. The process also assures that the initiating party has “thought about the finances, thought about all of the different components” of a project before moving forward.

“Our bishop is very concerned about the future of the diocese, and we want to have structures that are very structurally sound 50 years down the road,” which the commission will take into consideration when hearing proposed plans, McMasters said. “We want to make sure that parishes in the diocese know that, before they start any kind of building or renovation project, they need to take the first step and contact the commission.”

The chairman of the commission is Msgr. Frederick P. Annie, V.G. In addition to Fisher and McMasters, the commission includes Msgr. Eugene S. Ostrowski, V.F., pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Wheeling; Very Rev. Anthony Cincinnati, S.T.D., V.E.; Chad Carter, chancellor of the diocese; and Darryl Costanzo, director of the diocese’s Office of Buildings and Properties.