Property Management and Security
Property Management
In the life of a parish, there are bound to be construction projects both large and small. Some involve design renovations or construction of a new church building; but others are more along the lines of property management. Both building projects take careful thought and planning, and both will require approval from the Bishop and possibly the Building Commission as well.
Everyone here at the Dioceses wants your school or parish to have a successful building project and we especially want to aid you in making the initial steps as efficient as possible. Notifying the Diocese as soon as the journey begins enables us to expedite things as quickly as possible, keeping in mind that we might be limited by the Bishop’s schedule. The earlier we can help you plan and provide the needed informational forms, the smoother your approval process will be.
For facility projects such as roofs or additions which exceed $25,000, please contactNorm Bormann, Director of Property Management, Safety and Security. If a permanent change to the worship space is desired, then the Vicar for Divine Worship must be contacted.
| Diocesan Building Commission Guidelines |
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The Building Commission and diocesan staff strive to create a collaborative, team-oriented approach with the parish leadership and encourage the parish to do the same with its own building committee. Assembling the right team early in the project’s planning is critical; as is making sound decisions early in the process which may save significant time, money and effort as the project continues.
It is important to familiarize yourself with the Diocese' process for approval as detailed in the Diocesan Building Commission Guidelines. Early in the process, we ask that you contact Norm Bormann, Director of Property Management, Safety and Security via email or phone (515) 237-5038. Norm will overview procedures and provide a packet to help you gather the information necessary for approval. Within the packet will be a two-part Project Information Form which consists of preliminary information, questions regarding costs and funding, and finally details of execution. If a capital campaign is needed or desired, then your building committee will be put in touch with Laura Holms, Director of Development.
This form, presented in two parts, must be submitted to the Diocese. Both the guidelines and the form will aid you in providing all the pertinent details to the Bishop. Depending on the cost, the project may also require a presentation to the Diocesan Building Commission, a group which meets six times per year. This is why it is critical to contact Norm early. Getting on the agenda is not always easy depending on the number of approval requests already submitted.
The guidelines and form are available for download here, but you will still need to speak with Norm. If the necessary information is not provided as needed, your time before the Commission may be delayed. Also know that even when a project is under $25,000, Norm is a valuable resource for working with contractors or vendors. We encourage parishes to reach out regardless of the size or cost.
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| Church Design & Renovation Guidelines |
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It is the policy of the Diocese of Des Moines that any permanent change to worship space requires the approval of the Vicar of Worship who will work closely with parishes as they plan and design renovations and new church buildings. During this exciting and formative time in the life of a parish community, it is important to adhere to the Diocesan Building Commission Guidelines which states that the Vicar for Divine Worship must be contacted when there are anticipated changes in the worship space or the design of a new church building.
Another valuable reference is Built of Living Stones, a document issued by the USCCB regarding liturgical art and environment. It is important for the parish and pastor to familiarize themselves with the content of this 82-page document which can be downloaded here.
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| Parish Large Expense Inventory Survey |
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In an effort to better understand future financial needs of the parishes we are asking you to complete the following survey relating to large expenses. This will be very helpful for Bishop as he contemplates the approval of building projects. To download a fillable pdf, click here. To submit the survey online, please go here. |
Security
Having a plan for emergencies is an important step towards minimizing the potential loss of life or property. There are numerous resources at Catholic Mutual Group's CMG Connect which are available to all parishes, schools and entities in the Diocese of Des Moines. To access all training, go to desmoines.cmgconnect.org and register for a new account.
Be sure to peruse their Cares Library where you fill find documents such as those shown below plus many others. You will find the Cares Library under Resources in the upper righthand corner of CMG Connect.