Bishop DuMaine called the hall "essential," "a missing piece," and "important to the vitality of this parish."

During June, St. John the Baptist parish on Abel Street in south Milpitas launched a fund-raising campaign and began the final phase of constructing a new parish hall. Parishioner Pat Fifield, the Advance Gift Giving Chair for the fund campaign, recalls that her 11 year old son, Joe, was in a class in the old hall when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck in 1989. When the quaking and creaking stopped, her son and all others in the hall were safe, but the hall was barely standing, and it was subsequently torn down.

The fund-raising and construction for the new hall have run into numerous roadblocks and dead ends, but the project has been put back on track with the help of officials from the diocese, including Bishop Pierre DuMaine.

The current pastor, Fr. G. Robert (Bob) Legér, says that the new hall, named for well-known and much-loved former pastor Viktor Pavalkis, is scheduled to be in use by the parish in Spring 2000. He says he can't wait to be able to start bringing people through on tours.

The hall will provide much-needed office space, meeting rooms, kitchens, and a full-sized basketball court that will serve as an assembly area for school and parish activities.

Parish members have participated in several fund-raising activities towards the rebuilding of the hall during the past 10 years since the earthquake. Inadequate cash, combined with problems with permits, construction plans, and contractors, and a heart attack suffered by then-pastor Father Charles Daugherty—all contributed to several false starts.

After the hall was torn down, the space it had occupied was vacant and used for parking for several years.

When a steel framework for the new hall was finally erected, the framing stood unfinished behind the church for several years more.

Parishioners who drive by South Main Street behind the church these days see encouraging indications that construction workers are on the job again. Hanging from one of the steel beams is a banner with the apt campaign slogan, "Our Parish Community, Renewing the Vision."

The diocese is aware of the past difficulties with this project and sent representatives to parish meetings to start the fund drive rolling. Bishop Pierre DuMaine, Coadjutator Bishop Patrick McGrath, and Fr. Bob Gray, a member of the diocese's Finance Office and Project Manager for the hall, joined Fr. Bob Legér at initial receptions, showing what some see as unprecedented diocesan support.

At the first reception at the home of parishioners Pete and Nellie Baltazar, Bishop DuMaine called the hall "essential," "a missing piece," and "important to the vitality of this parish." He said that St. John's is "a vigorous parish that feels the constraint of not having a place to meet." DuMaine also remarked that naming the hall after Father Viktor Pavalkis is a "wonderful memorial to him."

DuMaine remembered Pavalkis as a "priest without peer, none more edifying or inspiring," as one who worked tirelessly to resettle immigrants from Lithuania and other parts of Europe who were fleeing from the Nazis, and in so doing became "part of the rich immigrant history of this valley."

To reinforce their own commitment to the completion of the project, the pastor, the newly-hired building contractor, Gen-Con, Inc., and the fund-raising-consulting company, Guidance In Giving, Inc., made contributions the first night.

Father Bob Legér, who came to the parish as pastor one year ago, restated the importance of this project for parish morale. "We need to finish the hall for the good of everyone at the church."

Father Legér said that St. John's has about $500,000 saved from previous fund-raising for the hall. Another $1.2 million is needed to complete it. The goal of the current campaign is $900,000, which would reduce the debt to manageable size. The pastor hopes that the goal will be exceeded, and that the campaign will bring in enough pledges to fully pay off the debt.

Just before the Capital Campaign Commitment weekend on June 12 and 13, the parish had received $90,000 in pledges. To date, the pledges total $600,000.

According to Father Legér, the parish is committed to finish the hall without any more delays using money loaned from the diocese. If the fund drive does not succeed, paying off the debt could mean there might be not be enough money available for continuing current parish programs. As construction continues, and parishioners see that the long-awaited hall is taking tangible physical form with walls and a roof taking shape over the steel framework, the hope is that the rest of the needed pledges will be forthcoming.

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Last Updated: December 19, 2003