Priest's Residence

October 11, 2026 - Update

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Little Flower,

I want to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude for your continued support, prayers, and generosity toward our Priest Residence Campaign. From the beginning, this effort has been a shared undertaking of our parish community, and I am deeply grateful for the many ways you have helped move this important project forward.

To date, the total amount pledged is $ 919,412.82, and we have received $ 748,203.47 toward the campaign. We remain in the redemption phase of the campaign, which continues through March 2027. Many parishioners are still fulfilling their pledges and making new contributions, and if you have not yet had the opportunity to participate, there is still time to do so. Every gift, large or small, helps us move closer to completing this project responsibly and successfully.

I am very happy to share some wonderful news with you: Little Flower is now under contract for the property located at 320 Plainfield Avenue, the house adjacent to our parish property at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and Plainfield Avenue. This represents a significant and encouraging step forward in our plans for a permanent priest residence.

We are currently in the inspection and due-diligence process and, if everything proceeds as expected, we hope to close on the property within the next 30 days. Once closed, we will begin the process of renovation.

This is an exciting moment for our parish, but there is still important work ahead. I ask you to continue keeping the Priest Residence Project and the entire Little Flower community in your prayers. We will continue to proceed carefully and responsibly, and I look forward to sharing another update with you regarding the next steps in the coming weeks.

Thank you once again for your faith in our parish, for your generosity, and especially for your prayers. Little Flower continues to grow because so many people believe in its mission and are willing to invest in its future.

With gratitude and prayers,

Fr. JC Merino
Pastor
Church of the Little Flower

BROCHURE

Our Present Reality: Continuing the Mission at Little Flower

As we participate in the We Are His Witnesses Archdiocesan discernment, it’s also important to affirm the ongoing life and needs of our parish community. The Priest Residence Capital Campaign at Little Flower will continue as planned. The Archdiocesan Planning Team has confirmed that local parish initiatives addressing essential and long-term needs such as the renovation of our priests’ residence should move forward as part of sustaining healthy, vibrant parish life.

This project reflects our community’s deep commitment to caring for those who care for us. Providing a safe, dignified, and welcoming home for our priests is not only an act of gratitude, but a concrete way of ensuring that Little Flower remains a place of faithful service and pastoral care well into the future. Your generosity, prayers, and participation in this campaign are tangible signs of hope expressions of how our parish continues to live its mission even as we journey through a time of wider discernment.

The continuation of this campaign has been endorsed by the Cardinal and the Archdiocesan team as both appropriate and necessary, recognizing that the day-to-day needs and responsibilities of each parish must still be met during this broader process of planning. We are deeply grateful to all who have supported this effort, and we will continue to provide updates as the work progresses.