My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Divine Mercy project has been a vision and an opportunity that I have passionately supported and have been excited to see come to fruition. I know that you have felt the same enthusiasm for this effort and many of you have invested generously in the project.

Before reaching out to engage you, the faithful, in soliciting support for this project, a dedicated team, working in collaboration with outside experts, had conducted thorough due diligence and feasibility work and concluded that the Divine Mercy project was a viable opportunity for us to pursue. However, as the project progressed from feasibility and study to detailed planning and solicitation of bids, several unforeseen cost increases have fundamentally changed the risk and economic profile of the project.

We delayed the originally scheduled ground-breaking last fall as some of these challenges appeared on the horizon, and I commissioned a task force that included major benefactors and representatives from the local community, asking that no stone be left unturned in looking for ways to offset cost increases and mitigate risks. That team undertook efforts to restructure key elements of the construction effort and financing structure, producing millions of dollars in savings. None the less, these efforts could not generate enough savings to offset the unforeseen higher costs and risks.

While it is important always to engage in such endeavors with faith and trust in God's providence, it is equally important to make prudential judgements as good stewards of the resources He has entrusted to our care. Good stewardship applies to the obligation of dutiful guardianship of diocesan resources and, just as importantly, the protection of the trust our generous donors bestow upon us.

With this in mind, and with the wise counsel of experts from the local community and from my staff, we have collectively decided that the increased cost, complexity, and risks of this project make it unworkable for us as a community. I am certain that you share my deep disappointment with having arrived at the decision to cancel the Divine Mercy Senior Living project. Any donations that you have made to the project will be refunded to you in the weeks ahead, and any future pledge commitments will no longer apply.

I want to thank all of you who worked on and volunteered on this project and generously supported the fundraising campaign. I am confident that, in closing this door, the Lord is prepared to open others that He sees as essential to His mission for us in this diocese. I look forward to your partnership in pursing those plans.

With every best wish and prayers, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki
Bishop of Springfield in Illinois