New Project

If your parish needs advice on a project, the following professionals may be able to help. The fees for the services of these professionals is the responsibility of the parish.

Grant Emmel, PE
608-239-4718
gemmel@chorus.net
Area of expertise - General project management.

Thomas M. Gernetzke, RBEC, FRCI
Building Envelope Professionals Group, LLC
608-291-2550
tom@buildingenvelopeconsult.com
Area of expertise - analysis and design of roofing, waterproofing, fenestration, and masonry/cladding systems.

Kirk Keller AIA, NCARB
(608) 240-9900
kkeller@prarch.com
Area of expertise – Master planning and visioning, feasibility studies, Architecture, interior design, building codes, contractor selection process, and construction management.

Jeff Lee
(608) 347-5338
jlee.res@gmail.com
Area of expertise – Land development,
municipal processes, and management of
larger projects.

Go to the form

Christ has entrusted the Church with the stewardship of temporal goods to provide for divine worship, to carry out the mission to spread the Gospel, to care for the poor, and to provide for the support of clergy and lay ministers. Canon law requires the diocesan bishop to carefully supervise the administration of all goods which belong to the diocese and all public juridical persons, including parishes, entrusted to his authority and to regulate the administration of ecclesiastical goods through the issuance of special instruction (CIC, c. 1276§ 1 & 2). Generally, this means that diocesan approval is required for any project in excess of $15,000 or 5% of a parish's annual offertory; any project that requires fundraising or taking on debt; or any project that impacts or creates:

• liturgical space
• a building on any historical register
• the exterior of a building, or
• any Life Safety element of a building.

Three separate levels of projects have been established coupled with guidelines for approval in advance of the start of any construction, land acquisition, or disposition. For smaller and some medium sized projects, the pastor will need diocesan staff approval. For larger and more complex projects, a rescript approval from the Bishop of Madison will be required to execute construction contracts.

Upon submission of the form below, your project will be assigned to one of the three approval levels:

• Simple Approval - Modest in scope, cost, and construction (click for process flowchart)
• Administrative Approval - Moderate in scope and cost, covering a wider range of potential projects (click for process flowchart)
• Diocese Building Commission (DBC) Approval - Larger projects in scope and cost, including any modifications to liturgical spaces as well as buildings listed on any historical registry. (click for process flowchart)

With a large number of building types, ages and conditions across the entire Diocese of Madison, there is a chance what you are considering for your parish may not readily fit within the framework of the three approaches listed. 

Even if you are uncertain of how your project should be reviewed, please start the approval process by completing the Construction Project Application Form (Stage 1) to the best of your ability. At any time throughout the process, you may contact the Diocese of Madison for assistance.

We encourage pastors to review the Construction Project Application Form with their third party consultants and/or Construction Project Managers before submission. With the pastor's permission, a delegate may fill out the form.

Instructions for Application (Stage 1)