The Cornerstone Campaign
"... The cornerstone being Jesus Christ. He holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to God." (Ephesians 2:20)
Project Summary
Our Lady Queen of Angels church and school has always been committed to the spiritual and educational growth of the Catholic community in Newport Beach. The parish was founded in 1961 and the first services were held in the new church in 1966. As our community grew, the original fellowship hall was replaced with the Parish Center and kindergarten and pre-school classrooms were added to the school.
1964 Aerial Photo
The original church structure has served the parish very well over the last 40 years. As our parish has increased in size, the number of Masses to accommodate this growing need has also been increased. Today, at some Masses people can find themselves standing in the rear or in the side aisles, as seating in the pews is unavailable. Holiday events are proving to be even more challenging for us to accommodate those church members wishing to attend Mass. Most importantly our current church physical structure requires significant seismic and other upgrades to comply with State, Federal and City building codes and regulations. It is now time for the OLQA parish to update its facilities to meet this growing demand and to comply with modern earthquake requirements. We must do this within the permissible limits of the City of Newport Beach General Plan and zoning ordinances.
For many years our school has had to turn away scores of Newport Beach families who wish to have their children receive a parochial education. We are woefully short of providing the Catholic schooling that our families need and deserve. We now have the opportunity to accommodate the educational needs of our community by increasing the capacity of our school. Also, in order to provide for large school assemblies and other parish events, a multi-purpose facility would enhance the educational experience for our students and be of benefit to our church members.
In order to provide the additional space needed for our church and school to accommodate our growing Catholic community, an agreement has been reached with St. Mark Presbyterian Church to purchase their property across from our campus on Domingo Drive. Our existing church has a seating capacity of 870. Combining the OLQA and St. Mark properties will enable us to build a new church that will accommodate 1200 parishioners at a Mass. The plans for the new church include a pipe organ, community room, nursery, bridal room, devotional shrines, choir space for up to seventy participants and a large outdoor plaza.
To pursue our mission of excellence in Catholic education, the school expansion is proposed to provide an additional classroom for each of the kindergarten through 8th grade classes. There would be a few additional special subject rooms, and the library, science and computer rooms will be completely remodeled. The original classrooms along Domingo Drive will also be updated and modernized. The multi-purpose gymnasium will accommodate a full size basketball court with bleachers on one side. This facility will also be available for school assemblies, plays, rainy day shelter, and could accommodate large parish functions. In order to comply with the City's general plan and zoning and to avoid any adverse traffic impacts, we must, however, eliminate the preschool class.
Cornerstone Campaign overview and site plan
Consolidation of the Two Church Campuses
Conformance with the City's General Plan (FAR = .17, or 91,630 s.f.)
Church seating consolidated and reduced:
| From | To | |
| St. Mark | 350 | 0 |
| OLQA | 872 | 1,200 |
| Total | 1,222 | 1,200 |
| A net decrease of 22 seats. | ||
School Operations will be consolidated:
| From | To | |
| St. Mark Preschool | 70 children | 0 |
| OLQA Preschool | 35 children | 0 |
| OLQA K-8 | 315 children | 600 |
| Total | 420 | 600 |
| A net increase of 180 students, a net decrease of 2 schools | ||
Height of new school buildings will be one-story, matching existing buildings.
Church Parking is increased
| From | To | |
| 8-acre OLQA Parcel | 213 stalls | 163 stalls |
| 4-acre St. Mark Parcel | 137 stalls | 238 stalls |
| Subtotal | 350 stalls | 401 stalls |
| Overflow OLQA seasonal parking | 38 stalls | |
| Total | 439 stalls | |
| OLQA seating is increased by factor of 2.06 | ||
Our vision to provide for the current and future needs of Our Lady Queen of Angels began with a process of listening to the parish community, praying and planning to meet the challenges we face. A capital campaign to fund the new church and additional school facilities is on-going. Our parish community has been committed over the years of our Outreach Program to helping those in need both in our community and at large. We have made a commitment as a parish to tithe 10% of what our parish raises in this capital campaign project to the Diocese of Orange to support poor parishes in our Diocese. Both the Gospel message and Catholic tradition call upon us to aid the poor and less fortunate and we are pleased to be able to make this commitment.
We welcome and encourage your enthusiastic participation in this important endeavor for the benefit of future generations of Catholics in Newport Beach. We thank you for all your support and prayers.
Planned Giving
Have you included a bequest to OLQA in your will or trust? Gifts of this type often provide substantial tax benefits to you and your family and will provide for the current and future needs of our local Catholic community as well as our many ministries. OLQA is always an extremely grateful beneficiary and will steward your gift well. Whether interested in supporting one of OLQA's many ministries, its ongoing operations, the parish school or the building fund, please consider naming OLQA as a beneficiary of your will or trust and join the many parish families that have already taken this wonderful step. The Planned Giving Committee, comprised of professionals well versed in the art of estate planning, encourage your questions and inquiries.
I am very pleased and supportive of the plans that are being developed in order to build a new Church and to expand the parish school. I am appreciative of the commitment that the parish has made to tithe a ten percent portion of funds raised in your campaign so that I might be able to assist parishes in the diocese with less financial strength than your own. Your generosity is a sign of your catholicity; that is, your concern for others as you strive to meet your own needs.
- Most Reverend Tod D. Brown
Bishop of Orange
