Save St. George Church in Ontario, CA

Look at the structure where the history of your faith has begun.  Is this the kind of structure you wanted your Church to be? After sheltering the faithful for more than a century under its roof, is this the way you the past should be treated?

SAVE ST. GEORGE! 

"Let us preserved our culture, our history and our identity as Christians . . ."

"O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us, The work that you did in their days, In the days of old.  You with Your own hand drove out nations; Then you planted them; you afflicted the peoples, then you spread them abroad. For their own sword they did not posses the land, And their own arm did not save them, But your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For you favored them."  (Psalm 44: 1-3)

PROJECT TITLE: St. George Church Restoration Advocacy Project

BACKGROUND: 

The history of your faith, your origin as a Christian . . .

The edifice of St. George Church founded on 1905 which remains standing to date is one of the among the oldest structure in Ontario, California and maybe in the entire San Bernardino County. The Church does not only represent the followers of Catholic faith in the vicinity, but Ontario itself, its culture, people and  its history, as well as the history  of the Catholic faith in Ontario, San Bernardino County, California and the United States of America per se.

The building made of bricks constructed by the early Catholic settlers in Ontario, is among the few remaining structure of its kind in San Bernardinoo County for over a century. St. George Church maybe considered a heritage site that should be preserved to be enjoyed by the future generation of Christians. It is also considered as a tourist destination/attraction especially by the pilgrims. However, through time, wear and tear, the building was declared  hazardous to the public by the City.

Hence, there is a need to:

1.) Gather, collate and research on the history of St. George to point out its significance and relevance to the history and culture of the people of Ontario;
2.)  To create an information and awareness campaign to restore the old structure of the Church not only for its faithful, to preserve the history not only of the Catholic faith, but also the culture and origin of the people of Ontario, San Bernardino Country and California per se. 

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION :

Preliminary research conducted disclose that there is limited information about the history of St. George Church, its original structure and its significance to Ontario’s history, culture of its people and its present condition. By searching in Google, one can gather information about the Church  but there is little information about its history,  the origin of its existence, its presence status and the communities behind the Church.

PROJECT GOAL : 

To create an awareness drive/advocacy campaign to promote the need to restore St. George Church, being the oldest Catholic Church (more than 100 years old) in Ontario, California. 2. To propel an advocacy campaign on the matter. 

OBJECTIVES: 

1. To produce an AVP documentary concerning the history, present status and the significance of restoring the St. George Church;

2. To come-up with an Audio Visual Presentation and a souvenir program which shall be marketed to sponsors/advertisers to raise fund for the restoration of the Church.

PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES: 

1. Organizing -

Establishment of contact persons (1. persons who are willing to help in the mission who has access to decision makers/organization as conduit beneficiary of the mission; 2. Persons who has access to the materials/information necessary to produce the AVP documentation/publication;

2. Research and collation of materials;

3. Interview, photography, video production;

4. Post production/editing and coming out with the draft AVP/Souvenir Program Dummy;

5. Finalization of the draft and uploading to social media sites;

6. Presentation/Marketing;

7. Publication/Distribution 

GANNT CHART OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION: 

 ESTIMATED PROJECT COST:

 • Audio Visual Presentation [Video Production/Post Production)

• US $ 500.00  -  For electricity, transportation and other necessary expenses only). Production and post production expenses including equipment rental, writer, editor, graphic designer are already being taken care of.

• US $ 732.00 Souvenir Program Publication (For printing cost only) - Book perfect bound 8.5 x 11”. 52 pages plus cover 100# gloss. 8 pages in full color, 44 pages in black & white.

RISK ASSESSMENT:

1. Half- hearted support/lack of enthusiasm by contact persons. Solution: Persistent follow-up and consistent searching/scouting for persons who are committed to help;

2. Budgetary constraint. Solution: a. Find ways and means to raise fund to source needed equipment and materials. 3. Time. Solution: 1. Work within the planned time/frame; 2. Persistent follow-up.

PROPOSED PROPONENT/PARTNERS:

1. Office of Diocesan Archives, Diocese of San Bernardino -

(Note: We are still in the continuing process searching for conduit church based organization or mission oriented individuals as proponent beneficiary of the project.  Production and post production expenses for the writer, graphic artists, editor, photographer, videographer, site designer and developer shall be shouldered by anonymous donors.)


Sample of the documentaries and sites already designed, developed and produced:

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