We instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly.
As I present an annual report to you at masses this weekend, I know that as your pastor, I have a privileged vantage point. Not only do I witness all our large public events but the “small” everyday moments of parish life. These not only include the moments of individual prayer and counsel but the quiet and steadfast work of our parish staff, as well as those who volunteer significant and essential amounts of time and talent to the “business” of the church.
- The stewardship and accountability presented in the financial report is a result of the dedication of our Business Office.
- We are blessed by a hardworking Operations and Facilities staff who not only provide physical labor but creativity and flexibility in responding to multiple events and unexpected challenges.
- The Rectory office staff are the personification of multitaskers as they shift seamlessly between answering phones, sorting mail, scheduling events, compiling data, distributing information and keeping the pastor on task. They are often the first face and voice that someone encounters when they engage the parish.
- The faculty and staff of our School fulfill the tasks of education and evangelization with a genuine love for our students and their families.
- The members of our Pastoral Team are my closest collaborators. They are gifted organizers of volunteers, catechists, musicians, coaches and, most importantly, witnesses of faith. They inspire our youth, our pantry guests and so many others who seek Christ.
Beyond the many details that are shared in the following pages and in my spoken reflection at mass, I wanted to give recognition to those who do the work of the church quietly and without the recognition they deserve. Please join me in thanking God for both the employees and volunteers who serve and uphold our parish.
In my talk today, I will direct you to the following page which details our parish’s and school’s financial standing. The financial report shows dramatic improvements in decreasing the deficit in the school spending. While costs continue to rise, we have been able to maintain a moderate end of the year surplus in parish finances. Weekly offertory contributions rose slightly. Stable and sometimes positive financial outcomes allow our parish to continue its mission.
One of the details on the financial report that deserves your attention is the impact of our parish’s contribution to the diocesan bankruptcy settlement. The initial payment was $340,362. We are also continuing to contribute to the settlement trust without impacting on our typical spending. These contributions, which will continue for the next few years, are offset by a decrease in annual pension costs. Our initial contribution was more than balanced by a long-awaited COVID-era subsidy from the federal government. The Employee Retention Credit, with interest, amounted to a payment of $652,690 to the parish.
You will also find a spiritual report detailing various ministries as well as a sampling of numbers indicating participation numbers in the various ministries.
I want to also share with you the good news in the effort to prioritize our participation in Sunday Mass attendance. I am inspired and encouraged by this growth:
| 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 | |
| Total | 114,740 | 93,596 | 91,715 |
| Average attendance per week | 2,165 | 1,767 | 1,730 |
| Average Increase per week | + 398 | + 37 |
Much of my report today will be a reflection on where we have been, where we are and where we hope to go as a parish community. In two years, we will mark the 75th anniversary of our parish. We will begin preparing to celebrate our Diamond Jubilee in the coming months. Thank you for your support today and every day.
Peace,
