Intentions Met: $9320.88 (October 1, 2016 - )
Previous Years: 2014-15: $24, 494. 2015-2016: $21,830
One of
my favorite parts of Mass at St. Ann’s is when we pray the St. Ann’s
prayer,
and it’s not just because it means that Mass is almost over and I can
go get a
donut. What is great about the prayer is that it regularly reminds us
of what
we are called to be as a parish. It expresses a vision and it allows us
to pray
for that vision while recommitting to or part in bringing it about,
placing
ourselves in the service of God and others.
I wish
to build upon this prayer as we introduce a new campaign called:
“Prayer for
St. Ann: An Intentional Giving Campaign.” In this drive I want to
emphasize and
inspire as well as measure how well we are working toward the
intentions we
pray for each time. Marks of a healthy parish are: members giving
generously,
sharing their time and talents, and inviting others to share in their
faith and
worship. These are three marks that we will be emphasizing.
“St.
Ann’s will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous
giver.” St.
Ann’s made a bold move a few years ago in moving to South Mooresville
Rd., and
I believe it was the right move, as it allows us more potential to grow
and to
better serve the people of Decatur Township. However, we have to
complete the
move by paying off our new grounds and building. More than a quarter of
our
budget goes to paying our debt of $1.7 million along with the interest.
While
we are constantly working to keep expenses low, with these mortgage
payments we
are greatly strained in meeting costs. Weekly giving has remained
constant over
recent years, but costs from the loan payments have caused us to fall
consistently short of budget and to eat up much of our savings.
This
year our Finance Committee chose to take a realistic approach to
budgeting.
Spending was kept low and consistent, however, income, primarily from
weekly
giving, was based not on what we need but, rather, on what we can
realistically
expect from previous years. There
is, as
a result, a budgeted shortfall of approximately $50,000. The difference
would
continue to diminish our savings. Rather than allow this to happen, we
are
asking all parishioners to make special intentions to raise a little
extra. In
addition to regular giving by way of Sunday collections, we are asking
groups,
families and individuals to commit themselves by way of prayer, or
“intentions”, to raising money toward this $50,000 goal. It is no small
amount,
but it is a very achievable goal if we all work together as the parish
we
proclaim to be.
“Intentions”
are just that. They are personal commitments to raising a personal
goal. No
names will be taken on any intention and there will be no follow-up. We
simply
ask that you make commitments to remind yourself and to help us measure
how
well we are working toward this common goal. Once an intention is met,
please
feel free to make a new intention and work again towards a new goal. We
will
take us a second collection the first full weekend each month to
collect new
intentions as well as intentions met.
“St.
Ann’s will do great work, if I work.” Finances are significant, but
being
Church is more than that. We are called to give of our time and talent
as well
as treasure. In this campaign we wish to encourage people to get more
and more
involved in our ministries. Therefore, intention cards will also be
taken for
parishioners signing up for new ministries to encourage and to gauge
how well
we, as a parish, are doing to get people more involved and sharing
their time
and talents.
“St.
Ann’s will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I
invite and
bring them.” Finally, Christ has given us one commission and that is to
witness
to and share our faith with others. We have a wonderful faith tradition
and an
awesome parish, and we are called to share it with others. Therefore,
our
intention cards will include a record of how many people we invite to
St.
Ann’s. Our job is to invite them and make them and make them feel
welcome, it
is up to them how they respond.
Once
again, intentions, made and/or met, in all three areas, will be
collected by
way of intention cards place in second collection at the beginning of
each
month. We will keep track of our parish’s goals by way of our bulletin
and a
mural in the back of the church. Thank you for your continued support.
“Therefore, with the help of God and St. Ann, I shall dedicate myself
to the
task of being all the things that I want my church to be.’
Yours
in Christ, through the help of St. Ann,
Fr.
Rob