Stewardship

November is Stewardship Month at St. Mary's. We pick this month because the next calendar year is right around the corner, but also because it is the month of Thanksgiving, and giving thanks is at the heart of all stewardship.

So, on behalf of the parish as a whole, let me say first and most importantly - thank you. Thank you for your support of our parish during this last year. It is one of the most important things you do. Whether you just joined the parish or have been here all your life, your giving allows St. Mary's to answer God's call.

I want to update you on the parish's finances and also our stewardship appeal goals. I also want to help you understand the enormous power of your financial stewardship. As stated in the special stewardship prayer in our order of worship:

'We recognize that as we give:

Growing minds are nurtured
Helping hands are extended
Hearts our touched, love is shared
And, our faith is strengthened.'

First, some numbers. A few weeks back, you received a copy of the parish's financial report for our fiscal year just past. It showed $3.8 million in total receipts and expenditures. About 60% of the receipts were various forms of giving by parishioners, including regular giving for our operations and mortgage, the weekly offertory and bequests.

And let me say just a word about bequests because this year we received, for us, an extremely generous bequest of more than $150,000 from one estate. In a normal year we receive about $25,000 in bequests. This generous gift was a godsend and played an important part in keeping us financially stable this past year.

Our next largest source of funds, about 32% of the total, comes from school tuition, fees and fund raising from school families. The remaining 8% of our budget comes from events like the festival, program fees and investment earnings. We are truly blessed with your generosity, but the best part of the story is how the money is used.

Because of your generosity, we are able to pay our school faculty and our parish staff to nurture young and growing minds: 475 children in our parish school; 694 life long faith formation students; materials for our Children's Liturgy of the Word; Vacation Bible School. You do this. You strengthen our Faith and the Faith of others.

Because of your generosity, we extend helping hands: to Community Outreach, including the St. Ben's Meal Program; to fill shelves in our St. Vincent de Paul food pantry; to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Latiboliere, Haiti. You do this. You strengthen our Faith and the Faith of others.

Because of your generosity, we do touch hearts and love is shared: we baptized 126 and confirmed 94 this past year; 125 second graders made their First Communion; we had 51 weddings and 53 funerals. Because you gave, the resources were there to make this happen. Our Faith and the Faith of others was strengthened.

You answered God's Call this past year and we thank you for this. Now, we must ask you to continue to give.

Within ten days or so you will receive an envelope with letters from Father Chuck and from the Stewardship committee and your pledge card for 2009.

How much do we need? In the past few years we gave you two giving targets, one for our regular operating expenses and a second for our mortgage payments. Two amounts made sense as we transitioned from our past building fund capital campaigns but the time has now come to give you just one combined target amount for all our needs.

Our goal from each parish family is $35 a week, or $140 a month.

We appreciate that the financial situation of parishioners varies widely - some cannot afford this target pledge amount; some can afford to give much more. The importance of the target amount is that if we can average that amount from each family, the parish will be okay. Our sincere hope is that the amount you would be able to give in 2009 would be at least the same, or a little more, than your current contribution.

We also appreciate that the economic news of the past two months causes real worry and fear - you hear me asking for more, while you're thinking - I'm not sure if I can give at my current level. But note this: historically, giving to churches has often been the strongest during economic downturns when both physical and spiritual needs become greatest. Parishioners sense that they must be there for each other and that St. Mary's can be our rock as we weather this storm.

Simply, we ask that you give the appeal your utmost consideration. Once you receive your pledge card, think about it and talk about it. Share your worries with God in prayer and trust that He will help you answer His Call. Then, complete your pledge with the best amount you can and return it promptly, but no later than December 7th.

To encourage the timely return of pledge cards, we again have an incentive. A parishioner has generously donated three $50 gas cards to the gas station of your choice. All families who return their pledge card by December 7th will be entered into a drawing to receive one of these gas cards.

Thank you again for your past and continued generosity and for your kind attention. And never forget the power of your giving. Because of it,

Growing minds are nurtured
Helping hands are extended
Hearts our touched, love is shared
And, the Catholic faith we all cherish is strengthened.