Father Newman giving a Sermon

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Twenty-Third Sunday of the Year

10 September 2006

Dear Friends in Christ,

A few financial matters for your attention:

  1. A complete report for the fiscal year which ended on 30 June 2006 will be sent to every household in the parish this Fall, but for now I want to share the good news with you. In the fiscal year 2004-2005, we collected in our primary offertory a total $1.359 million, and in the just ended fiscal year 2005-2006, we collected $1.462 million-an increase of 7.5%. This is about the same rate of growth we have sustained every year for the past five years, and it works out to an average of a little more than $28,000 per week, as opposed to just above $26,000 per week in the year before. Thank you for your generosity.
  2. Also in the fiscal year just ended, we raised $1.45 million in capital gifts for Phase Two of our 15 Year Master Plan, while in the fiscal year 2004-2005, by comparison, we raised only $509,000-meaning that we tripled capital donations while also raising our primary offertory by 7.5%. Again, thank you for your generosity.
  3. Phase Two of our Fund for the Future is really two different capital campaigns together: The first campaign is the part St. Mary’s is called to play in the current diocesan capital campaign, and the second campaign is our local effort to complete six different projects for the expansion and improvement of our facilities. To help all parishes complete their part of the diocesan capital campaign, the diocese has eliminated the 2006 Bishop’s Stewardship Appeal and folded it into the capital campaign-meaning that in this calendar year we are not asking for a double donation to the diocese. So the donation of 1% of your income that you would normally be asked to contribute in the BSA is for this year part of the diocesan campaign, but that will not be the case in 2007. Accordingly, we ask you to be as generous as possible in 2006 so that we can make progress on our portion of the diocesan campaign.
  4. Finally, since we began Phase Two of our local campaign, we’ve made great progress on the projects we announced. The total renovation of our middle school building is complete, and the new rectory has been acquired. Plans have been prepared for the renovation of Notre Dame Hall and the rest rooms in the church basement, and when funds are available we can proceed with that work and with the removal of the old rectory and the creation of our prayer garden and columbarium. Please consider making a sacrificial gift to our Fund for the Future so that we can move ahead with speed to the completion of Phase Two of our 15 Year Master Plan.

Father Newman