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Father Barry's October 2010 Pastor Pages
Our annual parish bazaar is 7 days away - Next Sunday ,October 17th. The parish bazaar is intended to be an event that gives us the opportunity to gather
as a parish family. The purpose of the bazaar is two-fold. This event assists the parish financially. All proceeds are applied to the annual cost of
insuring oru parish facilities which is approximately $23,000 a year. But just as important thte bazaar is one of the few occasions we gather as an
entire parish family to share food, fellowship and fun.
Once again this year there will be something for people of all ages. They will begin serving the bazaar meal at 10:30 a.m. (Roast beef, green beans,
salad, dinner roll, drink and dessert). Meals will be delivered to our homebound parishioners who want one like we have done in the past. The silent
auction which will begin after the morning Mass. There will also be homemade crafts and food available in addition to the gift baskets and raffle.
For the children there will be activities in the basement during the time of the bazaar. Similar to last year, the children's games will be faith-based
activities, reinforcing what we know and believe about God.
At 1:00 p.m. there will be the drawing for raffle winners and the top bidders for the silent auction will also be announced. You don't need to be present
to win. Raffle tickets have been mailed to every household again this year. Raffle prizes this year include a flat screen television (19"), digital
camera, twelve free pizzas from Gambinos and $100 cash.
It is my hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to experience our church and parish as more than a building or institution. The parish
bazaar reminds us that we are a community of believers mutually supporting one another through prayer and fellowship on our journey of faith.
The diocesan capital campaign entitled Yesterday, Today and Forever is unique from our customary Catholic Community Annual Appeal (which
is not taking place this year) in a variety of ways. First, the capital campaign will help us to address the special needs of our Catholic community
which cannot be met through ordinary contributions. For example, regular Catholic Community Annual Appeal only paid for approximately 37% of the
costs of educating our seminarians. The rest of the funds came out of the seminary education fund. Over the years this fund has slowly been drawn down
because ordinary contributions are not sufficient to keep up with the cost of seminary education. The diocesan capital campaign will help to build
up the endowment so that the interest derived from the principal will be sufficient to pay for the education of future seminarians. The campaign
will also assist to build up the endowment fund that cares for our retired and elderly priests.
Another unique feature of the diocesan capital campaign is that the pledge is spread over a five year period of time. (A longer period of time can also
be arranged.) A person can choose how to tithe or make payments, whether it be monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or yearly. For example, if a person
made a $1,500 pledge to the campaign and decided to tithe monthly, it would be $25 a month over five years. A $500 pledge over five years would be a little
over $8 a month over five years. Many people spend more on cable television on a monthly basis!
Although gifts to the capital campaign mostly come in the form of cash or checks, there are other ways of contributing. A person can make a bequest
in a will or revocable living trust as a way of providing the diocese resources to continue ministry in the future. Remembering the diocese in your will
can be a form of supporting and providing a kind of perpetual memorial. An endowment fund in your name can be set up to benefit any of the campaign priorities.
This can be an opportunity to honor a loved one or leave a legacy in your family's name. Gifts-in-kind or tangible personal property is sometimes given to
support the campaign. Gifts of securities in the form of stocks, bonds and mutual funds are occasionally given as well.
The diocesan capital campaign is an invitation to access our stewardship of the material things entrusted to us, and how we are sharing them to
benefit the larger Body ofChrist.
Questions & Answers about the Diocesan Capital Campaign - October 24, 2010
- Why are we doing a campaign with the current economic situation? Bishop Coakley decided to begin this major fundraising effort after receiving
strong support from the feasibility study from both clergy and lay leaders, and because of the urgent nature of the diocesan needs.
- How is the diocesan capital campaign different from the Catholic Community Annual Appeal? The Annual Appeal only covers a fraction of what
it costs to fund seminarian education and priest retirement. This capital campaign will help create a long-term solution. The Bishop would eventually
like to use the Annual Appeal to address other goals and new church ministries.
- Can I be flexible with my commitment and payments? Yes. We understand that some people may need to delay the start of their pledges. Others may
want to stretch out their payments over a longer period of time. Some may want to tithe monthly, semi-annually or annually to the capital campaign.
- Can I designate my contribution to one or more of the goals? Yes. The expressed intent of the donor will be honored. If you feel strongly about
one or more of the goals, you can designate on the pledge form where you want your contribution to go.
- What if I make a pledge and then cannot honor it for some reason? Your pledge is not a legal contract. A person's situation can change due to
an unexpected loss of job, serious illness or other life changing events. If you find you can no longer honor your pledge, the Church understands and you are not
held to your pledge. You will just need to notify the parish office or diocese if this is the case.
- Is my pledge or commitment to the Capital Campaign confidential? Yes. Those parish leaders contacting you with your pledge form do not know the amount
that the Bishop is asking you to consider nor will they know your actual pledge, unless you tell them. You are asked to complete the pledge card and return it
to the parish office (via mail or collection basket) and it will be forwarded to the diocese. The diocesan office will then send you reminders based on the
payment schedule you selected (i.e. monthly, semi-annually, annually, etc.). All gifts to the campaign are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
More Questions and Answers about Capital Campaign - October 31, 2010
- How did the diocese arrive at the amount I am being asked to consider pledging for the capital campaign? The amount was based on your past
participation in the Catholic Community Annual Appeal. If you were a regular and strong supporter of that Appeal, your amount is most likely higher than
someone who never gave anything to the Appeal. If someone has never given anything, the basic amount they are being asked to consider is $1,000. However,
many parishioners across the diocese are being challenged to go beyond that.
- What if the amount being asked of me is unrealistic or not within my ability? The amount you are asked to consider is not a bill or demand. It
is merely meant to challenge you to think about what might be possible over a five year period of time. If the coordinators of the campaign 'missed the mark'
when determining your capability to give, then you can decide for yourself what you want to pledge. You know yourseld and your situation better than
anyone else.
- Are priests participating in the capital campaign with pledges? Yes. At the very start of the campaign, Bishop Coakley challenged the 58 priests
of the diocese to contribute $250,000, and so far, they have pledged more than $440,000. Most priests are making monthly payments in support
of the capital campaign.
- Do parishes have goals? What is the goal of our parish? Yes, parishes have been given goals or "targets" to strive for which are both monetary
as well as participatory. The target of OLPH is to raise $293,231 with a participation goal of 50% - that is, having at least 50% of parishioners participating
in the campaign in some way. The monetary goal is based on the number of households in the parish and the ordinary annual income of the parish.
- What happens if a parish does not meet its goal? The goal or target is just that, something we aspire to attain as a parish. There are no
consequences if we do not meet our parish goal, other than less resources being available to address the four needs identified by the campaign.
- If I choose to give monthly, quarterly or annually, will I be reminded in some way? Yes. The diocese will send you a reminder with a self-addressed
envelope based on your chosen schedule.
- Does the pastor know what I am giving or pledging in the campaign? Speaking for myself, I don't look at how much individual parishioners give but do care
about the participation goal. I don't care how much a person or household pledges, just so they participate in some way to help support and strengthen our
Church family. As St. Paul reminds us, we are the Body of Christ. Just like a body is made up of many different parts, and each part has a contribution to
make, yet all are part of the one body, so it is with the Church. Each of us as members of the Body of Christ has a part to play. Every part of the Body of Christ
has something to contribute. The Body of Christ (the Church) is less or weaker without all the members fulfilling their role.
- Will the Catholic Community Annual Appeal begin again next year? Yes. This year there is no Catholic Community Annual Appeal because of the special
capital campaign. The capital campaign is special because it is attempting to address the needs that cannot be met through the ordinary annual appeal. It is hoped
that the capital campaign will build up or replenish the endowments reserved for seminarian education and the care of infirmed and elderly priests so we don't have
to worry about funding for these needs in the future.
- What is the overall goal for the diocesan capital campaign? The goal for the entire diocese is $15 million. Of that, $3 million will go into an
endowment for seminarian education, $8 million will support the priest retirement fund, $1.25 million will support the ongoing ministries of Catholic Charities
in the diocese and $750,000 will help enact the
Stewards of Hope pastoral plan for the diocese.
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Pastor Pages Archives
Annual Parish Bazaar 10/10/10
How Diocesan Capital Campaign is Unique 10/17/10
Questions & Answers about Diocesan Capital Campaign 10/24/10
More Questions & Answers about Capital Campaign 10/31/10
January 2010 Pastor Pages
February 2010 Pastor Pages
March 2010 Pastor Pages
April 2010 Pastor Pages
May 2010 Pastor Pages
June 2010 Pastor Pages
July 2010 Pastor Pages
August 2010 Pastor Pages
September 2010 Pastor Pages
Current Pastor Pages
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