The 2024 Grand Annual Appeal, Appeal!!!

Dear All Saints Parish Family,

Except for the Sunday snowstorm on Sunday January 14, this has been a great month at our parish! We had a wonderful celebration of the Lord’s Epiphany; we have over 25 parishioners learning about the Holy Spirit through the “Wild Goose” program; we are beginning to recruit participants for our *AMAZING* Good Friday Passion Play. I also want to thank everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday! I’m truly very blessed to be at All Saints Parish. :)

There is one thing, however, that should be an area of concern for us all.  We are almost at the February 1 deadline for our Grand Annual Collection, and we have only raised 49% of our $55,000 goal.  In response to this, I want to offer “5 Things To Know and Share About Our Parish Finances” here:
 
1. We are a “Break Even” Parish.
In my 5.5 years as Pastor, we have never had an end of the fiscal year profit based on our Offertory Collections.  Last year, we relied on a combination of parishioner donations, Grants, Fundraisers, and the occasional Bequest to put us back in the black for operating costs for the first time in 12 years!  The absence of any rental income from our convent also puts additional stress on the need for the offertory and Catholic Appeal, and upcoming Capital Campaign, to be a success. 
 
2. We are a “Rank and File” Parish 
Simply put, we do not have any deep-pocketed “Heavy Hitters” in our congregation. Our parish community does not have any millionaires the Pastor can rely upon to ask for a little extra financial help to cover any debts or unforeseen expenses.  We make our annual parish budget by the hardworking contributions of our retirees on fixed incomes, and the sacrificial gifts of working families. Every parishioner’s contribution counts! When everyone gives their best financial offering that we can, we reach this goal! 

3. There is NO Waste in our Budget
The Grand Annual campaign is essential to supporting the hardworking staff and the regular operations of our parish. We are blessed with a great finance council, many volunteers, and prayerful and hardworking clergy who bring our best effort every day to build up our parish community. The next staffing change that will need happen if we have insufficient funding would be for our parish to go down to one priest, and I don’t think anyone wants that! 
 
4. It’s Tough Economic Times for Everyone, Including the Church
Our 2023 Annual Report outlined in detail the effects of inflation on our operating budget. These are not great economic times for many of us, including the parish. Please don’t think that we are in a position to sustain ourselves without your contributions; they are more necessary now than ever. 

Having said all this… 
 
5. NOW is the OPPORTUNE TIME TO GIVE!!!
We are one of the only parishes in our area with a robust Youth Ministry program, Eucharistic Adoration available 12 hours per day, and a Sunday Evening Mass (7pm).  We were carefully selected by the Archdiocese to support Deacon Marcelo as his first parish experience in his lifetime of ministry to the Church. We have a large number of adults who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this Spring. We will unveil a Capital Campaign after Easter this April to outline the priorities you identified this Fall to fund so our parish can continue to flourish for the next 25 years and beyond.  

So for the Grand Annual collection, and the upcoming Lenten Catholic Appeal, I ask everyone to please give whatever you are able. Installments? Great. Possibly able to give more than our $100 recommended donation per parishioner? Thanks a million. Can only give less, or can’t give at all right now? Please keep praying. God knows all, and the Just Judge will repay everyone according to their works.  

Lastly, if you know any friends or family who are not coming to church with you this weekend, please share this bulletin with them and invite them to join you in living the Catholic Faith at All Saints. It’s never to late to come home! 

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Chris