Parish Financial Status- Father Kevin Louis's Bulletin Column - February 18, 2007
It is good at last to be able to include in this weekend’s bulletin the final and accurate accounting of our parish financial status for the last fiscal year. As I noted in last weekend’s column, as of
Effective
At the end of its 2005-2006 fiscal year SPACS showed on the books a surplus of $233,670.00. After spirited discussions at SPACS Finance Committee meetings, Father Potaczek (the Dean) and Jim Dyer announced in October 2006 that a 2005-2006 subsidy rebate was to be credited to those SPACS-sponsoring parishes that bear the additional responsibility of operational expenses for buildings. Thus, the Saint Peter debt to SPACS was reduced by $46,444.00. According to diocesan-wide policy newly established by Bishop Listecki, I was required on
There may be some who are tempted to think that this is not fair or that it signifies that Saint Peter is not pulling its weight and is not committed to the educational apostolate of Catholic schools. The Saint Peter Pastoral Council and Finance Council have consistently affirmed our parish obligation to sacrificially and realistically commit resources to SPACS. And indeed, our parish has done so. For example, during the period 2001-2005, Saint Peter Parish income totaled $2,705,030.00 and of that amount $1,701,227.00 (cash subsidy plus building operational expense) was dedicated to SPACS. In other words, in that four-year period 63% of our parish resources were committed to assist parents in the integral formation of their children through Catholic schools. In light of the changing demographics and giving patterns, relying on such a high percentage of total parish income for the funding of the apostolate of Catholic schools would seem to be a recipe for disaster for the financial stability of both parishes and schools. It is interesting to note that as the SPACS Finance Committee is now working on a preliminary draft of the 2007-2008 budget, the numbers anticipate significant “new” income generated through development as well as an actual reduction (3%) in the cash subsidy assessed of parishes.
In 2005-2006 Saint Peter suffered a financial meltdown that was many, many years in the making. This week and last I have outlined a few of the steps – sometimes painful ones, but none taken lightly – that have been taken at the parish and SPACS levels to secure a stable financial future for the Catholic community of our area. There is no doubt that the Church is facing serious challenges in fulfilling its Christ-given mission in this world. We can think of the national average of only 33% attending Mass each week. At Saint Peter we are above that average with 42% of our registered parishioners participating each Sunday. But, of course, it also means that 58% are not worshipping regularly with us. So, Saint Peter has been making a concerted effort to be an ever more faithful and prayerful evangelizing community. And now, going hand in hand with this “new evangelization,” our parish embarks on the establishment of a comprehensive pastoral and development plan. My recent participation in the National Pastors’ Development Congress will be most helpful in this endeavor. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127). May we come to more fully know and more completely embrace the Lord’s will for the furthering of His Kingdom!
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!