1 November 2011
Dear Friends - Parishioners and families of Saint Ann Parish,
I am writing to you today about our parish 2011 Grand Annual appeal. As your Pastor I write to you each year to ask for your financial assistance. Your generosity each year helps to fund our annual fiscal budget. It is also used to fund special projects and deferred maintenance. Recently I had a joint parish finance council and parish pastoral council meeting to evaluate the state of current finances and our upcoming pastoral plan. This year the Grand Annual appeal also coincides with me speaking to you at the weekend Masses addressing the need for increased regular offertory needs. It is not easy to ask you to be more generous, let alone to ask for monetary help. I must tell you this is the responsibility that I most dread, but one that I understand, as I know you do, that it is vital to the success of our parish.
Each year brings change in our parish and community. During this year, as in the years past, financial difficulties have seriously challenged us all. Many members of our parish continue to work toward recovery and stability. Please know that I am very grateful for all that you do for our parish and for one another. Along with this Grand Annual appeal, you will soon receive a copy of the parish financial statement as part of our new weekly collection appeal. The annual reports will be available in the next two weeks. It will be published in our bulletin and posted on-line, both on our parish website as well as the Archdiocesan website. Further a copy of the report and appeal will be mailed to everyone on our parish registration system.
This year’s Grand Annual collection will begin on November 13th. Over the past few years, I have tried to outline different and more efficient venues to help eliminate our parish debt and maintain our properties while evaluating and addressing the current and future mission needs of Saint Ann parish. As you know we have a large debt of old loans to the Archdiocese and we continue to make monthly payments to satisfy these loans.
We have invested a great deal of time and resources this year trying to reconfigure the drainage around the church property. Throughout the year you have seen our commitment to this project along with our regular ongoing work, maintenance and renovation projects. During excavation for drainage project, we uncovered significant problems with the dry wells that had previously intended to serve as a drainage system. In response, we have reconfigured and designed a new drainage and well system that disperses the rain and ground water away from the church foundation. This new system is designed to eliminate any future issues with flooding. The project required that we divert additional fiscal resources and the final bill will exceed $ 60,000. This places us with $ 20,000 in unbudgeted expenses that this year’s appeal must satisfy. Our project list for this year’s Grand Annual collection will need to recover much of our deficit from the drainage work and other emergency work such as unforeseen winter and spring weather expenses. We have also made repairs to restore weathered and damaged flashing, annual roof shingle maintenance and related repairs. This year I would like to start work on the church doors and windows, which have been badly weathered over time.
As I do annually at this time, I have reviewed the parish records for the last several years and the various correspondences from my predecessors. As I did last year, I would kindly ask that each family prayerfully consider making an offering of $ 250.00. If it is easier for your family you can make your pledge in segments over several weeks. With this in mind I understand that each family has unique financial abilities and I know that, as you always are, you will be as generous as your situation permits. As in the past there are always families who have been able to make significant donations above and beyond this request.
The past few years have been financially difficult for us all. Our regular support has been affected, and we are more than $ 40,000 behind in offertory revenue to satisfy our budget. I need your help. Together we have been able to accomplish much and together we will work in the days and years ahead to grow as a parish.
I ask you to support the Grand Annual collection. Please consider a family gift of $ 250.00, or more if you are able. If you have not received an envelope in the mail, please find one by the usher’s tables. Thank you for all you do for our parish and for God’s Holy Church. May our patron Saint Ann continue to watch over us and intercede for you and your loved ones.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Sean M. Connor, Pastor