3 February 2009

Dear Friends and Families,

Thank you again for all you do for our parish and community.  I am writing to you to offer an update on our finances and a reminder announcement on the Annual Capitol Fund Drive.  I am encouraged by your presence and kindness to your parish and one another.  May the Lord help us to find new ways to support our work and one another.

I know that these are hard times for us all.  Like most of you we, the parish, live pretty much week to week.  Like most of you and the country we too find it necessary to look at our finances, tighten our budgets and look for new ways to fund our existing agreements and services.  I will work with the Parish Finance Council and the Parish Pastoral Council to assist me in this work.  I can assure you that they remain a gifted, necessary and talented support and resource.

As you know the budget income relies on your generosity for both campaigns:  the Grand Annual which began November 9^th and the Annual Capitol Fund Drive which begins February 15^th.  I also want to remind you that the Archdiocesan Capitol Campaign begins on the weekend of March 8^th.  Additional information will be forthcoming.

As we promised I am attaching the “Profit and Loss Budget Overview” for the closed fiscal year 2007-2008.  Also attached is the budget of Saint Ann School with its appropriate closings.  Our books for the school were closed in September and the audit was finally received last week.  I had hoped this information would have been available prior to the Grand Annual, but the information needed to be vetted through our auditors and the Archdiocese.

The group of items listed below are projects for improvement that have been announced, been completed or are in process of beginning.  There are other projects, capitol expenses and improvement that we will announce in the spring.  These can be simply seen as deferred maintenance, yet necessary projects to begin or to be completed this year.

Structural & Safety Repairs

·         Choir loft         12,500.00        cost to remove old surface structure, remodel, repair and restore

        Memorial Gifts     2,100.00          in memory of Dennis “Bunny” Maloney

• Sacristy and Side Windows

6,120.00          cost to restore, repair and reconfigure windows with addition of storm windows and screens

• Roofing repair and flashing replacement

                                   8, 600.00          first stage leak repair, second stage reconstruct and identification

As you know this year we dedicated the Grand Annual Drive for the replacement and upgrading of the Sound System.  The project remains as planned.  The parts are on order and are being constructed and we hope to have the system in by Easter.  We have included the ability to add a hearing assistance component to aid those who may benefit this assistance.

Grand Annual              29,000.00        Requested for budget

24, 130.00       Actual received

Sound system  29,500.00

This years

Lighting budget            9,650.00

The drive will also be used to satisfy other deficits, for example

Fuel Expenses              9,085.00

Fuel collection             5,160.00

         Deficit                 3,925.00

We have all had a tough financial year and the future is difficult to understand.  The weekends of heavy snow have also made it difficult for some parishioners to travel to church.  Fiscally we are over $ 34,000 short in real revenue, we have spent $50,000 less in expenses so far this fiscal year; noting the additional repair and maintenance work that we have completed and scheduled we remain behind.

I hope that this is helpful and I will continue to update you as the drive begins and the year progresses.  Thank you again for all your support and prayers.  Please be assured of mine.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Sean M. Connor

Pastor