Celebrating our parish in 2025

It is that time of year again where we begin to reflect back on all that we have accomplished this year and start thinking about how much more we can do together in the next year.

In October we shared our Financial report for the fiscal year that ended on June 30th in the bulletin. We celebrated the increase in the contributions of our parish family in their financial contributions. Over the last two weeks you heard Father speak on time and talent. This week we focus on treasure.

While contributions have increased from year to year, we will not be whole until all of our members are fully engaged in their discipleship journey through giving back a piece of what God has provided for them. We are called to be Church and supporting the Church with our treasure is part of that calling.

What impact does your contributions have on our parish community? They allow us to sustain our campus, welcoming all to join in our mission in a safe and comfortable environment. They allow us to run and enhance youth programs that assist families in forming the next generation in their discipleship. They allow us to welcome youth to campus to share their faith through fun and fellowship and even to compete with other parish teams at athletics.

Your contributions allow us to welcome adults, seeking a closer relationship with God, to engage in Bible Study, Small Groups, and even to become full members of the church through OCIA if they have not had the privilege of receiving all of their sacraments.

Your contributions allow us to visit the sick, bringing Jesus into their homes though our homebound ministry. They allow us to serve those who mourn through our new Grief Support Ministry and our annual Remembrance Mass for our faithful departed.

We like to share images of these many programs during our offertory to remind you of what your contributions support. Keep in mind, however, that it starts with your sacrifice and your growth in your relationship with God.

So many of you made faith commitments last year and offered your time and talent throughout the year. Our goal is to have 100% of our parish families participate in stewardship by spending time to plan to give back in the service of God our Father, to prioritize where in all of their commitments their faith commitment belongs, to decide on a percentage of their income to give as an act of worship in their place of worship and to progress over time in their giving.

But wait! The most important part of making a faith commitment is prayer. If you are not praying, we invite you to begin praying. Consider reflecting on Malachi 3:10 which encourages us that if we trust in the Lord with all that we have, he will pour down upon us blessings without measure! What an awesome result of our trust in God! If you are praying, we invite you to pray over your faith commitment and open yourself to God’s guidance in making your commitment.

We thank you for your commitment in your time, talent, and treasure to our parish community. Building up the Body of Christ is a team effort. None of us can do this alone but together and with God’s blessings on our sacrifices, we can do great things.