Along with today’s bulletin you will find a copy of our annual parish financial report for 2009.  Given the difficult economy, you won’t be surprised to know that our parish income fell $118,680 below our projected budget.  $100,635 of that was the decline in regular collections.  Now, probably like yourselves, I grew up hearing sermons and reading articles advising that our first check be made out to God (!); or that we should give our first 10% to Church or charity.  May I respectfully disagree.  Pay your bills, your mortgage and your children’s education first!  If after that you can do anything extra to help our parish life and ministry, I know you will help us if you can.  At this end we are tightening our budget by providing no cost of living increase to our employees this year, trying to hold down expenditures and for any proposed 2010 major improvements, drawing from past savings rather than present income.  I know you will always be generous whenever possible.  Just take for example your generous response to our St. Vincent de Paul plus (2009 collection =  $114,835) and your immediate response to Haiti this year ($31,915); and your always generous response to the annual Bishop’s Appeal ($57,414) which allows us to help much needier parishes and schools.
           
Two comments on proposed major improvements for this coming year: What is listed under Youth Ministry Center really represents a variety of upgrades necessitated by the “new” Youth Ministry House, including resurfacing, lighting, parking expansion and fencing around both our old and newly developed properties.  Not included are the plans for a school related amphitheatre which is very much on track, to be available for all parishioners and not just the school, largely funded through last year’s auction and this year’s auction as “fund-a-need” and for which we hope to have final plans in the spring and groundbreaking by summer. These areas are not covered in the parish financial report: The RE budget ($69,850), the Youth Ministry budget ($33,387) and the School budget ($2,961,000).  Please feel free to approach your crippled pastor with any questions you may have; and that thanks to our accountant John Hyde and our Finance Committee (Andy Dressel, Ken Henry, Bernard Perez, Don Peirce and Greg Thornbury) for their faithful work.
           
Our Job-Networking Ministry is another way we hope to help each other.  This Thursday evening, and every other Thursday evening after that, we host our Job Networking evening for parishioners and non parishioners alike.  Our plan is to invite you to sign in between 6:30 and 7:00 pm with a chance to begin connecting and networking right away.  From 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm we’ll have a chance to share needs, resources and connections and to hear an excellent presentation on “Career Actions Network”, an alliance of more than a thousand hiring managers, investors and professionals; all are committed to actively help by posting jobs and making personal contacts with those who are hiring.  If there are any parishioners who have HR or Career coaching experience whether retired or still working who wish to volunteer some time to this new ministry, please phone the rectory and leave your name and phone number for the pastor.  We will get in touch with you shortly.
           
We have two celebrations to look forward to this weekend.  The first will be at the 5:00 pm mass, the second at our 9:15 Sunday morning mass. At 5:00 pm with the planning of “the Women of Magdala”, we will begin to observe Black History month.  Since 1926 Black History month has been an important observance not just for African Americans but for all Americans to trace the growth through abolition times and civil rights movement to become more faithful to the values that makes our Nation’s strong.  On Sunday at 9:15 we celebrate Scouting Sunday with youngsters of our parish who have achieved religious emblem badges.  We also mark the 100th anniversary of the boy Scouts of America with the many troops and veteran scouts in the parish.  Our parish participants include both boys and girls and members of all races, persuasions and creeds.

Your Pastor,
Brian T. Joyce