Last week at all Masses, the Finance Council presented the financial report for the year ended June 30, 2021 and it was also sent via email to all parishioners. It is important that we all read the financial update carefully and be aware of the great work we have accomplished in the last year in turning around the finances of the parish. Now we need to continue to build on this base and grow our ministries back to meet the needs of the parish and community we serve.
Last year at all Masses, I asked every parishioner to give an equal sacrifice not equal gift by giving one hour of your salary per week. Again, this year I ask every person to give a minimum of one hour of their salary to the parish each week. That means if you earn $20/hour, I ask you to give $20 to the Church each week. If you earn $200/hour then I ask you to give $200 a week to the Church. That works out to be 2.5% of you earned salary. Equal sacrifice, not equal gift.
During my retreat series Living the Eucharist: Circle of Life, I emphasized the importance of every member of the community participating in the “carrot soup” of our liturgy and our community. We need everyone to give some of their time and talent so we can grow in spreading the gospel news to all. To this end, I now ask every parishioner to commit to an additional hour every week in volunteering in some ministry.
I understand for some people giving the money will be easier and for others giving the time will be easier but truth be told we need everyone to do both—give one hour of their salary and give an hour of your time in service to others. We have such huge potential as a community as we have been gifted with so much and we can do so much together. I know this is a new concept for many, but I ask you to pray about it and please consider giving one hour of your salary each week in treasure and another hour in time in service. We need help in many areas of ministry from the finance council to the liturgy tech support to musical ministry especially the new 5 p.m. Sunday evening Mass band. Whatever your gift – we have a role for you! Come and serve with us together.
For some of you, you are already giving your time and treasure, so I ask you to please continue to give as much as you have previously and consider raising by 10% to help us grow our ministry priorities. I ask everyone to prayerfully consider making their gift a recurring gift each month. Online giving from a bank account or credit card allows for easier processing. Gifts by check, cash and the use of envelopes are equally appreciated. Here is the link to make an online recurring gift: Give Online – St. Simon Catholic Parish (stsimon.church) Thank you all for your gifts of support.
Speaking of gratitude, as we head into Thanksgiving, I want to take this opportunity to share some thoughts on gratefulness. It has been a difficult year for many with the coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease. Over the last eighteen months, we have experienced so many losses: loss of freedom, loss of routine, loss of yearly celebrations, loss of physical contact with family and friends, loss of vacations, loss of travel and the list goes on. During all of this darkness and loss, we have also experienced light and we have much to be grateful for.
We have to refocus on the priorities of life, more time with family, more time for rest and exercise, more time to pray, and more time to reflect on the life’s most precious gifts. In so many ways, this time has also been a time of blessing. This Thanksgiving, I pray that we all can be grateful to God for the things and people God has blessed us with this year.
For my part, I am very grateful to God that I am here at St. Simon as your pastor. We had a great year in building our community despite so many struggles. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support, especially in these last several months which have been difficult for me personally with so many in my life suffering from pancreatic cancer. We will do great things together and I look forward to many, many years together sharing our love with each other and with the whole world. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan