Every three years, the Archdiocese conducts, through an independent company, a financial audit of every parish, to ensure that the pastor and those working with him are adhering to the financial procedures and policies of the Archdiocese, and are operating, in general, according to good accounting practices. The principal purpose of this audit is, of course, to mDear Friends,
Every three years, the Archdiocese conducts, through an independent company, a financial audit of every parish, to ensure that the pastor and those working with him are adhering to the financial procedures and policies of the Archdiocese, and are operating, in general, according to good accounting practices. The principal purpose of this audit is, of course, to make certain I am serving as a good financial steward of our parish resources.
Our triannual audit was conducted this past December. We recently received the results of the audit, and I am happy to tell you that we received an excellent review. The audit not only demonstrated that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing with regard to financial procedures, but it also validated the fact that both our parish and school are in good financial condition, as I reported to you recently when I presented to you our annual financial report.
It is an important aspect of my job as pastor to make sure we, as a parish community, remain financially healthy, and that your generous contributions (i.e., your financial stewardship) are being used prudently and wisely. I take this role as chief financial steward of our parish very seriously, and the fact that I have been entrusted with this responsibility by the Archbishop and by you is humbling. Of course, I could never fulfill this charge alone. We are blessed to have Tom Sullivan as our Business Manager, who works hard each day and goes above and beyond to make sure our bills are paid and we are financially solvent, not only for our present needs, but as we move forward confidently into the future. I would also like to publically thank Lex Nugent, who is a CPA who works closely with Tom each month as they reconcile our books, and is always available to assist us with any special financial issues or needs that arise. Thanks are also extended to the members of our parish Finance Council, who assist us with their advice and serve, in many ways, as a sounding board for both Tom and me.
In the days before Vatican II, this Fifth Sunday of Lent was referred to as Passion Sunday, since one of the accounts of the Passion of the Lord was read. We no longer call it by that name, but this day does begin our final days of Lent, an intense period of preparation leading up to Holy Week.
On this Wednesday, April 6th, at 7:00 P.M. in the lower church, we will be celebrating our annual parish Lenten Penance Service. This is a great opportunity for us to gather as a parish family, to acknowledge our need for God’s mercy, and to confess our sins individually and receive absolution. There will be several priests with us to celebrate the sacrament, and I assure you, as always, that they are kind, friendly, and loving, who want nothing more than to be instruments of God’s love and peace. No one will judge you or lecture you or make you feel uncomfortable in any way. As I always tell our children before they go to confession, it is the easiest thing you’ll ever do! Please join us on Wednesday evening at 7:00. All you need to do is to be open to the graces with which God will gift you in this powerful sacrament. Believe me, you will feel like a new person when you leave Church after celebrating this great sacrament of God’s love and peace. There is no better preparation for Easter!
If you cannot make the Penance Service this Wednesday evening, please remember to take the opportunity during these final days of Lent to go to confession. There is no better way to prepare for Easter than to celebrate this great sacrament of God’s love and mercy. Remember also that we are all obliged to complete our Easter duty, which is to go to confession at least once a year so that we can receive the Eucharist worthily and well. Remember that confessions are heard every Saturday afternoon at 3:15 in the lower church. Please note also on Good Friday we will be hearing confessions from 12 Noon to 2:00 P.M., and this coming Wednesday and the Wednesday of Holy Week immediately after the 7:00 P.M. Mass. Do avail yourself of the gift of God’s peace by celebrating this important sacrament.
I once again respectfully remind you to please consider your gift to the 2022 Catholic Charities Appeal, if you have not already given your gift. My goal as your pastor is for every household and/or every wage earner in the parish to make a sacrificial gift to this year’s Appeal. Every gift to the Appeal --- no matter how large or small --- goes a long way in assisting the Archdiocese in carrying out the corporal works of mercy, especially among those most in need. If you didn’t receive a Catholic Charities envelope directly from the Catholic Charities office, envelopes are available at the doors of the church. Your donation may be placed in this envelope and mailed directly to the diocesan office. I would prefer that you NOT put them in the collection basket, but mail them directly to the office yourself. I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for your generosity to the 2022 Appeal, which really funds the most important work we do as a Church in this great Archdiocese.
Please take note of our Holy Week schedule, which is found elsewhere in this bulletin, and which you should have received in a special mailing at home. Plan now to be with us for these most important liturgies of our Church year.
Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.
Love and prayers, Father Olivere ake certain I am serving as a good financial steward of our parish resources.
Our triannual audit was conducted this past December. We recently received the results of the audit, and I am happy to tell you that we received an excellent review. The audit not only demonstrated that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing with regard to financial procedures, but it also validated the fact that both our parish and school are in good financial condition, as I reported to you recently when I presented to you our annual financial report.
It is an important aspect of my job as pastor to make sure we, as a parish community, remain financially healthy, and that your generous contributions (i.e., your financial stewardship) are being used prudently and wisely. I take this role as chief financial steward of our parish very seriously, and the fact that I have been entrusted with this responsibility by the Archbishop and by you is humbling. Of course, I could never fulfill this charge alone. We are blessed to have Tom Sullivan as our Business Manager, who works hard each day and goes above and beyond to make sure our bills are paid and we are financially solvent, not only for our present needs, but as we move forward confidently into the future. I would also like to publically thank Lex Nugent, who is a CPA who works closely with Tom each month as they reconcile our books, and is always available to assist us with any special financial issues or needs that arise. Thanks are also extended to the members of our parish Finance Council, who assist us with their advice and serve, in many ways, as a sounding board for both Tom and me.
In the days before Vatican II, this Fifth Sunday of Lent was referred to as Passion Sunday, since one of the accounts of the Passion of the Lord was read. We no longer call it by that name, but this day does begin our final days of Lent, an intense period of preparation leading up to Holy Week.
On this Wednesday, April 6th, at 7:00 P.M. in the lower church, we will be celebrating our annual parish Lenten Penance Service. This is a great opportunity for us to gather as a parish family, to acknowledge our need for God’s mercy, and to confess our sins individually and receive absolution. There will be several priests with us to celebrate the sacrament, and I assure you, as always, that they are kind, friendly, and loving, who want nothing more than to be instruments of God’s love and peace. No one will judge you or lecture you or make you feel uncomfortable in any way. As I always tell our children before they go to confession, it is the easiest thing you’ll ever do! Please join us on Wednesday evening at 7:00. All you need to do is to be open to the graces with which God will gift you in this powerful sacrament. Believe me, you will feel like a new person when you leave Church after celebrating this great sacrament of God’s love and peace. There is no better preparation for Easter!
If you cannot make the Penance Service this Wednesday evening, please remember to take the opportunity during these final days of Lent to go to confession. There is no better way to prepare for Easter than to celebrate this great sacrament of God’s love and mercy. Remember also that we are all obliged to complete our Easter duty, which is to go to confession at least once a year so that we can receive the Eucharist worthily and well. Remember that confessions are heard every Saturday afternoon at 3:15 in the lower church. Please note also on Good Friday we will be hearing confessions from 12 Noon to 2:00 P.M., and this coming Wednesday and the Wednesday of Holy Week immediately after the 7:00 P.M. Mass. Do avail yourself of the gift of God’s peace by celebrating this important sacrament.
I once again respectfully remind you to please consider your gift to the 2022 Catholic Charities Appeal, if you have not already given your gift. My goal as your pastor is for every household and/or every wage earner in the parish to make a sacrificial gift to this year’s Appeal. Every gift to the Appeal --- no matter how large or small --- goes a long way in assisting the Archdiocese in carrying out the corporal works of mercy, especially among those most in need. If you didn’t receive a Catholic Charities envelope directly from the Catholic Charities office, envelopes are available at the doors of the church. Your donation may be placed in this envelope and mailed directly to the diocesan office. I would prefer that you NOT put them in the collection basket, but mail them directly to the office yourself. I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for your generosity to the 2022 Appeal, which really funds the most important work we do as a Church in this great Archdiocese.
Please take note of our Holy Week schedule, which is found elsewhere in this bulletin, and which you should have received in a special mailing at home. Plan now to be with us for these most important liturgies of our Church year.
Know that you and those you love are daily remembered in my Mass and my prayers.