“Help Stabilize Parish Finances Without an Additional Donation!”

Dear Parishioners,

Each new year we take time to look back with gratitude and look forward in hope. Your faithful support of the mission of your St. Martha or St. Mary Parish family by stewardship of your time, talent, and treasure is a key part of being a vibrant faith community. Your steadfast support has allowed us to put new carpet and paint at St. Martha and allowed St. Mary to increase our parish Offertory back to almost pre pandemic level. As a collaborative of parishes, we share staff, a pastoral council, and ministries, but each parish retains its own properties, assets, and debts.

Throughout the history of each of our parishes, our parishioners have been resilient in your dedication to our faith family. While St. Martha Parish budget is balanced and the financial struggles at St. Mary Parish have lessened somewhat, our new plowing expenses at St Martha and projected budget deficit at St. Mary call for each of us to make a bold commitment, if possible, to the stability of our parishes, so they can continue to be communities of Christ’s welcome, love, and compassion. The pastoral team and volunteers in both parishes are determined to manage expenses wisely as we continue to recover and fulfill our primary mission to make disciples by sharing and celebrating the Good News of Jesus Christ.

You can help to continue this recovery. Please join me in participating in the 2024 Offertory Pledge Program as we rededicate ourselves to these efforts. Unlike the 2023 Parish Grand Annual (the October campaign that is still a bit short of the budget goal in each parish), this Offertory Pledge campaign is not focused on additional donations – just a commitment to what you will give anyway in the Parish Offertory during this new year. Spontaneous contributions in the basket at Mass continue to have major fluctuations from month to month. Intentional planning of how each of us will support our parish is the backbone of a robust Offertory Pledge Program which provides financial stability for your own parish into the future. Please take a brochure and pledge card at the church doors for guidance.

As you prayerfully consider your commitment, perhaps you can help the parish keep up with rising costs. Good financial stewardship should reflect how you live and be proportionate to your current financial ability. Like other charitable pledge programs, you will receive occasional thank you letters that show your progress in fulfilling this pledge. If circumstances change during the year, just contact the parish to change your pledge, no questions asked - we are a compassionate, understanding community.

Our clergy and the whole Pastoral Team wish you a blessed 2024, and we thank you for your ongoing commitment to the spiritual, pastoral, and financial well-being of your St. Martha or St. Mary Parish Family!

Your pastor and brother in Christ