That “Grand” Time of Year Grateful for Past Support Facing New Financial Challenges

by Father Joe

That “Grand” Time of Year
Grateful for Past Support
Facing New Financial Challenges

Thanks to your generosity, as well as the hard work of both Parish Finance Councils, our Business Manager Bill Nash, and the rest of the staff, the annual financial reports contain some good news for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022, but we are facing financial challenges in the year ahead. Despite significant unexpected challenges, St. Martha Parish stayed amazingly close to budget thanks to parishioners’ exceeding the budgeted Offertory and Grand Annual, as well as greater than expected revenues from St. Martha Fair and some movie production rental income. While the challenges in Wrentham were mostly expected, St. Mary Parish was able to stay on budget while accomplishing significant maintenance and improvement projects. The biggest challenges going forward are ongoing property projects at St. Martha, and increasing income at St. Mary, where the Offertory and mortgage collections are already underbudget by $5,000.

Last week we kicked-off the Parish Grand Annual with mailings that were sent to all registered households, including the annual financial report (if you did not receive one, extras are by the doors – please register at our website or contact your parish office to receive future mailings). The Parish Grand Annual is the traditional year-end collection that many parishes run to fund maintenance projects and to help cover the shortfall in Offertory collections. We hope people will see this as an opportunity for charitable giving before the end of the 2022 tax year. The budgets presume we will match last year’s total, so in order to reduce the deficits we need to exceed the goal (and/or increase our regular giving in the Parish Offertory). As we all face inflation, so do our parishes. Some are able to contribute more, others less – we only ask that you give in proportion to your means. If possible, we are asked to submit these special envelopes next weekend, October 15-16 (or split into two payments by year end). And the sooner we meet our goals, the fewer Parish Grand Annual reminders you’ll hear!
Finally, I take this opportunity each year to thank our Business Manager, Bill Nash, and the members of both Parish Finance Councils (PFCs) for their dedication to being good stewards of our finances on behalf of all parishioners: from the St. Martha PFC, Kathy Parker (chair), Tom Hines, Dave Medeiros, and Tom Morris; from the St. Mary PFC, Charlie Weiblen (chair), Mike Regnier, and Paul Silvi. Together with Bill Nash, you all are critical parts of our accountability to use wisely the gifts God has given us through our parishioners!