Bill Finegan
 wffeent@aol.com

              Our Finance council include Fr. Joe Palermo, Fr. Thien Nguyen, Bill Finengan, Ray Massett, Deacon VM, Barbara Martin, Deacon Jack Glover,  Randy Brunet, Jeannie Redmann, and Tim Fox. 

November 5, 2018                                                           Quarterly Parish Finance Report      

 
Dear St. Francis Parish Family,

              This week I celebrate my three-month anniversary as your pastor. I continue to be thankful for your warm welcome and kind hospitality. I’m glad that I have been writing Pastor’s Columns in the weekly bulletins; otherwise, my first correspondence to you would be this letter about – finances! I understand you are accustomed to receiving a quarterly parish finance report from Father T. I will continue that practice for the time being. 

               It is a blessing to be pastor of a vibrant faith community like St. Francis. There are many actively involved parishioners and many strong ministries with excellent leadership. How good that the church is paid for and there is no parish debt. Thanks to all who have donated to special capital projects and all who contribute weekly to the operating costs of the parish, whether by envelopes, the collection basket or Faith Direct.   

                If you look at the current financial report (reverse side of letter), you will see that our parish expenses for July 1 – September 30, 2018 exceeded our income by a sizeable sum (comparable to the deficit for the July-September Quarter of 2017). I pray we can make up the deficit in the next quarter (October – December) with Christmas and end-of-year giving. I made a pledge to the Parish Finance Council that I would not preach about finances during my first six months here, so you won’t hear me speak about that topic for a few more months. 

               Fr. Thien and I remain grateful for the feedback we are receiving at our “Meet and Greet” gatherings at parishioners’ homes. Based on parishioner suggestions, we have made enhancements to the church sound system, the parish website, the liturgy and the hospitality ministry. We had a wonderful parish picnic and our CYO youth ministry is active again. We look forward to upcoming spiritual opportunities like the Advent Morning of Reflection and Parish Lenten Mission. Be assured, when all the “Meet and Greet” gatherings are complete, we will discern all parishioner suggestions as we forge a vision moving forward.   

               In closing, thanks again for your support and welcome. I wish each of you a blessed Fall and assure you of remembrance in my daily prayers. May Jesus Christ be ever more the center of our personal lives and the life of our parish family. St. Francis Xavier, pray for us!

Sincerely in Christ,
 

 Father Joe Palermo