WE ARE A EUCHARIST CENTERED PEOPLE WHO, AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, LIVE OUR FAITH IN WORD AND DEED BY SHARING OUR TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND SERVE THOSE IN NEED.

This week we sent out letters to everyone on our mailing list about the Offertory Renewal. As I've mentioned at the masses the last two weekends, we have come a long way from November of 2010, when we began an urgent campaign to increase our Sunday giving. We are heading in the right direction but still have a way to go. Our six month figures for the current fiscal year show that if we can all increase what we've been giving by about 10%, we should be able to end the year on June 30th with a balanced budget for the first time in at least six years and not have to draw from reserves in order to take care of expenses.

Last week I gave some examples of what a 10% increase looks like. For a donation of $10 a week, a 10% increase is $11, a 10% increase of $15 is $16 ($17 rounded off), of $20 is $22, etc. Many give monthly and can easily compute what a 10% increase would be. It's easy to do the math. Hopefully your circumstances will permit you to make that increase. But if you are unable to do so my hope is that you can do at least what you've been doing.

We have also been inviting people to try giving automatically through Electronic Funds Transfer, a convenient way to give that provides consistent income for the parish. People are once again available after the masses this weekend to help sign up for EFT.

All of this needs to be done in the spirit of stewardship: returning back to God a portion of what God has given us, and giving it as an act of thanksgiving for God's generosity. How much we give is always our own decision based on prayerful reflection and our personal circumstances.

Finally, I simply want to express my thanks to everyone who supports our parish in any way. You make what St. Vincent's is called to do possible.

More news in the bulletin (click here)

God Bless,
Fr. Gary