Luke 9:35

Then from the cloud came a voice  which said,

“This is my Son, my chosen One.

 

Listen to him.”

 

 

 

Dear Community of Saint Joseph’s:

 

Listening is essential to our experience of life.  Imagine if you could not hear - take away the sounds of rain, music, the voices of the people you love and consider how much you would miss these vital sounds.  Hearing is crucial to every aspect of our lives and it is an essential component to our experience of church.  Our parish sound system allows us to proclaim the Word of God so that everyone can hear it, affording us the opportunity to present music so that we can lift our voices in glory and praise of our God.  It is the vehicle through which we challenge, celebrate, listen and transcend. 

 

Our sound system is critical for our ability to celebrate the liturgy and yet we rarely pay attention to it  ….. except when it malfunctions!  Every sound system in the world needs to be upgraded and we tend to put off these kinds of upgrades until such systems are hopelessly out of date.  Currently we have two separate sound systems in our parish; the first amplification hangs in the center of the church from a large ball that provides for the spoken words of the priest and lectors.  The second independent system is for the music.  These systems are controlled from various parts of the church and are impossible to integrate in their current configuration.  Neither system is adapted to provide sound to the extreme edges of the church and it is impossible for the musicians to evaluate and adjust the sound because the controls are inaccessible to them during the liturgies.  We have devices to assist those who are hearing impaired but they are weakened and out of date.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to update our parish sound by integrating the music and spoken word systems, by installing a new soundboard, superior speakers, amplifiers and wiring.  I would like to acquire a new Hearing Assistance Wireless System designed to comply with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and provide an improved experience of sound for those who are hearing impaired.  I propose we accomplish this goal by utilizing our Bishop’s Annual Ministries Appeal (AMA).  The Catholic Community of Saint Joseph’s is a part of the Diocese of Monterey that provides many ministries for our parish.  Each year the Bishop requests that we support him in the mission and ministry of the diocese through this appeal.  The diocese assigns each parish a goal that is based upon the parish’s offertory income.  All funds raised in excess of this goal are returned to the parish for its own use.  This program provides us with the capital to undertake major projects that cannot be funded from our weekly collections.  Thanks to your generosity to last year’s Bishop’s Appeal we were able to completely refurbish all the parish pews and in past years we replaced the church carpeting and renovated the church restrooms.

 

 

 

This year Saint Joseph’s AMA assigned goal is $45,200.  This is $2,700 less than last year’s goal.  We have set our own parish goal to collect an additional $38,500 above the diocesan – assigned allocation to update our parish sound system and improve the quality of sound throughout the entire church for our parishioners and guests.  This year’s total goal of $83,700 can be reached with the support of each and every parishioner. 

 

We are asking for your help by giving your support to this year’s AMA Fund Raising Program.  We have enclosed a Pledge Envelope for you to complete and return to our parish office or during our liturgies in the month of April.  We thank you for your presence, your generosity and your support to provide an environment where we can listen to the sacred texts and music clearly and without distortion. 

 

When we listen, we begin to understand and in understanding we become closer to God.

 

We are sincerely yours in the risen Christ.

Father Matt Pennington                                                 Dillon Scherer

Pastor                                                                                      AMA Chairperson 2008

 

 

 

 

                                                Andy Armanino

                                                Finance Council Chairperson