Dear Community of Saint Joseph:

On September first we began a new fiscal year.  In the bulletin insert we have given you a general idea of our parish finances in the graph outline.   The graph is to indicate an overall perspective of how the finances are directed in our community.  Please know that this information is provided with my gratitude for your generous donations over the last year.

As you may know the parish finances are overseen by parishioners who compose the Finance Council.  This council regularly meets and thoroughly reviews all the financial data in order to make recommendations regarding the management of our parish funds.  I am extremely grateful for their expertise and insight regarding how best to support the ministries and facilities we are responsible for at Saint Joseph's.  I would imagine that it is possible to attend Mass every Sunday and not ever question how the parish pays its bills and maintains it's fiscal responsibilities.  Consequently it is necessary for you as members of this parish family to be notified periodically of how our collections are providing for our parish life.  When you give and donate to our ministries it provides us with electricity and water, we are able to hire and pay staff, support outreach efforts, print the bulletin, fund religious education, communicate by telephone and computer, maintain our grounds and continue the ongoing and extensive repairs of our church, hall and rectory.

Although there are many calendars that govern our lives it always seems like a new beginning in the fall.  And with beginnings, come decisions on how one will spend one's time, or apply one's energy.  This would be an excellent time for you to look at your financial stewardship to the parish.  As the cost of living continues to rise, so do expenses increase for Saint Joseph's.  Perhaps at this time you might consider giving us a cost of living increase in your donations.  It would be so greatly appreciated and would enable us to focus on what we are here to do.  And our daily purpose is to provide you, the Catholic Community of Saint Joseph's, with the most potent experience of God in the way we pray and teach and forgive and eat and anoint and change over and over again.

Thank you for being such generous people.  In my short time here I have seen you be extraordinarily unselfish with your smiles, your good will and with your amazing faith.  Thank you for sharing all that you have and all that you are with this incredible community of believers.

Father Matt Pennington
Pastor