Weekly THIS AND THAT for November 5, 2005: Final Report for Our Annual Offertory Renewal (AOR)

This and That:
Final Report for Our Annual Offertory Renewal (AOR)

Another Annual Renewal has come and gone. How did we fare? What will be the implications of our results? In short, there is good news and bad news. Which do you want first? The bad news is that our weekly attendance numbers for the first quarter of the fiscal year, which began July 1st, are down on the average of 50 people a week. Second, we had only a 20% return (272 households responding) of our registered parishioners return their pledge cards. Those 272 households pledged $501,000, which leaves us $179,000 short of our goal. We received 110 fewer pledges this year than last. The good news is that our registrations are up and those who did respond did so generously. If you are one of the 80% who did not, please do so by simply calling Elaine Hagner at the office (410) 329-6826 or Jack Wright at (410) 357-8179 and they will be happy to take your pledge over the phone.

I want to thank the entire AOR Committee for all their work and especially Jack Wright, its chairperson, for the dedication and energy he continues to give to our parish. Even with his physical challenges, Jack has been faithful to meetings and helping us stay the course. What an example of commitment to Our Lady of Grace!

Your weekly envelope in the basket is what keeps the worship, programs, and services here at Our Lady of Grace going. That envelope funds the ministry budget and all its activities. Whether you have one person at Mass or 650, the expenses for that liturgy are the same. Of course, the income to make that Mass possible is not. That’s why summer weekends, whether the Ravens are in town, Christmas falling on a Sunday, rain, and especially snow, create special challenges. The other thought along this line is that many who attend Mass regularly, and most of those who do not, think of attending Mass as a bit like listening to Public Radio. Someone else will pay to make it possible. They don’t need my donation. Nothing could be farther than the truth. And of course, the need for support goes far beyond Sunday Mass. It extends to all our efforts in Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Adult Faith Formation, Evangelization, Pastoral Care, and Outreach to those in need. While we have the volunteers, we do need the staffing and leadership to make what we do as a parish a reality and that costs money. At such times of financial appeal I am always reminded of St. Paul’s going to the Corinthian people and asking for support for the Church and its mission. The first time he asked, they didn’t respond so he wrote them back again and made it very clear, “Take up a collection!” This time they did and they were very generous.

Because of the lower numbers in attendance this past summer – more of our people were out of town, in town and sleeping in, or simply doing other things at Mass times – our revenues for the first quarter are under budget by 16.3%. This could have implications for our having to hold back on some expenses for we must live with a balanced budget. It is my hope, as well as the Parish Finance Committee’s, that with our people beginning their new weekly offertory commitments November 1st, we will experience an increase in weekly offertory. This is crucial if we are to make our budget.

As your pastor, I share the reality of the head of any household, namely, that there is a great deal of pressure to be the “breadwinner” or to “bring home the bacon.” When the source of “bread” or “bacon” is the free will offerings of your people, the challenge becomes even more daunting. Of course such a situation does give rise to faith in the fact that if we’re doing the Lord’s work, it’s up to the Lord to move the hearts of his People so be attentive to those “stirrings.”

There are concrete things you can do:
➢ Get your own commitment card in or call Elaine Hagner or Jack Wright.
➢ Mention obliquely to a neighbor or friend who is a parishioner, something like, “Gosh, I’ve been meaning to get my offertory pledge in and keep forgetting to do it.”
➢ Pray for the success of the campaign
➢ Honor your commitment by contributing as planned beginning November 1, 2006.

In concluding I do want to thank the 272 families of our 1,400 who have responded to our appeal for support. God bless us all as we continue struggling to be the living presence of the Lord Jesus here in Northern Baltimore County.