My Dear Parishioners,
It has been 5 weeks since I spoke to you regarding the financial status of St. Dominic Parish. I thought it only right that you should have an update of our status and several of you have asked where the money goes. To this second question, I have created the pie chart below for your reference. Please note that nowhere on the pie chart is there a section for savings or a “rainy day” fund, or a section for future plans. We use every dollar for current expenses. Please also realize that this chart is based on a weekly collection of $25,245.00 each week. This really is the absolute minimum! Additionally, we still have to make up the debts we have not paid, for instance the $60,000+ we owe the Diocese in back payments.
So what has changed since I last spoke with you? Here is the breakdown for the last 5 weeks:
Weekend of 10/18-19: $25,000-$16,216.95=8,783.05 SHORTFALL
Weekend of 10/25-26: $25,000-$18,433.22=6,566.78 SHORTFALL
Weekend of 11/1-2: $25,000-$18,955.41=6,044.59 SHORTFALL
Weekend of 11/8-9: $25,000-$19,857.99=5,142.01 SHORTFALL
Weekend of 11/15-16: $25,000-$14,245.34=10,754.66 SHORTFALL
The current annual shortfall for this parish is $76,415. This cannot continue.
Since my financial talk to you, only 2 families have signed up for bank-to-bank tithing and 3 families have changed their bank-to-bank amount.
Here are the weekly dollar amounts averaged over the last 12 months, which correspond to the pie chart below:
EXPENSE
Worship (Liturgy/Music) - $1,357
Faith Formation/Youth - $2,873
Priests Salary and Benefits - $1,053
Office Salaries and Benefits - $3,467
Facilities - $2,206
Tithe - $1,869*
Diocese Tithe - $3,271*
Property/Liability Insurance - $699
Other - $1,197
Loan Payment (Principal and Interest) - $7,252
TOTAL EXPENSE - $25,245
*NOTE: The Tithe to Charity and Tithe to the Diocese = 20%
We cannot continue with these shortfalls! We must increase the amount of the collection otherwise, we will be forced to make some drastic changes.
This is not one person’s problem. We must all help out a little bit. Little amounts have great impact. Here is an example:
If 1,400 families each gave an additional $5 each week, that would increase our weekly amount by $7,000. Please, my brothers and sisters, this is your parish. We must all share the load. Please help us serve you and work to continue God’s work in our community.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. John
It has been 5 weeks since I spoke to you regarding the financial status of St. Dominic Parish. I thought it only right that you should have an update of our status and several of you have asked where the money goes. To this second question, I have created the pie chart below for your reference. Please note that nowhere on the pie chart is there a section for savings or a “rainy day” fund, or a section for future plans. We use every dollar for current expenses. Please also realize that this chart is based on a weekly collection of $25,245.00 each week. This really is the absolute minimum! Additionally, we still have to make up the debts we have not paid, for instance the $60,000+ we owe the Diocese in back payments.
So what has changed since I last spoke with you? Here is the breakdown for the last 5 weeks:
Weekend of 10/18-19: $25,000-$16,216.95=8,783.05 SHORTFALL
Weekend of 10/25-26: $25,000-$18,433.22=6,566.78 SHORTFALL
Weekend of 11/1-2: $25,000-$18,955.41=6,044.59 SHORTFALL
Weekend of 11/8-9: $25,000-$19,857.99=5,142.01 SHORTFALL
Weekend of 11/15-16: $25,000-$14,245.34=10,754.66 SHORTFALL
The current annual shortfall for this parish is $76,415. This cannot continue.
Since my financial talk to you, only 2 families have signed up for bank-to-bank tithing and 3 families have changed their bank-to-bank amount.
Here are the weekly dollar amounts averaged over the last 12 months, which correspond to the pie chart below:
EXPENSE
Worship (Liturgy/Music) - $1,357
Faith Formation/Youth - $2,873
Priests Salary and Benefits - $1,053
Office Salaries and Benefits - $3,467
Facilities - $2,206
Tithe - $1,869*
Diocese Tithe - $3,271*
Property/Liability Insurance - $699
Other - $1,197
Loan Payment (Principal and Interest) - $7,252
TOTAL EXPENSE - $25,245
*NOTE: The Tithe to Charity and Tithe to the Diocese = 20%
We cannot continue with these shortfalls! We must increase the amount of the collection otherwise, we will be forced to make some drastic changes.
This is not one person’s problem. We must all help out a little bit. Little amounts have great impact. Here is an example:
If 1,400 families each gave an additional $5 each week, that would increase our weekly amount by $7,000. Please, my brothers and sisters, this is your parish. We must all share the load. Please help us serve you and work to continue God’s work in our community.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. John