A Message from Thomas P. Scholler, Stewardship Commission Chairperson |
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Fellow St. Daniel Parishioners: On July 1 we began a New Year – St. Dan’s 2011-12 parish fiscal year – and began operating with a new budget.
Our new budget, approved by Father Chris and the Parish Pastoral Council, has been submitted to the Archdiocese Department of Finance and Administration and projects offertory collections of $19,500 per week. This is the same as last year’s budget, and is in line with what parishioners currently are generously contributing in the weekly offertory. This amount not only provides adequate funds for parish ministries, programs, and operations; it also permits our parish to accumulate some funds that will be needed for anticipated maintenance and renovation projects identified by the Stewardship Commission and the parish staff.
Father Chris, the Parish Pastoral Council, the Stewardship Commission, and the parish staff take very seriously their obligation for prudent management of parish funds. It is also very important for all of us to understand that Christian stewardship is rooted not in monetary gifts, but in the spiritual exercise of prayerful gratitude for all of God’s gifts to us. Although the Michigan economy continues to cause concern, we must still be mindful that God has given each of us blessings beyond measure. Each week in the Eucharist — from a Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”— we celebrate, and are thankful for, God’s greatest gift to us, Our Savior Jesus Christ.
St. Dan’s is also in the current wave of parishes in the Changing Lives Together archdiocesan-wide capital stewardship initiative. We will be learning more about this initiative as it moves forward in our parish. At this time, the basic question for us to reflect on in the initiative is how we can change our lives to develop a meaningful personal relationship with Jesus. As a parish communion, we do so through prayer, studying Scripture, and sharing our gifts of time, talent, and treasure with our community. On our annual Stewardship Commitment Weekend in January, each of us will have the opportunity to show our gratitude to God through our appropriate personal stewardship response of sharing with our parish communion His many gifts to us. Generous sharing of our spiritual and material gifts will bring many blessings for our St. Daniel Catholic Community.
Thank you for your continued generosity to St. Dan’s. Thomas P. Scholler Stewardship Commission Chairperson
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