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Glad You Asked That: Frequently Asked Questions Installment # 6
We often receive questions from parishioners. Here is a question we have been hearing recently from the parish community along with our answer.
Question
Throughout the year we noticed a steady negative balance in the weekly contributions in the bulletin. How did Saint Patrick Parish finish the fiscal year (July 2015 - June 2016)?
Answer In terms of the bulletin weekly collection tally, we ended up $98,000 short of our goal of $1,073,000. What does that mean for the parish? Are we hurting financially? The best way to answer that is "Yes" and "No."
First of all, thank you for your continued generosity to your parish community. Though our weekly collections did not meet expectations, other sources of income and close management of our expenses helped reduce the overall year end shortage to $72,000. The shortage was not unexpected. The Archdiocese informed us that whenever parishes change leadership they can expect to see up to a 10% drop in attendance and contributions. More challenging than this most recent shortage in contributions is the steady decline in attendance at Saint Patrick (and throughout our Catholic Church in America) for the past 10 years. The average weekly Mass attendance in 2006 was 1088, compared to 815 for 2016.
In terms of our shortfall and its direct impact on the parish, we are fortunate to have a Parish savings account which enabled us to meet our financial obligations. However, we realize negative years like this are not sustainable over time. Nevertheless, we remain optimistic and trust in the Lord that things are moving in the right direction.
Our plan moving forward to address these challenges, in consultation with the Finance Council and other parish leaders and staff, is two-fold:
- Outreach to attract and welcome new members to join us at Saint Patrick Catholic Church. Cultural Catholicism is no longer filling our pews.
- Better communication to parishioners about our individual fiscal responsibility to our church. If Saint Patrick Parish is going to continue growing into the kind of church community God is calling us to be, we all need to be willing to provide the resources, to the best of our individual ability.
As always, your feedback and questions are most welcome.
Saint Patrick - Pray For Us.
Kevin Lovejoy Pastoral Coordinator Saint Patrick Church and School
Glad You Asked That is a series of news articles addressing parishioner questions about parish life. Search the News Archives to check out past questions and answers.
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Stewards Among Us: Bob & Karen
Bob and Karen have given their gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal some time ago, along with over 400 other donors. After further discernment, the Bruback's graciously pledged that they would provide an additional gift, a match to donations made to the 2016 Annual Catholic Appeal, up to a total of $500.Read More
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Register to Prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation is celebrated at Saint Patrick Catholic Church annually. Preparation classes for the Sacrament are open to youth who enroll by August 30, 2016, are baptized into the Catholic Church, have received First Eucharist and are 16 years old.
Register
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Your donations to the monthly St. Vincent de Paul collection make it possible for Vincentians to make home visits and help low income residents within our parish boundaries
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Watch this 90-second video for a high-energy vision of the 4US mission and the spectacular, low-cost, family friendly events that make up The Rally Round 4 UltraSound, August 12 - 13, 2016 fearuring 5 spectacular events with 1 mission - to illuminate hope for pregnant women through the gift of ultrasound.
Thanks to the all-volunteer charity, 4US, 100% of all registration fees, concessions sales and donations go towards the purchase of ultrasound machines and training for pregnancy resource centers.
Friday night's events include a LumaGlow Fun Run with a rockin' DJ at theBEAT.
Saturday includes 2 bike rides, 4 runs, 2 walks, 1 motorcycle rally, a family fun festival and THE WORLD'S LARGEST SQUIRT GUN FIGHT!
Can't make it to the events? Donate and 100% of your donation will help mothers and their babies.
Your efforts will echo into eternity.
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Big Toy Improvements | 9 AM - 12 PM | School
Reconciliation | 4 - 5 PM | Church
Vigil Mass | 5:30 PM | Church
Cookies & Coffee with Sister Baptista | After 5:30 PM Mass | Gathering Space
St. Vincent de Paul Collection | After 5:30 PM Mass | Back of the Church
Welcoming Committee | After 5:30 PM Mass | Gathering Space | Become a Parishioner
Mass | 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM
St. Vincent de Paul Collection | After 5:30 PM Mass | Back of the Church
Welcoming Committee | After 5:30 PM Mass | Gathering Space | Become a Parishioner
Monday | August 8
Mass | 7:45 AM | Church
Eucharistic Adoration | 3 PM | Chapel
Adult Bible Study | 7 PM | Parish Center
Boy Scout Troop 299 | 7 PM | Church Hall
Evening Prayer | 7 PM | Chapel
Tuesday | August 9
Mass | 7:45 AM | Church
Wednesday | August 10
Communion Service | 7:45 AM | Church
Thursday | August 11
Mass | 7:45 AM | Church
Men's Prayer Group | 6:45 AM | Church Hall
Mass | 7:45 AM | Church
Saturday | August 13
Paint the Playground | 9 AM - 12 PM | School
Reconciliation | 4 - 5 PM | Church
Vigil Mass | 5:30 PM | Church
Sunday | August 14
Mass | 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM | Church
Respect Life | 11:30 AM | Church Hall
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As always we invite you to share your story or upcoming events for your Saint Patrick Catholic Church affiliated organization or ministry! Send us the scoop! Let us tell the story and invite our faith community to join together in fellowship and prayer as we journey together discerning and discovering the Mission that has us.
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Saint Patrick Catholic School News
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St. Pat's Parent Association is calling everyone to help with campus beautification projects in preparation for the start of the 2016 - 2017 school year.
WE NEED YOU!
School families can jump start commitment and service hours in SPPA's effort to beautify our school campus.
August 6 | Big Toy Improvements | 9 am - 12 pm
Power washing, sweeping the upper and lower playgrounds and spreading bark are the tasks at hand.
August 13 | Paint the Playground | 9 am - 12 pm
We will paint a 30', 4-color US Map on the upper playground and redo the lines for various games, weather permitting.
August 20 | Wrap Up | 9 am - 12 pm
Let's put the finishing touches on all the projects and prepare the campus for the New Family Picnic on August 25, 2016.
Proceeds from our 2015 - 2016 SPPA fundraising efforts were allocated to support these projects. Thank you SPPA supporters for making this possible!
Drop-ins are always welcome.
RSVPs are encouraged! RSVP by clicking on the button below.
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Save the date for our Meet and Greet on August 30, 2016 as we look forward to another great school year at Saint Patrick Catholic School. Drop-in anytime between 9 AM and 12 PM to deliver school supplies and visit your classroom. It is a St. Pat's School tradition!
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THE MISSION OF SAINT PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH
We are a Catholic faith community in the traditions and people of "Old Tacoma" called together and empowered by Christ to nurture the spiritual and liturgical needs of our community through lifelong Christian education, celebration of Sacraments, prayer and service to others.
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Saint Patrick Catholic Church
1001 North J Street | Tacoma, WA 98403
253-383-2783 | parish@saintpats.org
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