St. Joseph Parish

2007 Report

This is an overview of the past year and a look to the future.

During this past year we welcome into our Church community 46 children through Baptism; 59 celebrated 1st Communion; and 61 of our young adults were Confirmed. There were 59 funerals and 12 couples were united in Matrimony. These numbers are fairly consistent for us.

During the month of October we count the number of people who attend Mass. While we averaged almost 1000 people each weekend, that average is down about 50 people per week. We do need to encourage people to celebrate Mass and worship each weekend.

Our weekly collections have increased a small amount. We thank you for your contributions and generous support for St. Joseph Parish. So that our ordinary income can meet our ordinary expenses, we do ask that you consider increasing your weekly contribution by $1.00 or $2.00 per week. Thank you for considering this. During this past year we received two generous bequests from Louise Heffernan and Morgan Farrell. Their generosity allowed us to pay back to our parish savings some of the money we used to complete the projects we have undertaken over the last couple of years. For 2008 we have already received a bequest from the estate of Robert McCarthy and soon another bequest will be coming from the estate of Mark Keating. Our handicapped access project campaign raised over $200,00.00 and the parish matched that with $200,000.00 from our parish savings. Because of the generous bequest, we paid back $100,000.00 to our parish savings. The organ fund had $100,000.00 in it, and we raised $36,000.00 to complete the project. We have been able to accomplish much because of your generosity. Thank you.

Some projects remain: we need to upgrade – restroom facilities in Guild Hall and the school, there are lower roofs on the church and some of the upper windows in the Church that need repair. Guild Hall kitchen needs to be upgraded and the phone system in the parish center needs to be updated. All these have been talked about with the Finance Committee, the School Board, Buildings and Grounds Committee and at the Parish Pastoral Council. We are making some plans for these and will keep you informed.

But, all of this is within the context of who we are as People of God, the Body of Christ, the Church. The continued growth and development of our faith community deserves and needs the same kind of focused attention as our buildings and property.

Our Pastoral Council, Stewardship Committee and the forming of a Parish Small Christian Community Core Team are vital to the ongoing development of our faith in Jesus Christ.

This past Thursday about 30 people met in the Parish Center to listen to a presentation by Brother Bob Moriarty concerning renewing the Parish. It is my hope that the Core Team that is formed will be able to touch every group in our parish life. We hope to invigorate all of our present ministries from EM, lectors, altar servers and choir, to Pastoral Council, the School Community and Religious Education Program to RCIA and bereavement; our soup kitchen ministry, homefront day projects, shawl ministry, and prayer line including our Spanish Community, and John 23rd retreats.

There is a wonderful energy to our faith. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your time. Let us move forward together as the People of God. Let us be alive in faith reaching out to others in the name of Jesus. Let us look to see Christ in everyone and everywhere.

- Fr. Joe DiSciacca