Dear Parish Family,

After a fruitful meeting with our Finance Council last week and having had more opportunities to gain insight about our parish history, I will be directing our finance office to prepare a more regular parish financial summary to include in our bulletin. These summaries can provide a snapshot of the parish's overall financial health on an ongoing basis. We're now deciding the best way to formulate these dispatches. I will announce when you can begin looking for these reports.

I recognize, like you, that the many needs of our growing parish cannot be satisfied without the addition of substantial space to gather as a parish community. Directly related to this and the goal of a new hall, I wish to report that the current balance of the "Building Fund" is $2.1 million dollars. These funds are restricted and to be utilized solely for that project. The parish also has a $1 million dollar credit line on the rectory which is now owned free and clear by the parish. Each month 100% of the capital campaign collection for the church at mass is deposited as restricted funds solely for the hall project. Those funds are not used for any other project.

Furthermore, the recent construction of the two confessionals and the new audio/visual system are paid in full. Those monies came from our "General" account and not from any reserved funds for a future hall. Each of these projects were completed with careful planning and the oversight of the Finance Council. The council members and I will continue to do everything in our power to be good stewards of your tithing and support. I will be intentional about communicating financial and parish matters with transparency and clarity.

Regarding some of the ongoing parish maintenance projects: we continue to gather bids from several lighting companies and explore options available to us to repair/replace our parking lot lighting. I'll keep you updated with this project, but it may require us to replace the lights in phases rather than all at once. This will help us avoid getting clobbered with one hefty bill. We have just recently had our alarm and security system serviced as well. The system and sensors required cleaning and service. We also continue to "fine tune" the climate control in the Church after the major repairs last month and the seasonal change. Additionally, our Parish Manager, Mr. G Lopez, is in the process of reviewing ALL parish vendor agreements. We are renegotiating ongoing contracts for more favorable terms when at all possible.

You've probably noticed I've been placing some specific items that the parish needs on the Pastor's Wish List column in our weekly bulletin. A number of our parishioners have been generously responsive to recent requests and we are already well on the way, for example, to having the necessary funds to pay for a Security/Maintenance truck for the parish. Donors have also paid for two new kneelers, a St. Mary Magdalene statue, confessional cards, and other items. These donations help the parish enormously to manage operational costs. Thank you!

I not only wanted to update you about the parish initiatives in this letter, but also speak to you about our ongoing spiritual initiatives. Pope Saint John Paul II reminded us in his apostolic letter (Novo Millennio Ineunte) that all pastoral initiatives must be set in relation to holiness so that the life of every baptized person could be purified and deeply renewed. In this "universal call to holiness" it is vital that each of us know that stressing (personal) holiness remains more than ever an urgent pastoral task. This training in holiness calls for a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer, both personal and communal. Our Christian communities must become genuine "schools" of prayer, where the meeting with Christ is expressed not just in imploring help but also in thanksgiving, praise, adoration, contemplation, listening and ardent devotion, until the heart truly "falls in love" (33).

My constant desire as Pastor is the proclamation of the Gospel to all, and to make Jesus known and loved. To that end we all must recognize what occurs in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and who awaits us day and night in our eucharistic chapel. Our parish is exceedingly blessed because of our perpetual eucharistic adoration chapel. It is only proper then that we return that love of Christ who waits for us day and night by giving him some of our precious time in return. Therefore, I am asking you to please consider taking an hour of adoration, becoming a substitute adorer, or at least, making an intentional effort to visit Jesus present in our chapel. Any time you spend in His presence will be more of a blessing than you can imagine. I assure you that you will get more than you give. The hours we still need for coverage for are included in this bulletin.

As I discussed in my All Souls Day homily, please remember to pray for all the holy souls in Purgatory in this month of November dedicated to our remembrance of them. Stop into the chapel, say a prayer for your loved ones who have passed, light a candle, and hasten their entrance into the fullness of Heaven. Christ, with his eucharistic heart, desires us to intercede much, to ask boldly and to obtain great things from his omnipotent love. Let us pray well, and then act boldly and confidently, for he is with us and he will not forsake us.

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