On the weekend of November 8th, Retta Nahlik spoke at each of the Masses and outlined the financial condition of the parish.  Below is the text from her presentation.

1. We are now very close to reaching the lower end goal for our Capital campaign to build the new Church.  Also, the diocese has recently given us some good news that bears on our Church building effort.  However, before I go into that news, I must first let the parish know what we would need to do in order to continue in the effort of Church building.  
    
   2.  Before we could approach the diocese and ask for a loan and for final permission to begin building, we have to show the diocese that the parish itself is financially strong enough to pay off the loan.  The loan office's predictions earlier this year that we would be able to pay off their loan, were based on their understanding of our weekly Sun. collections at that time, averaging close to 7000 per week.  As you may know, after the recent downturn in the market, our Sun. collections have been averaging closer to 5000 per week for some time now.  This next point is very important and please listen very carefully and prayerfully.  If our collections remain at the current lower level, we will begin having difficulty meeting the regular operating expenses of the parish itself, in early 2009.  
    
   3.  Therefore, before we can go to the diocese and ask for the loan and permission to build a new Church, we must first get our weekly collections back up to the 7000 weekly average of earlier this year.  Again the market may be a big part of the difficulty.  Some parishioners have stopped using their Sun envelope and we plan to contact them and talk it through with them about their reasons for this withdrawal.  Of course we understand that every household is different.  Some members are using envelopes but at a reduced level.  In any case, we must show the diocese as soon as possible that our collection has returned to early 2008 levels.  While this appeal is urgent, we understand that our members can only do what they can.  Please make the best decison you can in the Spirit about your own financial stewardship of our parish.  We will be communicating with you again in the next few weeks, when we see what results we get from this appeal, in our weekly collection.
    
   4.   Thank you to everyone who has participated in the Capital Campaign.  We have reached 80% of our goal with only 66% of our parish participating. There are still two weeks in the official campaign and you still have time to participate if you have not already.  If you need more information please feel free to call the parish office this next week.   We will hold Committment Sunday next weekend.
    
   5.  We received some encouraging news from our architects and builders. Because of the economic climate building contractors are lowering their costs to attract new business.  Some contractors as much as 20%.  If we would be able to take advantage of this economic climate we COULD SEE SUBSTANTIAL savings if we are able to start construction sooner than we anticipated.  
    
   6.  We have received encouraging news from the dicoese concerning our situation.  They absolutely support our efforts to build a new church.  We applied last spring for a grant and this week we received a letter from the archdiocese stating that we will be granted $20,000 to our Capital Campaign. We will receive the money in April 2009.
    
   7.  We have also been discussing the current economic climate with the diocese.  We have asked if it is possible to start before you have one half of the cash money in hand and they said they would consider it.  This could mean that we would be able to apply for construction loans from the diocese not only for our loan amounts but also against our pledged amounts meaning that we would be able to start construction sooner than we anticipated.  Now they made no promises as to whether they would say yes or no but it was an encouraging sign. They want us to succeed in this project and will try to help us all they can.
    
    8.  If we were able to start construction sooner, the Art Swaller Trust would be easier to obtain given the 5 yr time limits on the trust.   
   
   
2.  As Fr. Steve and I were discussing this topic we had to choose a weekend to address parish family.  When we decided on this weekend Fr. Steve went to the readings for this weekend.  Two faithful things occurred.  One, this weekend is the feast of Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, or how we used to be known as St. John Lateran and the second sign comes from this weekend's  second reading  from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians "You are God's building.  According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it." 
   
   

 

I hear those inspiring words of St Paul as a member of St John Lateran parish, and I accept my place in building on the strong foundation that Christ, the Master Builder has laid.  Please respond to this appeal to the
best of your ability and let us together "see and believe" what Christ wants to build in our midst.

 

Thank you.