August 3, 2003
Reaping Rewards
Fixing
Up
The Millennium Fund is one way people have contributed to the future
of the parish. There’s another way people can help with the physical
aspects of the parish -- donating some time.
Here are a few projects:
•
Replace missing hymnbook racks
Have you got a band saw? We need to cut, stain and assemble 72 new racks.
(We’ve got old broken pew sections that can be milled for new racks.]
• Fix up the altar area in the chapel
We can create a nice backdrop for this area which will give a more reverent
setting for the tabernacle. A lighting change will also help. So will
a coat of paint.
So we’re looking for volunteer carpenters and sheet-rockers, electricians
and painters. We have a simple plan but many hands make light work.
If you have the skills and time, please e-mail me
Past Columns:
July 27: What's your
mission?
July 20: From a Deserted
Place
July 13: Nothing for the
Journey
July 6: God at Home
June 29: Going in Stages
June 22: Sommer in the Summer
June 15: Our Newest Priest
Ordained
June 8: The Feast of Pentecost
June 1: Beyond First Communion
May 24: Felicidades Manuel
May 18: Twenty Years Later
May 11: Bows for Peace
May 4: Upcoming Ordinations
April 27: One Heart One
Mind
April 20: Amazingly Graced
Days
April 13: Ashes to Palms
April 6:
God Embedded
March 30:
Pastoral Visits
March 23:
Turning Tables
March
16: Transfiguring Imagination
March
9: Beasts and Angels
March 2:
Lent and Imagination
Feb 23: Sorrow
Far and Wide
Feb 16: Saints
Feb 9: Columbia Lessons
Feb2: Giving At A Difficult
Time
Jan 26: Penny Power
& Catholic Schools
Jan19: Yet Another
Year
Jan 12: Stealing Jesus
Jan5: The Wise Still Come
From Afar
Columns from 2002
Due to the vision of Father Frank Gaeta,
the generosity of hundreds of parishioners and the hard work and dedication
of parishioners Ed Moritz, Lenny Aloisio and the Millennium Fund Committee
we are finally going to receive some dividends from an endowment fund
that was begun five years ago. As you can read elsewhere in the bulletin
this week, the fund committee has been able to determine that a little
over $88,000 can be released to the parish in the next fiscal year (beginning
September 1st.)
First I want to say thank you to those who
made this fund possible. This is a gift that will keep on giving because
we are able to use proceeds from this fund without spending away the fund
itself. We’re continuing to accept payments from those who pledged
to this fund because every contribution affects the amount of the dividends
available each year.
Second the big question is “what do we spend
the money on?” The fund was established not to pay old bills but
to do new things -- building and grounds projects or parish programs that
we ordinarily would not be able to afford. So we formed a parish Buildings
and Grounds Committee which is helping to prioritize what needs to be
done and what can be done in the future. The committee is looking into
• conditions that could become unsafe if not fixed now
• opportunities to upgrade systems that would save money over the
years ahead
• projects that would improve the “quality of life” at
parish facilities
We already know there are three buildings
that need roof repair or replacement, the church could use a cleaning/paint
job, the chapel too needs some work. Some of our buildings are rather
old and the heating and electrical systems are antiquated.
Did you ever get a raise and then realize
you’ve spent it before you got it? That’s what this seems like
as the list of possible repairs and upgrades grows longer. $88,000 goes
only so far. Yet before we put together a budget for the coming year,
I’m interested in knowing if you had any hopes for the Millennium
Fund money.
What do you see that needs to be done? (By
the way, I shudder to ask this question because the wish list from parishioners
could come with a price tag in the millions!!) But since you raised the
money and it’s your parish, I’d love to hear what you see as
possible uses for this fund.
You are Person
