July 12, 2009
The Cost of Mission I
For the next few weeks in this column, I want to share with you some of the concerns we must face together about continuing the mission of St. Brigid’s. What is the mission? Think about all the the things you love about our parish and realize that these things are about living the Christian life by following Jesus and doing the work of Jesus.
People tell me they love the liveliness of our community, our commitment to children, elderly, immigrants, the sick, and those in need. They love the lively liturgies, the music, the way everyone greets each other and prays together. The love the beauty of our church and the grounds surrounding our buildings. They love our priests. They love our many staff members and parish leaders who make so many good things happen. People tell me that they are praying for me and all who lead our parish.
I assure you that those prayers sustain us, so keep them coming. Especially pray for the hard decisions we now need to make regarding how we spend your financial contributions. Up until two years ago, your contributions were supplemented by $200,000 each year from the rental of our convent building. For the past two years we have lost that income -- though we expected to have a school for children with Asperger’s Syndrome move in last fall -- that proposal fell through, and we do not currently have any suitable tenant in sight.
So, we can no longer afford to do all that we do. We owe $400,000. And we have to cut our upcoming budget by an additional $250,000. I met with the parish trustees and finance council and they made some very good but difficult recommendations which will help us lower our expenses. These recommendations will be somewhat painful for all aspects of ministry in our parish -- they involve cutting hours of service, cutting salaries, reducing staff, eliminating some of the “extras” that help us celebrate certain days (for example Mother’s Day and Father’s Day plants).
This past week I have felt like the “angel of doom” as I speak to various staff members to tell them about salary reductions. But they have been very understanding and gracious under these difficult conditions. So please continue to pray for them -- and me. I’ll write more next week.
