Appeal from our Business Manager

Good morning.  For those who don’t know me, I’m Lorie Lucke, a longtime parishioner and your parish business administrator.  I’m here to set the stage for what we can expect for the next few weeks as we launch a new era as a personal parish here at Sacred Heart.

As of June 1st, our parish’s status changed. We became a fully independent personal parish.  Since then our tiny staff and numerous volunteers have worked incredibly hard to revitalize the parish, and so much has been accomplished. We’ve welcomed a new pastor. We’ve cleaned, painted, furnished and moved into our parish offices and classrooms. We’ve started our faith formation program. We have a new budget. We’re preparing for our Ministry Fair. We’re well on our way to having a fully functioning, independent parish.  We’ve made a great start! 

But there is important work in front of us.  Responding to God’s call will require the active commitment and participation of every family.  Stewardship is the name we’re giving to that commitment and participation.  In three weeks, we’ll be asking you to make a written pledge of your support in three specific areas that make up Stewardship: Mission, Ministry, and Money.

So first, Mission. In a personal parish, the Mission defines the parish, not the neighborhood.  We now have the opportunity and the task of identifying our Mission, our charism, to ourselves and to the world.  Fr. Fran kicked off this process back in September with a conversation about our strengths  as well as where we need to grow.  More conversations will follow as we discern where God is leading us.  It’s vital that you be part of this process.

Second, Ministry. A parish can’t survive long without Ministry, and fortunately we have a long, strong history of lay ministry.  To thrive and grow, all of us need to be involved in ministry in some way.  That’s why, as part of our Stewardship campaign, we are inviting you to think about what ministry or ministries you are drawn to and to make a commitment to participate. Our Ministry Fair is coming up soon if you need ideas about what path might be right for you.  It could be something you’ve always wanted to try, or something you’ve done for years.   Whichever it is, we need you to help build the future of ministry at Sacred Heart.

Finally, no Stewardship campaign would be complete without an appeal for Money.  Your Finance Council has developed a budget that is as lean as we can make it while still providing the necessary services to keep the parish operating.  Compared to last year, our budget reduced expenses by $131,000, but we still anticipate a deficit of $85,000. We need to average just under $5,000 per week in donations to meet our budget, and close to $6,000 per week to break even.  Right now we are averaging about $4,000.  Please think back to the last time that you gave the church a raise and then consider whether you are able to give more to the weekly offertory and the Grand Annual.  Fr. Fran, the Finance Council, and I are all very grateful for your past and continuing financial support that is essential to building Sacred Heart as an independent personal parish.

Immediately following the Ministry Fair in two weeks, registered parishioners will be receiving a Stewardship Pledge Form in the mail.  There will also be forms and envelopes at the church doors and over in the hall.  We ask you to fill out this form and sign it with your pledge to participate in one or more specific ministries and with your financial pledge of support for the weekly offertory and the Grand Annual.  We will begin collecting the forms in church on November 24 and will continue through the first weeks of December.  Completed forms can also be mailed to the office.  This process will help us solidify our commitment to one another, enable us to make realistic plans, and provide a solid foundation for Sacred Heart’s future.

Sacred Heart has been my spiritual home for 40 years.  I believe Sacred Heart’s best days are yet to come, which is why I’m serving as your volunteer business administrator even though we moved to an island in Maine last February.  My work for you is part of my Stewardship Pledge.  I invite you to join me in pledging to work and to donate to make our dreams for Sacred Heart come true.

-Lorie Lucke (11/4/24)