St. Pius Catholic Church

    The recent Parish Council meeting was snowed out so there’s nothing to report except that they are anxious to tally the survey results, so be sure you get your completed survey submitted by this weekend.  One thing council members were informed of was that the pictorial directory is on its way to the printer and we are waiting to hear the delivery date.  Speaking of the Council, four members will complete their terms this Spring and will go off the Council.  Please be thinking about standing for election yourself.  It’s a great way to serve your parish.
    The finance Committee met last week and there was good news and bad news.  Good news is that the Fr. Bader Memorial Scholarship Fund has grown considerably due to bequests over the last year.  The Fund helps pay the tuition of St. Pius X students at Jordan Catholic School.  Families from our parish enrolling students at Jordan should be sure to apply first for the Spalding Scholarship from the Diocese.  Please see notice in this Bulletin.
The bad news is really no news for those who have been watching our monthly financial reports in the Bulletin.  We’re running a deficit which may reach $90,000 by June 30th, the end of our fiscal year.  In addition to that budget deficit there is the real possibility of an additional expense of almost $30,000 which is what the parish will have to pay to make up for our short fall in the Annual Diocesan Appeal. 
    While we have been able to decrease many expenses, three things account for our financial situation.  First, some fixed expenses have increased beyond our projections, like a 41% increase in property and liability insurance.  Second, we have lost almost $50,000 in annual income which was a payment we received for several years from a trust fund, but which has now ceased to exist. And, third, efforts at increasing our Sunday collection have failed, and collections are just about where they were this time last year. 
    What does it all mean?  There are at least three things.  First, to balance the budget we’ll have to dip into reserves, again.  This has to stop.  Second, as we plan for next year we’ll need to make difficult decisions about cutting programs in order to cut expenses.  Three, each of us needs to prayerfully reflect on whether or not we can increase our regular giving to the Sunday collection, and to the Annual Diocesan Appeal.
    Kudos are in order:  To the parish for donating $11,718.96 over the last two weekends to aid the relief programs in Haiti;  To the youth of our parish and their chaperones, especially our part-time youth Minister Annie Tillberg, who took part in the Pro-Life March in Washington, DC;  To the Knights of Columbus for another very successful Pro-Life breakfast last Sunday;  And, to our Jordan Catholic School and Alleman High School as they begin Catholic Schools Week.  Congrats to you all!!
Finally, thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts with the liturgy committee about our proposed updating of the confessionals.  Work begins in February on the west confessional.  Cost of this renovation is covered by a memorial given specifically for work in the church building.  Our costs will be considerably lowered by our use of volunteer workers on this project
                        Mike Schaab, Pastor