St. Anthony’s

State of the Parish Meeting

November 17, 2008

This, my second St. Anthony State of the Parish Meeting only 7 months since my last State of the parish meeting in March of ’08.  In the past year our economy has taken a severe downturn.  In August we moved $125,000 from our stock investments and put that money into a CD.  The rest of our investments, about $75,000, were held in our stock portfolio.  As of the first part of November we have lost about $25,000 from our stock portfolio.  Our CD has retained its original value.  On the back of this sheet is our Income & Expense, our Cash, Savings & Investments and our Budget Information.  Our current budget, labeled “Budget 08-09,” reflects a net loss at the end of our fiscal year of $145,766 if we stay on track.  That money will come out of our Savings & Investments.  We will also be taking approximately $60,000 out of our Cash and Savings to pay on the Parking Lot project from the income that has already been received.  Thus the grayed in area is a prudent projection of how much money we will have on hand by June 2009.  Looking ahead to the end of June of 2010 our best estimated projection, if all the budgeting variables stay the same, is that we will have only $102,022 left in our Cash, Savings, & Investments.  This is a challenge!

In the current year, the Archdiocese of Denver will support our school to approximately $214,000 in scholarships, teacher salary assistance, and grants.  The Archdiocese of Denver is currently looking at supporting our school in other ways such as installing a much needed fire alarm system in the building and roof repair which could cost them an additional $200,000.  Archbishop Chaput is and has been greatly supporting our school.  However, it is only prudent to believe that the economic downturn will effect the ability of the Archdiocese to invest in our school in the coming year.  It will be difficult to accurately plan in November of ’08 for the Income & Expenses for the “Estimated Budget 09-10.”  This is a challenge!

We have a very active School!  In the coming months we will be preparing to celebrate our 90^th Anniversary of our School with many activities for example, in January alone, Bishop Conely will be talking to our students, Fr. Stan Fortuna will be having a concert, and much more!  St. Anthony’s School Staff and Volunteers continue to provide the highest levels of education, catholic formation, spiritual guidance and fun for students and parents.  This year alone, under the guidance of our new principle Joe Skerjanic, we have implemented new curriculum, updated disciplinary procedures, and renewed our Retention and Recruitment teams.  This is only a small sample of what is happening at St. Anthony’s School.  It is time to take another look at what is happening in our school.

I am committed to the ministry of our school, religious education, prayer groups, and outreach groups here at St. Anthony’s – and we have many!  These groups need people to renew their ministries and its time to get new people to participate in our ministries.  This too is a challenge!

These great challenges, at this time in history, are similar to the great depression when the faithful people built and funded a school in 1931.  The faithful banded together and stood up for Christ and his Church and built what many said could never be done.  Now it’s our turn!  What do we believe!  What are we willing to stand up for in our community!

I need a core team of volunteers who are willing to organize men and women who will reach out to parish families and ask for their time in ministries, ask for their treasure to support our volunteers and ask for their prayers.  I need people who are willing to go door to door and talk about time, talent, and treasure with their fellow parishioners.  I need parishioners who are willing to make some major sacrifices so that school children can pray in schools and not worry if they are breaking the law, so that prisoners can have a bible and receive their sacraments, so that the NJC students will have the continued support of their church while they are away from home.  The challenge – we are called to build up the kingdom of God in Sterling Colorado!  Are we up for the challenge?  Are we willing to be renewed by the sacrifices that we make for God?  We need prayer, we need people and we need money.  I strongly believe that the parishioners of St. Anthony’s and the entire community have greatly benefited from years of personal sacrifice and hard work of the faithful community believers.  Now it is our turn! 

Between November ’08 and February ’09 I am raising $100,000 to $150,000 for the ministries of St. Anthony’s.  This amount would enable us to continue our ministries for another year.  This short term gain needs to be turned into a long term gain for the whole parish.  We have over 900 families registered in our parish and it is my hope that at least a third of them give $1000 or more on average this is in addition to what each family is currently giving.  Can you exceed the goal?  Can you meet the goal?  Can you make a sacrificial gift according to your means? The additional income will propel us into the future.  I need volunteers for many projects and ministries will you help?  Get involved and learn about the Catholic Faith.  Who says you can’t do prison ministry, RCIA, school lunch room monitor or sing in the choir – just do it for Christ!

Listed below are the most urgent needs of our parish.  Pray, pick a way of giving and being involved, then build the kingdom of God and receive the many graces and benefits that God will pour upon you.

Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,

will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

 Luke 6:38

Needs for Time and Talent

            Volunteer for Stewardship Committee

            St. Anthony’s Stewards – the people who go door to door

            Grant Writers

Needs for Treasure

School Tuition Assistance

Increased Offertory

Cash donations to the Church

Make your contributions known by placing your prayer card in the designated box in the parish office or contacting a Stewardship Committee member.