9/25/2022

This week we include in the bulletin the annual financial statement which goes from July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 along with the projected budget for the 2022 – 23 fiscal year. I have a few comments:

1. We had a small deficit of almost $13k this past fiscal year. It could have been much worse, as everyone pulled together at the end to bring it down. Thank you!
2. As a result of the small deficit, we were hesitant to give our teachers and staff any raises or cost of living increases for the current year. This is difficult, since inflation is so high of late. It would not surprise me if expenses are higher than projected this coming year.
3. Our attendance used to be higher in the pre-COVID years and has not rebounded entirely. Please continue to invite people back if/when you see them.

We have been blessed with your gifts of time donated, talent shared, and treasure given. Many thanks for your generosity!
Last week’s initial version of “The Search” had a good crowd of about 40 people there to discuss the question: “What do you seek?” The narrator, Chris Stefanick, gave us some help in thinking about the answer to that question. For example, he told us that Aristotle said we are looking for happiness in the decisions we make. In fact, how joyful one is correlates better with lifespan than cholesterol. He also told us that the first words of Jesus in the gospel of John were, “What do you seek?” – the same question that this episode centers on. The question for this week’s episode is: “Who are you?”
Historically, those who keep questioning, keep searching, keep probing, end up in the Catholic Church. We are not afraid of Truth-seekers. In fact, we believe that they will find the Truth in Jesus Christ, passed down in its fullness in the scriptures and tradition of our Church. I hope you can take the time, by yourself or with others, to view “The Search” and spend some time pondering these very large realities.
It is a joy to be your pastor.

Father Albert, O.S.B