Dear Parishioners, +JMJ
Some three weeks ago, we had another finance council meeting. The following are highlights:
- We reviewed the financial reports from the past month and year-to-date: the balance sheet, the profit and loss statement, the accounts payable statement. A finance council member completed an internal audit, using diocesan forms, for the last couple of months.
- $200,000 of savings was invested into the diocesan Catholic Investment Trust, in order to gain more interest than it was in savings. The amount was spread across a range of instruments, considering risk and interest return.
- A mailer was sent to parishioners explaining the myEoffering online giving options. There are myEoffering cards in the pews that parishioners who contribute by myEoffering can throw into the basket, so it’s clear to those around that they are contributors. We have had a handful of parishioners enroll for myEoffering, and already some good feedback about the cards in the pews.
- The Evangelus system for simultaneously sending out one message through various social media has been delayed because of technical difficulties within the creating company. We hope to have it up and running sometime next month.
- After meeting with the vocations committee, we withdrew $5000 of interest for vocations events from the vocations endowment. The money will cover a school vocations awareness day, the luncheon with Fr. Phillip Smith, Vocations Director, and the junior and senior high girls’ spiritual retreat, led by the Sisters of Mercy, which will include a vocations element.
- We donated $500 to the Caring & Sharing Food Pantry, which included $286 from our Thanksgiving Mass collection, and $214 from our mission fund.
- Joe Linder has submitted an application for a School Security Preparedness Grant to cover a bunch of potential security enhancements for the school. Along with the improvements we are considering burying a fiber line that would connect security cameras on the playground to the school office monitors. We are also considering a Wi-Fi system for the gym.
- We looked at the new tuitions levels for the coming year, established with the school council.
- We looked at the budget for the family spirituality fair on February 23rd.
- For Antwerp projects:
- we have a lead for new organ speakers up in the church loft, and somebody who could help us position them correctly, to reduce the loudness in the loft.
- We are getting quotes to provide doors in the Antwerp hall with windows – for child protection and security.
- The dryer in the Antwerp rectory was vented to the outside through the basement wall.
- For Payne projects:
- The church roof ridge cap was sealed to prevent more bats entering, and missing shingles were replaced. We are going to leave the bat guano up there, because stirring it up will create all kinds of air-borne spores, and because of the immense expense of removal.
- We are still awaiting the Bishop’s response regarding confessional improvements and possible altar rail restoration.
- We received a donation for updating the Payne vestibule.
- Solid Ground gave us a good quote for shoveling the parking lot for church and school when we have snowfall. Volunteers will still handle shoveling the church sidewalks.
- New microphones for the cantor and the organ loft are being shipped, in hopes that this will improve the sound at those two spots.
- Schweller Electric is quoting on repair of the interior and exterior lights for the Payne Hall.
- Paulding Rectory:
- the seminarian/guest bathroom cracked bathtub is being replaced with a shower unit, along with updating of the rest of the bathroom.
- The master bathroom flooring is being replaced, along with adding a vanity (which doesn’t now exist). Donations have been received for both of these projects.
- We still will need to address basement moisture in upcoming years.
- Library doors are being crafted by a volunteer.
- There is still some electrical work (primarily replacing two-prong outlets) and some wiring for desk lamps in the upstairs library. Volunteers will do this.
- The garage roof was completed, along with new gutters ($6,525). One gutter was also re-routed on the house ($400).
- Wish-list: Antwerp bell repair for $13,580 by Verdin (although a parishioner might be able to cover some of that work). Paulding bell repair for $8,845 by Verdin (although this cost might be higher if the requires a lift for access).
