I am happy to present this weekend the second quarter parish finance report. Over the weekend it will have been sent to everyone via WhatsApp, paper copies would also have been distributed, and a copy is on the noticeboard at the back of the church.
As always, I begin and end with words of gratitude to our parishioners for their generosity. In this quarter we see the fruits of our dedication Sunday, where parishioners have signed up to make their monthly contribution by EFT into the parish bank account. The increase from the previous quarter is just over R100 000. While there may be many reasons for this increase, from the increase in numbers of parishioners now attending our parish, to people giving more than they used, and to people who have committed themselves through our dedication
Sunday. I hope it is also because you, our parishioners, believe that we will use the resources entrusted to us wisely, and for the purpose for which it is intended. Trust goes a long way in unlocking both hearts and wallets.
I and the Parish Finance Council are committed to transparency and accountability, which is why one of the members of the PFC is tasked with being the internal auditor of the parish, ensuring that the money received in the collection and the bank account is banked, and that there are invoices for money spent.
Reading the income and expenditure statement is to read the story of the parish, what its challenges and priorities are. Firstly, the figures show us that this is a growing parish made up of generous individuals and families. The balance sheet shows us that the parish takes its responsibility to use what is entrusted to it wisely, as it looks to the future and saves resources for the hopes, plans and dreams that we have. We see a parish that ensures that our built environment is conducive to worship and to study and to healthy living. We also see a parish that could afford spend more on things like catechism, evangelization and retreats, and
on charitable endeavors.
As we continue to grow, not only in numbers but in the Spirit, as people continue to volunteer their time and talent to develop our ministries, as we begin to build the dream, we will have the resources to support that process. In ten years, when you look around the parish and say WOW, it will be because we dared to hope and dream and pray in this present moment, and because people like you were generous in your self-giving.
In the coming months we will be inviting parishioners to listening circles where the vision we have for the parish will be shared and refined, and hopefully this vision, because it is OUR vision and not MY vision, will enflame your hearts with a holy passion to build God’s kingdom here at St Martin de Porres.
