To view the bulletin, or to print your own copy, please click here.

To view the bulletin, or to print your own copy, please click here.

Church of St. Mary Reigniting Discipleship Survey Results Spring 2018

Thank you for the great response! We received 172 responses from parishioners aged 14 to “80 something”. The survey results, along with input from the parish staff, finance committee and pastoral council, and Re-Igniting Discipleship committee will help inform the future strategic plan and priorities. If we meet our goal of $519,730, we will have $363,811 (70%) available to help address these needs.

 

 

What is the best thing about CSM?

Sense of community (92), Leadership/Fr. Tom/Homilies (19), Faith Formation and Youth Ministry (17), Music/Choir (9), Liturgies (8)

 

What is the one thing we need to work on?

Youth and family involvement (25), Getting more people involved (11), Social events (7), Better communication (5), Outreach to community/homebound (5), Music (4), Mass attendance (4)

 

 

 

Most Common Responses	What items would you like to see for the church building and grounds?	What programs would you like to see the parish develop or enhance?
1	25 responses regarding developing the back lawn pavilion, grotto, gazebo, veggie/flower/rosary garden, benches	35 responses social/fellowship events including BBQ, coffee and snacks after mass, whole family activities
2	10 responses new carpet	23 responses service opportunities to help the poor, soup kitchen, food drive, Veterans/Wounded Warriors, church store
3	9 responses padded pews	21 responses Adults: Pilgrimages, perpetual Eucharistic adoration, lay minister development, evangelical initiatives, bible study, theology of the body, adult education, mental health programs, separate men’s and women’s prayer groups
	9 responses new ceiling
4	8 responses replace water fountain/add a water bottle filler	14 responses community outreach including driving programs to get people to church, connecting with local Catholic schools, connecting with other parishes
	8 responses renovate bathrooms
5	5 responses renovate kitchen	6 responses Youth: faith formation, youth committee, school age interactive events, youth mass
6	4 responses connect church and Rockefeller parking lots, keep bridge free of snow and ice	5 responses RCIA
		4 responses young adult meetings (age 25-50) 4 responses Music ministry 4 responses Garden club
Other: (3 or fewer responses each)	Smaller albs, video games, pool, basketball court, prayer/statue candles, adoration chapel, stained glass, paint/cover walls of church, recycling, display divine mercy photo, cry room, Eucharistic bells, outdoor scenes for Christmas and Easter, religious stone, update lighting in church, display church and American flags, awning for front entrance, kneeler for cantor, larger choir loft, burial nook, more class room space to get faith formation out of parish hall	Altar server training, Saturday mass, bake sale, 5K Run, CYO, Stephen ministry, Middle school mission, marriage/couple programs, community art project, booklet of programs at CSM and how to join, book exchange, sing Silent Night at Christmas Eve mass in the dark, suggestion box

 

From Dave Hans
Lora and I want to spend a few minutes talking to you about the role we all play
as contributors to our parish through our stewardship of time, talent and
treasure.
Over the past few weeks, we have received requests to support this year’s
Bishop’s Appeal as well as a letter from Father Tom about the upcoming Reigniting
Discipleship initiative. I will briefly address both activities, but let me
start with an overview of our current fiscal outlook.
About six weeks ago, the Finance Committee met to review the 2017-18 fiscal
year and agree to a budget for the upcoming year. Thanks, in great part to your
support, we are tracking closely, although slightly below our targeted income
from offertory collections. We had a few weekend winter storms this year, so
we hope this is a factor in the slight decline.
As you read a few weeks ago in the bulletin, Lora and I met with Father Tom and
suggested we suspend this year’s Gala and Auction. While the Gala has become
first, an enjoyable evening for many, and second, a key component of our
income stream, it is a major impact on those who spend months planning for the
event.
In addition, this year’s Gala conflicts with our focus on the Re-Igniting
Discipleship initiative. As Father stated in his bulletin message, your
contribution of time, talent and treasure is vital to our community. We want to
be cognizant of the sacrifices we ask you to make supporting our Parish.
The finance committee supported our plans to suspend the fall Gala, but also
wanted to achieve a balanced budget that included the reduction in income
from the Gala. Due to some prudent planning, and an expectation to increase
weekly offertory by just .5 %, I am pleased to announce we achieved a balanced
budget plan for the 2018-19 fiscal year.
However, after five years of sharing my thoughts with you, I am sure you know
what is coming next. We can only achieve, and perhaps, slightly exceed our
offertory collection income if all of us plan on a weekly and prayerful
contribution. Summer is fast approaching, and many of us spend time with
family and friends, often away from the area and church over the weekend.
Our envelopes and more importantly, e-giving, help us account for a regular,
sustainable weekly offertory income. Today, income from e-giving makes up
about a third of our weekly offertory collection. This has been a steady state for
the past few years, and we would really like to increase the focus on e-giving.
If you have any questions about the process, Lora and I will be in the back of the
church after mass today. The process is simple and personal. You can easily
customize it to meet your family budget.
A few weeks ago in the bulletin, we received an insert to explain the goal of the
Bishop’s Appeal and the Re-Igniting Discipleship Initiative. The Bishop’s Appeal
focuses on the needs of our Diocese, by supporting programs, ministries and
people who are not as fortunate as many of us sitting here today. Thank you for
your continued support.
Re-Igniting Discipleship is a diocesan wide initiative which focuses on: our
retired priests, vocations, youth and our parish. While each church in the
diocese will participate in the initiative, your involvement is a personal decision
for you and your family.
A majority of the funds raised from the initiative, will be used to support the
needs of our own Parish. In our most recent survey, many of you shared your
ideas with us. While some of the input focused on improvements to our church
and the outdoor grounds, there were an equal number of ideas on how we can
share our many talents through programs and discipleship, that will benefit the
diverse needs of our parish family and local community.
In closing, be it the Bishop’s Appeal, the upcoming Re-igniting Discipleship
initiative, or our weekly offertory collection, we all play an important role. Your
contribution of time, talent, and treasure helps keep our parish vibrant and
strong. I want to thank you for your continued support of the Church of St Mary.
Additional note If you are reading this report and want to know more about e-giving, please feel free to reach out by email davehans223@gmail.com

From Lora Santilli

Thanks Dave Good morning everyone.
I’d like to follow up on a point Dave made regarding suspending the Gala. I know Dave and Mary were very involved in planning for many years and had an amazing team of folks helping to create such a wonderful event. Dan and I were enthusiastic attendees for years and last year I got involved in the planning team. I know I feel a sense of loss at the decision to suspend it but given all the changes in the team structure I know in my heart it was the right decision. We are now able to focus on the Re-Igniting Discipleship initiative and think creatively of new ideas to foster fellowship.
We have heard from our parish community thank you for the great response to the survey a few weeks ago – that you would like to see smaller, more frequent social events throughout the year. I like this idea as it will allow us to spend more time enjoying the friendship of our community, without the overwhelming planning process. And we also heard we need to make better use of our outside space. Well, we are kicking that off today! Hopefully you all purchased a ticket to enjoy one of the delicious Desany smoked pulled pork sandwiches. If not, no worries, come hang out with us anyway!
And given that you already have a hold on the November 3 gala date keep it blocked in your calendar and plan to join us for an International Potluck event. Stay tuned for details on that.
One final event to remind you about is our annual Golf tournament coming up on Monday, June 18th at Wolferts Roost Country Club. There is still room to join other golfers in navigating sand traps, water hazards and trying your luck at winning one of the many contests throughout the day. Raffle tickets are on sale now and are very popular. And given my dreadful hand to eye coordination it is best that I do not golf. But non-golfers like me are welcome to buy a dinner only ticket. Another way for us to gather in fellowship as a parish community. Stop at the table in the back of church for more info.
All these wonderful events would not be possible without those willing to step forward and share their time and talent. The continued participation of our parishioners in the various ministries of our Church gives life to our community! Faith formation just wrapped up another wonderful year marked by an increase in the number of young people celebrating Confirmation. And the summer activities like Vacation Bible Camp and Midnight Run are just around the corner. We are grateful that Deacon Tim will continue to remain in service with us with Family Promise. And we look forward to Deacon Al jumping right in. Our liturgies are beautiful and recently we’ve seen a tremendous growth in the participation of our youth in the music ministry. Thanks Carl, Carolyn, Mary and Genina for sharing your time. Our community is also well supported through our partnerships with area organizations such as Circles of Mercy, Concerns U and others. But each and every committee could do more with a few extra hands. Please consider how YOU can get involved. Don’t just think about it. Act on it! Dave and I are happy to talk with anyone who wants to get involved but doesn’t know where to start or who to ask. Come see us!
With that said, I want to call your attention to the nomination forms at the end of your pews. We are looking to fill an open seat and recruit two additional members to join The Parishes’ Pastoral Council. The Council is a joint endeavor with representatives from St. Mary’s and St. John the Evangelist/St. Joe’s. We collaborate with our leaders and provide vision and direction for the good of the Church and the entire parish communities. If you are interested, or know someone who would be, please complete the form today!
Thank you for allowing me a few minutes to share such wonderful examples of how your time and talent contribute to our vibrant parish community!
Any questions please email: lang@nycap.rrr.com

This year, the Church of St. Mary (location noted as “CSM”) will again share the Sacred Triduum of Holy Week with St. John the Evangelist & St. Joseph (location noted as “SJESJ”) with the following schedule:

Holy Monday March 26th

• 6:00pm Individual Reconciliation (CSM)
• 7:00pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (CSM)

Holy Tuesday March 27th

• 12:10pm Mass (SJESJ)
• 6:30pm Prayer & Reflection  (CSM)

Holy Wednesday March 28th

• 7:00am Mass (CSM)
• 6:30pm Lenten Mass  followed by “Praying the Icons of
  Holy Week (CSM)

Holy Thursday March 29th

• 9:00am Morning Prayer (CSM)
• 7:00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper & Adoration (CSM)
• 9:00pm Night Prayer (CSM)

Good Friday March 30th

• 9:00am Morning Prayer (CSM)
• 12:05pm Stations of the Cross with Youth Ministry (CSM)
• 3:00pm Individual Reconciliation (CSM)
• 7:00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (CSM)

Holy Saturday March 31st

• 9:00am Morning Prayer (SJESJ)
• 3:00pm Blessing of Easter Foods (CSM)
• 8:00pm Vigil of the Lord’s Resurrection (SJESJ)

 

And on Easter Sunday, April 1st, our Mass schedule is as usual: 8:00am Mass at CSM; 9:30am Mass at SJESJ; and 11:00am Mass at CSM.  There will not be a 7:00pm Mass at CSM that Sunday evening.