Up to the House of the Lord

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 I subscribe to The CARA Report published by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. Let me share with you some of their recent findings. We may think the Catholic population of the United States is declining but that is not the case and the long-term trends are for more growth.

 

The portion of the U.S. population who self-identify as Catholics will increase from 29 percent at present to 33 percent by 2043.

 

Hispanic Catholics will experience the strongest growth rates to 2043. Immigration, high fertility, and a young age structure will enable this group to expand from 10 to 18 of the American population.

 

Catholics as a whole will surpass Protestants by mid-century within the nation’s youngest age groups. At one time the country was 98 percent Protestant.

 

Fundamentalist and moderate Protestant denominations will hold their own within the white population, but will decline overall as the white share of the population declines.

 

Muslims will surpass Jews in the general population by 2023.

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I spend a good deal of time at various hospitals visiting parishioners and others.  In the past few weeks I had two experiences I consider moments of revelation.

 

I was with one family as the doctor explained there was nothing more medically that could be done for their loved one and they should prepare for her dying soon.  We sadly celebrated the Sacrament of Anointing and prayed her passing would be peaceful while the family started to gather to say their goodbyes. Two days later the patient was recovering and would go home in less than a week.  I visited her as the same doctor was in the room.  I asked the doctor what they did to restore her condition. The doctor said ‘Not really anything. She just started to get better on her own. I guess you could call it a miracle!’  Sometimes God works through the knowledge and skills of doctors and nurses.  Sometimes God works through the hope and strength of a patient.

 

The second patient was in and out of the hospital with recurring infections.  This time they kept him for over ten days running test after test.  Even though the patient was growing weary of all the tests and the many days in the hospital the medical team persisted until they found the problem and treated him with the right medication. He was then able to go home.  We see faith healing on TV where the healer lays hands on a sick person and immediately they are cured.

 

But real faith healing is the faith of doctors and medical teams who put in long hours in zealous research, hoping for the best for their patient, believing in the search for truth. 

 

That is faith in action. 

 

Fr. Bob

 

Peace, 

 

We are now three quarters of the way through our parish fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).  So the report below is our 3rd Quarter Financial Report. Note the report is an abbreviated version with only the major categories.  If you would like a copy of the full report just contact the office during the week.

 

Again, revenue or income is coming in at less than projected in our budget.  We have about 65% of the revenue projected while we are at the 75% mark of the year.  Sunday collections have not seen any great increase.  We are anticipating more income from the fundraising efforts of the parish committee and the parish organizations.

 

Again, fortunately, expenses also are being incurred below budget projections. We have spent about 63% of the budget.  In the area of purchasing supplies and services the staff has been diligent finding the lowest prices without sacrificing quality.  The Easter Candle just arrived.  This year we switched vendors and purchased the same candle for $300 less.

 

Now we start the budget process for the next fiscal year, 2011-12.  It will be the first budget I prepare for the parish.  The Financial Committee and staff will be invaluable for this process.  The Pastoral Council will review our needs and priorities.

 

Last weekend we initiated the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.  Our parish goal is $48,900, the same as last year.  While it may seem like a lot we need to remember the parish receives valuable administrative and pastoral services from the Diocese.  The Appeal funds important outreach efforts and social services in West Tennessee that we could not do alone as a parish.  The other goal is 100% participation.  Everyone giving something will enable us to reach that monetary goal.  St. Augustine has always been a generous parish.  Lets continue the tradition.

 

Fr. Bob

 

Peace, 

April 10th