Some days I see how much is in the glass, and some
days I see what isn’t in it. I suppose I
wouldn’t be much of a pastor if I couldn’t identify both. Take a look yourself at the annual report for
the parish we offer this week, and see what you can find.
What’s in the glass?
We have a vigorous parish, with new members and families registering
every month, and families growing in size as well as faith. We have an increase in marriages, a strong
trend of baptisms, and a decrease in funerals.
We have a strong school that is one of the best in the Archdiocese, and
a burgeoning Religious Ed program. We
have a growing youth program, and a thriving network of young adults. Our teachers, ministerial staff, and
catechetical leaders are energized, on target, and effective.
We paid off the mortgage from the addition to the
school complex, which was heart-stoppingly near $800,000 when I got here six
years ago. (can I hear a “Woohoo!” for that, please?) Simultaneously, we put a new heating system
and for the first time ever air-conditioned the entire school complex without a
fundraising campaign of any sort. We did
it in three years, though it was budgeted over four, so incurred a new debt
that we will pay off by June of next summer.
We can pay all our bills and meet our payroll. We give a lot of help to families to
participate in our excellent school. We
do little things around the place to improve and maintain it. We received a few specific donations to
enrich the chapel and the church, and to get a couple of bonus goodies for the
school.
What’s not in the glass? Well, honestly, as good as all that sounds,
we are running very, very lean. General
capital improvements to our extensive plant were suspended over the past year
except for little necessities and the one big thing I mentioned. I still do not have the resources to replace
the rectory roof, which is perilously close to causing damage to the structure. I plan to spend on that what I would be
paying to have a second priest on staff here this year. Think of it as Fr. DeRosa’s salary, if you
will; but I should not have to do that. I
am not talking about grand improvements, here, either, but the basic things
that keep our splendid campus functional, safe, and effective, and one would
even hope, improve its efficiency.
What are my concerns?
Our offertory has been what I think you would call “soft,” rather than
weak. Well do I know how expensive
everything has become, and how little our personal resources have risen to meet
that expense. The administrative burdens,
school and rectory, have increased to the point that our tiny but tireless
staff are constantly at about ten percent above maximum output. We do not help the poor enough. We cut back on our giving to maintain our
expectations. I know a lot of people are
looking forward to “when things get better.”
Honestly, this parish near an intersection in Silver
Spring is full of faith, life, and desire to please the Lord. Amazing things happen here; just this week we
had a small, matter-of-fact outburst of help to fund scholarships for some
families who cannot pay even the small Religious Ed fees. But
are we generous enough? Are we too
anxious to see what we will get out of something before we are willing to put in? Do I include myself in that examination? You bet.
Does this affect the spiritual health of the parish as well as the
fiscal health? Truly, no – it affects
the spiritual health more. Else I would have no business asking.
So look at the numbers and rejoice, as well as
reflect. The blessings of the Lord are
abundant, and cause for gratitude; all that remains to ask, is that we be more
like Him.
Monsignor Smith
