Increased Offertory Program 2023

August 2023

Dear Parishioners,

Peace and joy be with you! I write to ask you to help me strengthen All Saints Parish. I have received many blessings since I became your pastor. I have witnessed how your prayers and generosity contribute to the parish and the

surrounding communities. Every day we provide care for those in need - body, mind, and spirit. Our presence in six towns and their surrounding areas is a beacon of hope and a sign of God’s presence among his people. The Spirit of God is alive here!
Jesus teaches in Mathew 6:21 that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be.” The hearts of previous parishioners, grateful for their faith and Catholic education, established funds and trusts that have helped us grow the
attendance at St. John’s Catholic School by forty-seven students in five years, respond quickly to needed repairs and
survive the economic upheaval of the pandemic. Your generosity to God has allowed us to expand ministries to young families and the bereaved, maintain a high level of service amid inflation, and the loss of volunteers, and develop plans for a vibrant future for our community of faith.
Since the Covid crisis began, our weekly offerings have dropped by $95,000 a year. Fortunately, this was temporarily offset by PPP funds (Government programs to help schools, businesses, and churches during the pandemic.) Now that the crisis is over, we are in a position where we must replace those funds or reduce our annual budget.
I am asking you to be part of a stewardship renewal in All Saints Parish. Phase one will be a renewal of treasure, to begin on the weekend of August 12^th and 13^th and conclude on Labor Day. A renewal to increase the number of
volunteers and to ascertain the gifts and talents that parishioners possess to share will occur later in the Fall. I am not asking you to simply give the parish more money. I am asking you to prayerfully consider all that God is doing in your life: the blessings, the opportunities, and the experiences. Do I recognize God to be the source of these good things? Am I intentionally giving thanks to him? Can supporting the mission of All Saints Parish be an appropriate sign of gratitude that will also help others recognize their need for God in their lives?
You may respond to this invitation in several ways.
1) Pray that we will always have a grateful parish that is attentive to God’s needs.
2) Increase your offertory gift by a specific amount per week, month, or year.
3) Use the chart on the reverse side to determine a portion of your income that you wish to give back to God and His work.
4) Consider using electronic giving so that your thanks will continue whether you are able to attend mass locally or not.
5) Invite your children to contribute something to the family gift each week.
6) If you are primarily a visitor or not currently an active parishioner, please consider making a one-time gift to help us respond to God.
7) If you are not able to contribute or must reduce your commitment, please indicate these intentions on the enclosed pledge card.
8) Consider your first hour of work a week as your gift to God and tithe that wage to the parish.
9) We ask you to acknowledge your intentions via the included pledge card. We have until September to update our budget and this information will allow us to do so.
Our communities desperately need the grace and hope that God offers his people. Our parish is called to be a conduit of these blessings. I have prayerfully discerned, considering my blessings, opportunities, and have personally pledged to increase my monthly offertory by fifty dollars. Please join me in giving thanks and praise to God.

In the Lord,

Fr. Phil A. Tracy

FINANCIAL FACTS
Did you know that your parish is facing some financial challenges, much like you and your family are, in these challenging times?
· Increased costs of utilities and other expenses have consistently outpaced the weekly collections.
· In order to just maintain current opportunities for parishioners (Masses, retreats, faith formation, and more), we need to expand our income. The parish would like to broaden and increase opportunities for parishioners but that is contingent upon income and volunteers.
· Our parish income is dependent on weekly offertory, online giving, and fundraisers to support our parish needs.

Offertory Giving Chart

Offertory Pledge Card

Please mail pledge cards and payments to:
All Saints Parish
144 Lincoln Street
Bath, ME 04530