Dear friends,

I want to thank our fellow parishioners who spoke at the Masses last weekend on behalf of increased offertory support. Most people find public speaking a nerve-wracking experience, especially when it involves asking their hearers to make a sacrifice. So I greatly appreciate the willingness of Sean Lapham, co-chair of our parish growth committee, Bill Daly, Bob Fox, Mike Harding, Lou Imperioli, Greg Kuehhas and Manny Torres to make these presentations.

Elsewhere in the bulletin, you will find a copy of the handout present in our pews over the weekend. I would ask you to give it another look. Whenever an increased offertory appeal is made, the result usually is that already generous parishioners become even more generous. As the charts on the handout show, these generous parishioners make up less than half of our households.

More than half of our registered parishioners make no identifiable contribution. Of course many may make cash contributions to our offertory collections which can't be tracked.  However, unidentifiable cash comprises only a small percentage of the total of these weekly collections.  

So the greater part of the burden of supporting our parish currently falls on the shoulders of comparatively few parishioners. I ask anyone who is not contributing regularly or contributing less than one is capable of giving to share this burden more equitably. 

The best way to contribute is by enrolling in Faith Direct -- a very convenient and consistent method of giving. Because it provides for consistent giving each and every week, this method often increases the parish's income even if parishioners don't increase the amount they usually contribute on a Sunday. Please see the enrollment form, also elsewhere in the bulletin. 

One thing I find surprising is that of the 1586 households that get the weekly envelopes, 783 do not use them. I ask everyone who gets envelopes please to use them. For one thing, it repays the expense of providing them.

If all parishioners were to join in supporting our parish not only would we avoid the deficits which have plagued St. Thomas but more positively -- and more importantly -- we would be able to do so much more to serve the Lord and enliven our faith community. 

Think of all the money contributed to presidential campaigns over the last few months which has already gone for naught as candidates drop out of the race. Your contributions to St. Thomas will have a more lasting effect in the good works our parish carries on in faith formation, education, prayer and worship and human services.  

In His peace,

 Msgr. Frank Maniscalco, Pastor