“The life of the Christian has three distinguishing aspects: deeds, words, and thoughts. Thought comes first, then the words, since our words express openly the interior conclusions of the mind. Finally, after thoughts and words, comes action, for our deeds carry out what the mind has conceived. So when one of these results in our acting or speaking or thinking, we must make sure that all our thoughts, words, and deeds are controlled by the divine ideal, the revelation of Christ. For then our thoughts, words and deeds will not fall short of the nobility of their implications.

What then must we do, we who have been found worthy of the name of Christ? Each of us must examine his thoughts, words, and deeds, to see whether they are directed toward Christ, or are turned away from him….”

From a treatise on Christian Perfection by St. Gregory of Nyssa, bishop.

We welcome back Fr. Kevin and the SMG folks who have just returned from their pilgrimage to Rome. Since they arrived home after the bulletin goes to press, I was asked to write the letter for this week. In my role as Business Manager, I’ll try to update you on where we stand financially, but also on the challenges ahead. With $4 gas, food prices on the rise, and the economy gyrating, there are definitely things to be concerned about. But as God’s people, we must have faith that by staying true to Him, it will all work out, as we hear about with Sts. Peter & Paul in today’s readings.

There is so much for which we can be thankful. St. Maria Goretti is blessed to currently be in solid financial shape. We have a healthy balance sheet, with enough money in the bank to pay our bills. In the last year, we have reduced our debt on the Church by over $820,000, which resulted in reducing our interest expense over $66,000 compared to last year. Our total weekly contributions increased by over $70,000 compared to last year. This year SMG parishioners contributed nearly $100,000 to the HELP ministry, not to mention thousands of dollars of grocery donations to the pantry. All of that went to help families in need right here in Hamilton County.

SMG continues to grow, adding over 90 families to our membership since last year. We have a very active faith community, with great events like Spring Fling and the Italian Festival, fantastic programs in our school, PTO, Holy Name Society, Altar Rosary Society, Youth and Adult Religious Ed, sports, liturgy, music and many, many more ministries. These offer each of us a way to become more engaged with SMG, and more importantly more engaged in our faith.

But we will have challenges in the coming months as well. We still carry over $3.7 million in debt on our beautiful church. This debt limits our ability to do any of the other things we want to do, from expanding the school to capacity to building the connector and Adoration Chapel to adding staff. We paid $282,000 in interest this fiscal year – what could we do with that kind of money! It will be critical for us to have a strong finish on our current Fruitful Harvest 2006 pledges, and generously commit once again to the Fruitful Harvest 2008 campaign which will start this fall. Our total weekly giving must also increase modestly to just to stay even with the rising costs of utilities, health care, payroll, and maintenance on our facilities and grounds.

This may not be easy, given the economic climate. Each of us will have to decide where SMG and the Church fall on our priority list. But like Sts. Peter & Paul in today’s readings, SMG have been in tough situations before, and we met those challenges with prayer, persistence, and faith that our God will provide for us if we remain faithful to Him. Where are your mind and heart directed? Do your actions reflect that?

I hope you have a blessed summer!

Pat Gorman

Parish Business Manager