The summer months certainly bring a renewed energy to our beloved St. Pius X Parish. The return of our seasonal parishioners, vacationers, and the magnificence of summer on Cape Cod transforms St. Pius in beautiful and vibrant ways. On a personal note, I deeply appreciate the welcoming spirit, kindness, and thoughtfulness of our parish family. You have helped St. Pius to become home for me over the past five years. Your faithfulness in serving the Lord edifies and inspires me as well. Thank you all so much!
I am writing today to ask for your generosity once again, in support of our third Parish Grand Annual Appeal. The past two years have seen a wonderful response to this Appeal, which has generated additional revenue to fund projects that could not be covered by weekly collections. Parishioners have often told me of their appreciation for the many improvements we have made to our buildings and property. Last year, our Parish Grand Annual Appeal helped us fund essential projects at our parish. The largest, most expensive project ($111,840) was the installation of a new Air Conditioning System in the Parish Life Center. This project required three new outside condensers, including a large commercial condenser which had to be lowered to the ground with a crane! We have been told that the system will be operational in time for our Women’s Society’s Parish Fair and our Vacation Bible Camp. We live in hope!
Other significant expenses from the past fiscal year include $7,615 on the beautiful new signs on our parish property, $3,251 on septic pump work, $4,732 on sprinkler work, $15,940 replacing or repairing doors in the Religious Ed Building, the Church and the Parish Life Center, and $5,530 on interior painting in the parish office and rectory.
Mass attendance here at St. Pius has dramatically increased in recent weeks with the beginning of summer. (Don’t you love a full church?) But please remember that the parish operates year-round and has significant expenses in every season. Winter, for example, when income is much lower, brings its own set of expenses, not the least of which is heating our several large buildings, and plowing / salting our vast parking lots. This past particularly brutal winter saw our cost of plowing, salting and shoveling increase by 155%. Ugh!
At our next Finance Council Meeting, we will consider two major projects for the coming year, although even with another successful Parish Grand Annual Appeal, we may only be able to complete one of these projects. Repaving or sealing our parking lots must be addressed before too long. Replacing all of the sprinkler pipes in the Parish Life Center also needs to be addressed soon. The original sprinkler pipes (schedule 10 pipes) are too thin and are now prone to pin hole sized leaks. We’ve been replacing these old pipes, one at a time as the leaks appear, with galvanized pipes, which are thicker and more durable. But it probably makes more sense to be proactive, replace all of the old pipes at the same time, and have the job done.
Once again, I will kick off our THIRD Parish Grand Annual Appeal with a $500 personal donation. Please join me in being as generous as you are able in donating to this year’s Appeal. Our parish will continue to thrive thanks to the love and support of all of its households and families. I pray that each of our households will participate, to some degree, through a gift or a pledge to this Appeal, because together we can accomplish great things for the Lord and for His Church. The more of us who give, the easier it is to lift the load. I hope and trust that I can count on your support.
For your convenience, contribution cards can be found at the doors of the church, and can be placed in the weekend collection. Please make your check payable to St. Pius X Church and write ‘Parish Grand Annual Appeal’ in the memo. You can also make a secure online donation to our Grand Annual on here on our parish website.
I feel so blessed that God has led me to walk with you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and to be part of this amazing St. Pius X Parish family. Thank you so much for your prayerful consideration of this request.