A Financial and Operations Status update with Pastor Carlos

A Financialand Operations Status update

Lent begins this Wednesday! We have been announcing a series of Lenten talks you’re all invited to attend. The Mass Schedule for Ash Wednesday is also available in this bulletin. I will write a more spiritual reflection on Lent for next Sunday, but today I want to provide you with a quick financial and operations status update.

We revived The St. Patrick Finance Council in the Fall, and the Council meets quarterly to discuss parish and school finances (including income and expenses), repairs and maintenance projects, as well as operational reviews in coordination with the Diocese of San Diego (including a comparison of St. Patrick’s finances and operations to peer group parishes within the Diocese of San Diego).

Overall, the financial and operational condition of St. Patrick’s parish is stable, and we expect to more or less “break even” by the end of the fiscal year. However, due to some mandated rising costs, the financial condition for next year (and future years) would behoove some additional attention, including new fundraising and income generating ideas which are being explored (recent examples include the Pete’s Sea-food night, the Valentine dinner dance, and continuing to grow the endowment fund). The same situation in mandated, rising labor costs applies to our school, and new initiatives are also in process, such as the Fr. McFadden Annual Fund, the Chocolate sale, and a new event in the Summer to celebrate the ethnic diversity of the school.

The Parish Finance Council also discussed ways to provide additional details to you, which may include a presentation and Q&A session in the hall in the coming weeks. I will also provide you on another bulletin with a list of projects of how the Building Fund has been used this year.

I’m very grateful to all of you for your support in making our parish, school and North Park community a vibrant, welcoming and joyful place for worship and fellowship. On behalf of the Parish Finance Council and our entire staff, thank you for your generous support and participation in our many parish projects and fundraising activities.

God Bless, Fr. Carlos, OSA.

Sunday, March 3, 2019 — Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time