Experiencing the generosity of the people of God never ceases to inspire me in Church ministry. Even in the uncertainty of the last six months of pandemic, the parishioners of St. Gregory the Great have been generous in commitment to our parish by continuing to make regular offerings to the Church.
In the three months since I arrived as pastor, while still in the midst of the pandemic, things have slowly begun to return to normal. Our attendance at weekend Masses has tripled in that time, our Academy has re-opened, and we are starting to catch up with the many Sacraments postponed this past Spring. Although we lost many weeks of in-person Mass collections and some significant fundraisers, the parish did secure a PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan which carried us through the summer months. We were fortunate to obtain the maximum amount allowable, however those funds, have been exhausted. During the course of the pandemic we have consistently averaged approximately $25,000 in weekly donations, about 70% of our pre-pandemic average. This was remarkable, given the circumstances. However, this amount will not sustain us long-term. Moreover, we are incurring additional sanitation costs so we can keep all who visit us safe.
So please accept this communication for what it is: a reminder that without the donations of our parishioners, St. Gregory the Great could not function. Please, if you have not, and you are able, consider using your parishioner envelopes or our online giving program (https://stgregorythegreatchurch.org/onlinegiving) to support our parish. Envelopes can be mailed to the parish, dropped off in the rectory office mailbox, or deposited in the baskets at weekend Masses.
As always, thank you for your continued support of St. Gregory the Great, and please continue to pray for us, and for an end to this pandemic. Be assured of my daily prayers for all our parishioners as well, and may God bless you.