Sunday ‘Envelope Talk’ by Fr Al
February 15 and 16th, 2014
“The envelope, please!” We all know that expression:
“the envelope, please.” But no, Fr. Al is not here to talk to you about the
Academy Awards or anyone named Oscar! I want to thank you for your stewardship
in support of our parish. You gave us a marvelous Christmas season. You were
very generous and we are very grateful and very encouraged. So, yes, I am here
to talk about envelopes. These envelopes!
The Finance Council and the Parish Pastoral Council
have asked me to come before you this weekend to tell you that, upon their
counsel, we are moving to an envelope system for weekly offertory collections.
Beginning the weekend of March 1 & 2, all registered parishioners, and even
those who are not registered but are making a consistent weekly gifts to our
parish, will be receiving a packet of collection envelopes.
We have come to the conclusion that the introduction
of collection envelopes will help enhance parishioners’ experience of making
gifts to our parish. Some of the benefits of this decision include: a nice
friendly reminder, the recording of cash donations for year-end tax recognition
and the inclusion of envelopes for
special collections such as BUILD and many more.
Not only will this enhance the experience of gifting
to our parish, but it will also be very helpful to our staff as we move to an
online database to record gifts to the parish. Moving to an online database
comes from another effort to serve our parish community better. In moving to an
online database, we will be able to record more efficiently your generous
weekly gifts and provide more accurate year-end tax letters.
The collection envelopes will be mailed to you in
packets containing two months of envelopes, including special collection and
Holy Day envelopes. They may begin arriving this coming week. Should you forget
to bring your envelope to Mass, we will have extra envelopes in the narthex.
Simply fill out the information on the envelope if you want your gift to be
recorded for tax purposes.
And, yes, we will continue out EFT giving online. We
are in the process of creating chips that read “I give by EFT.” You will pick
one up in the narthex and drop in the collection basket as it passes by your row.
Students, this includes you, too! I have spoken with
many of you, asking you to give $20.00 per month or $5.00 per week. Take a
blank envelope when you arrive for Mass, insert your donation and include your
name on the envelope.
I want to thank you once again for your tremendous
support of our parish Newman Center. Together we support Christ’s Church and
share our lives for God’s Greater Glory. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, once
again!
Reverend
Albert J. DeGiacomo, Pastor
Holy
Spirit Parish Newman Center
15
February 2014