MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dear friends                                                                                     

As we approach Christmas, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the many graces received from God’s goodness.

Currently St. Therese is alive and doing well. At church, we continue to host major events like the Lunar New Year Celebration, Fish Fry Fridays during Lent, and the Feasts of Santa Maria Incoronata and St. Rocco. We have expanded our Youth Ministry, and through the generous help of the Xaverians have also built four new ample and sound-proof classrooms in the church basement for our expanding CCD program. We also have a new roof which has been fully insulated.

Our school continues to grow and inspire excellence. Attendance is up to 250 children. We have added a high-quality sports program and expanded the after-school program, and the technology, religious, and language curriculum have been upgraded over the past year. We also made a major capital investment by replacing the boiler.

This is all an amazing feat considering that we are a small family-sized parish!

I am attaching a letter from Mr. Nick Andriacchi, Chair of the Parish Finance Council. This letter presents our current financial situation and expresses a need for your support. We would greatly appreciate any monetary contribution from you, but the best gift, as always, is seeing you here with us. To follow the many church events of this year, please visit us at www.StThereseChinatown.org.

May the newborn Jesus bring you His gift of peace and joy. On behalf of Fr. Aniello, the Xaverians of Hyde Park, and myself, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year 2009!

Fr. Michael Davitti, SX
Pastor

2008 Financial Outlook

Dear Friends,

As we approach the halfway point of our fiscal year, I would like to share with you some reflections on our financial situation.

The turmoil that we are experi­encing in today's economy affects everyone across the country. Uncertainty is pervasive amidst mounting job losses and home foreclosures, combined with shrinking investments and savings balances. Families – and parishes – are concerned for their futures, as most marketplace indicators suggest that even more difficult times are still to come.

The Archdiocese closely scrutinizes all planned operating expenditures in its parishes. St. Therese Parish here is exercising good stewardship and fiscal re­sponsibility by working within the budgetary constraints imposed on us and for which we are ac­countable. Under the guidance and over­sight of the Archdiocesan Finance Office and of our Parish Finance Coun­cil, parish funds and accounts are closely monitored. We try being vigilant on cash flow, and we strive to adhere strictly to “Best Practices” as laid down by the Archdiocese. The Church's law also prescribes that we administer the gifts of the people of God with the diligence of a "good housekeeper," so at St. Therese we are pay­ing close attention to conserving resources carefully and deploying them wisely in fulfilling this mission.

Additionally, Father Michael, Father Aniello, and the Finance Council requested an external audit of the parish’s management of funds; the findings were largely favorable, with which we are pleased. A summary of this report will be made available shortly.

I would also like to share with you the status of our Sunday collections. Sunday collections have been short an average of $500-$800 per week - which is about the same as last year. We understand the difficulties of the tightening economy, but we, like everyone else, were affected by the high costs of food and energy as well, and these along with the implementation of two major but necessary capital improvements (the church roof and the school boiler and heating system) have left a hole in our budget.

Your support in the past has helped make us the thriving community we are today, and your extra generosity this Christmas will help us remain a vibrant institution for years to come. Your gift is greatly needed now and will be deeply appreciated. The Finance Council and I assure you it will be spent wisely and will not be wasted.

This may be the last chance for you to make a charitable contribution in 2008, and your donation is fully tax deductible. The Parish would be happy to provide you with receipts for tax purposes.
And finally, let us remember: God is never outdone in His generosity.

Merry Christmas to all of you, and Happy New Year!
Nick Andriacchi         
Chair of the Parish Finance Council