Dear Saint Vincent de Paul Family:
I’m sorry the appeal letter I sent this morning caused quite a bit of concern and confusion among some of our school families. I rushed this email and wasn’t nearly as clear as I needed to be. Here are some clarifications:
- The serious financial shortfall we face at Saint Vincent’s impacts parish ministries, not school operations.
- Tuition payments continue to flow into the school in order to fund teacher salaries. Sister Dominic will update you soon on the financial position of the school.
- The Gala is the second largest source of income to the school and our amazing leadership team is working hard to make this year’s event as successful as possible. Although this is a time of uncertainty, the financial condition of the school remains solid.
- Let me make it absolutely clear: no school funds will be used to pay parish salaries or cover any parish expenses. School funds are for the exclusive use of the school. This will not change.
- The parish has suffered the loss of our largest source of income, the weekend offertory collection. The parish needs $23,000 each week in offertory and gift income to fund parish operations; last Sunday we received $11,000.
- My appeal is simple: Please go to our newly designed website and transition to online giving instead of dropping your gift in the offertory basket during Mass as you have in the past. This will give Saint Vincent's a far more secure source of funding for our outstanding parish ministries.
- I ask you to consider a one-time gift to the parish to help us through this difficult period. Your donation will make a big difference.
- If you wish to make a donation to the school, please indicate this on your gift and it will be used for that purpose only.
I have very encouraging news for you. Shorty after receiving today’s appeal letter, one of our amazing parishioners donated $11,500 for "payroll relief.” This is remarkably generous and is another sign that God cannot be outdone in generosity when we place our needs before Him and His faithful people!
What an outstanding parish family we have and I give thanks to God for each of you. Please feel free to direct your questions and concerns to me at FrHilton@saintvincents.org.
In Jesus and Mary,
Fr. John Hilton