Stewardship Renewal Fall 2009
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St. Francis de Sales (SFDS) - Abingdon, Maryland
SFDS > Stewardship > Stewardship Renewal Fall 2009

September 2008

It is with a grateful heart that I am once again able to send you the Annual Report for St. Francis de Sales Parish.  In these tough economic times, your generous support of the material and spiritual needs of the parish has enabled us to continue our mission of Worship, Education, Service and Community.

Our parish runs very much like your household.  There are chores to do and bills to pay.  Our bills, as you can imagine, have gone up as the cost of living has increased.  Our income has been relatively flat and sometimes it is a struggle to meet our financial obligations, but with trust in God and your help we have managed so far.

As we look to the future, I want to call your attention to some of the needs we expect to face this year and beyond,  In the area of our facilities, our parking lot is in need of major repair.  All of the outside lighting fixtures need to be replaced since they no longer manufacture the equipment we now use.  At present the HVAC system in the Worship Center is working fine, but it is an eighteen year-old system, and we know it will need replacing soon.
Sharing our Blessings
Sharing our Blessings

In many of our ministry areas such as Liturgy and Faith Formation, we have cut back significantly so as to make ends meet while still maintaining the quality of service.  Each area has a list of needs, wants and wishes that we can only fulfill if our income supports it.  Our Pastoral Council and Finance Committees carefully review these lists each year to make sure that essential elements are given the attention that they need.

In the past we have run stewardship campaigns that have asked for you to fill out pledge cards for specific amount increases in your giving. This year I am only asking that you prayerfully consider your regular giving to the parish.  If your means allow you to increase your regular donation, please consider doing so.  If these tough times have affected you so that you can only maintain or even have to decrease your financial support, I understand.  I also encourage the use of the Parish Envelope system or Electronic Funds Transfer as the most efficient ways of contributing to St. Francis de Sales.

The Stewardship aspect of parish life is one of the most important parts of our community.  It embodies not only financial giving, but also giving time to volunteer in the many areas of service that our parish performs.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do for the parish of St. Francis de Sales. I am proud to be part of such a prayerful, generous and faith-filled community.

In Christ,

Rev. Charles M. Wible
Pastor