The following was delivered as Fr Antonio’s homily on 15-16 March 2025 to launch the planned giving drive.
I’m going to do something that most priests do not enjoy doing; and that is to ask you to support our parish. With financial assistance, in particular.
I arrived in this parish seventeen months ago. When I arrived, I saw as one of my main objectives the building of our community, to work with you to turn it into an even more Christ-centred community with liturgies, catechetical and social programmes that would get individuals and families fired up about their faith.
Today, we have many reasons to celebrate:
- Mass is now celebrated every day in our parish, except on Monday which is my day off (and even then, there is a Eucharistic Service).
- There is adoration and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at least twice a week, with regular slots for Confessions.
- Our church attendance has grown. For example, when I first arrived only about 25 people would attend the Sunday evening Mass. Today, that Mass often outnumbers our other two Sunday Masses.
- We have solid catechetical programmes, with dedicated catechists for FHC, Confirmation and RCIA.
- We have enjoyed events that had never been organised in the parish before: Advent Retreat and Meditation, Christmas Concert, Watch Wednesday, etc.
- And we continue to enjoy long time-honoured practices such as Coffee Mornings, faith sharing groups, and devotions such as the rosary.
- The Parish Pastoral Council has been re-established. They help me identify and implement needed pastoral programmes.
- The Guild of St Stephen has been revived and the ministry of altar serving in our parish is flourishing. It is wonderful to have so many of our young people sacrifice their time to serve the Lord at the altar.
- We continue to have committed volunteers in our eucharistic ministers, readers, musicians and singers. There are many who do work behind the scenes such as gardening, cleaning, and property maintenance. Of course, we always need more volunteers, but we are grateful for those we have.
- Communications is also an area where we have taken great strides. Modesty aside, we have a website and weekly newsletter that are admired by many other parishes, and indeed other dioceses.
- Thanks go the generosity of a parishioner, we now also have live streaming which means our housebounds can join in our liturgies.
In a few weeks, we will celebrate the centenary of the canonisation of St Theresa of the Child Jesus. Cardinal Vincent Nichols will be here to celebrate with us.
And so indeed, there are many reasons to celebrate. In the words of some parishioners, our parish is buzzing.
However, now we have to look at the financial reality.
- Not many people know that we are self-funding
- We don’t get money from anybody not even from the diocese
- The only income we receive is what you donate
Out of this, we have to pay for everything to keep this church open. These include:
- utility bills
- building maintenance: both the church and the presbytery
- our parish administrator’s salary
For the past few years, we have been running on a deficit. This means, that we are spending more than what we are receiving through donations.
This means, if things don’t change, in the next five years, we could potentially be no longer self-sustaining, which could mean the diocese may decide to close us down or merge us with another parish.
We are a small parish, the demographic is changing (i.e., there are fewer Catholics) so it gets harder and harder to be self-sustaining.
That’s why we in the Parish Finance Community have decided to inform you of this situation and ask you to consider the way you support the parish financially.
As I wrote in the newsletter, if you value coming to Mass in our lovely church and being part of our parish community, please do something to help, before it is too late. We estimate that we need to raise an additional £500 per week, every week of the year. Your £10 or £20 a month needs to be doubled or trebled; or if you are currently not giving anything, but easily could, then please start now.
The best way to contribute is by setting up a Standing Order. Standing Order forms are available at the back of the church or from the Parish Office. If you are a UK tax payer and not already registered for Gift Aid, we would urge you to do so. This will enable the parish to obtain an additional 25p for every £1 that you contribute, with no cost to yourself.
Over the next few weeks, you will be hearing more about supporting our church through regular donations. At the end of the month, you will be asked to fill in a standing order form, or consider increasing your existing standing order. However, if you are ready to do so, the form is already available at the back of the church.
St Theresa’s Church is today a place to pray and to celebrate important moments in our lives: Baptisms, First Holy Communions, Weddings and Funerals. Our parish church is where we come for strength through the ups and downs of life. Please help to make St Theresa’s continue to be this place.
We know most people are counting the pennies these days. The cost of living is constantly rising. But those who are able to, we ask to please support your parish.
