2014 2015...2014-2015 pastoral life report your repairs and maintenance money at work! because of...

2014—2015 Pastoral Life Report

Parish

Mission Statement

We, the clergy and lay faithful of St. Benilde

Catholic Church, by virtue of our baptism and

by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, strive to

form a vibrant and faith-filled parish family by

our common witness to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We seek to be instruments of God’s grace for

the sanctification of His people through divine

worship, evangelization, catechesis and service.

With loyalty and obedience to the magisterium

of the Church, we strive to live an example of

holiness, where Jesus is our center and Mary is

our model, and to encourage one another as we

journey toward eternal life. We recognize our

call to be stewards of God's many gifts, and

joyfully share them to deepen our love of God

through service to others. We welcome all who

seek the blessing of God, the redeeming love of

Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy

Spirit as we strive to build the Kingdom of God

and strengthen this family of faith.

St. Benilde Catholic Church

The Reverend Robert T. Cooper

Pastor

LETTER FROM THE PASTOR

My Dear Parishioners,

I am now into my third year as pastor of St. Benilde Parish. In 2014 we celebrated our 50th anniversary as a parish of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Those of you who were here in those first years most likely did not imagine the countless blessings and the growth that this parish would enjoy over the past fifty years. As we celebrate fifty years of life, faith, and family, I am grateful that God has given me the grace to serve you as pastor these past few years, and I look forward to many more years with you as we continue to enrich our spiritual vitality as a family of faith. Your generos-ity of spirit, vast talents and willingness to give back with an increase to God the gifts you have received is truly inspiring.

Each year it is important that as a parish family we review how we are responding to the mission of our parish. It is our mission to build bridges of opportunity for people to encounter the presence of God through sacraments, prayer and one another. Providing an annual Pastoral Life Report assists in understanding a basic overview and accountability of how St. Benilde Parish is continuing to spread the Word of God and support the spiritual growth of our parishioners.

Thank you all for your continuing support shown in so many wonderful ways. It is my hope that those who are able, after prayerfully reviewing their contributions, will slightly increase their offerings to help us remain ahead of rising operational costs as well as remedy a backlog of deferred maintenance issues to our parish buildings – and those who are not able to increase their weekly/monthly offerings, will continue to give as in the past. Your continued dedication and support is crucial to the vitality of our parish. May God continue to bless us abundantly and inspire us all in our mutual journey as we support the mission of the Church.

Walking with you in joyful hope and praying for you daily, I remain

Sincerely in the Lord

Parish Motto—Building the Kingdom of God

2014-2015 Pastoral Life Report

YEAR IN REVIEW

LITURGY & WORSHIP

Sunday Masses: 4

Weekday Masses: Monday and Thursday—2 ……. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday—1

School Masses: 4 per Month

Eucharistic Adoration: Perpetual from 7:00 PM on Sunday till 4:00 PM on Saturday

Confessions: Every Saturday at 3:00 PM; Every Sunday at 5:00 PM; Every Monday at 6:00 PM

SPIRITUAL LIFE

Number of Prayer Groups: 3

Number of Parish Ministries: 26

EDUCATION & FAITH FORMATION

St. Benilde School Enrollment: 298 Children

St. Benilde CCD Enrollment: 65 Children

Vacation Bible School Participants: 132 Children

FAMILY LIFE & YOUTH

Number of Registered Households: 819

Number of Youth in CYO: 30 Teens

SACRAMENTS & PASTORAL CARE

Infant Baptisms: 41 Adult Baptisms: 0

First Reconciliation/First Eucharist: 37 Children & 1 Adult

Holy Matrimony: 7 Weddings

Confirmandi Youth: 28 Confirmandi Adults: 1

Received into the Church (RCIA): 1 Adult

Holy Orders—Parishioner Stephen Gordon was ordained a Permanent Deacon

Number of Funerals: 76 Funeral Masses or Services

OUTREACH & SERVICE

Number of Clients Assisted by St. Vincent de Paul Society: 1,154 Clients

Amount of Assistance Given to Needy Families: $15,851 in rent/utilities & $21,817 in food

“Giving Tree” Gifts: 50 Thanksgiving Baskets/Gift Cards: 42 Christmas Baskets: 42

Congratulations to our

Newest Deacon!

We extend our heartfelt con-gratulations to Stephen Gordon on his ordination to the Permanent Diaconate and we welcome his ministry at St. Benilde Parish!


STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

Financial Report

July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015 CHURCH INCOME

Weekly Envelopes $252,293*

Loose Collections $197,423*

Candles $18,533

Parish Societies $462

Rentals, Leases, Royalties $35,670=

Msgr. Endowment Fund $7,681

Repairs and Maintenance Fund $31,400

Fall Festival $35,111

Interest Income $6,526

Donations and Gifts $27,449

50th Anniversary Celebration $15,535>

Sanctuary Memorial Fund $23,724£

Adoration Chapel Donations $129

Clarion Herald Subscriptions $3,394

Religious Education Income $4,100

Mass Stipends $13,193

Miscellaneous Income $738

Money withdrawn from Deposit

Money withdrawn from Repair Fund $15,737

Diocesan Second Collections $14,652

Total Church Income $703,750

CHURCH EXPENSES

Personnel Costs (Salaries) $122,788**

Health Insurance Costs $18,774

Sanctuary Expense $22,628

Liturgy (Church Beautification) $27,370+

Altar Flowers $4,569***

Cost of Candles $10,722

Church Office Cost $29,131

50th Anniversary Celebration 13,143>>

Parish Activities/Ministry to Parishioners $1,252

Household Expenses $9,950

Did You Know? Our 2015 Fall Festival, scheduled for the weekend of November 6th, 7th, and 8th, has a new name and a new look! As they say, “In other places

people eat to live, but in New Orleans, we live to eat!” MARK

YOUR CALENDARS...We hope to see you at our FOODIE FEST!



Utilities $47,633

Janitorial Supplies/Contracts $2,045

Automobile and Van Expense $7,200

Repairs and Maintenance to Parish/School Buildings,

Maintenance Contracts and Lawn/Garden

Care of Parish Property $49,319^

Religious Education Expense (CCD/Sacramental Prep) $2,340

Baptisms/RCIA/Confirmation/Adult Formation/Marriage $2,699

School Financial Support $78,092^^

Property and Casualty Insurance $34,097

Church Flood Insurance $5,027

Replacement of Equipment $6,465

Meals for Visiting Clergy/Seminarian $140

Church Assessment/Tax (Paid to Archdiocese) $91,905~

Clarion Herald Subscription $5,174

Diocesan Second Collections $14,652

Capital Improvements $13,637^^^

Deposited with Archdiocese for Investment $65,566

Total Church Expenses $685,066

Explanatory Notes

* Total Weekly Collections remained equivalent to the previous Fiscal Year (2013-2014). Thank you for your continued generosity! Please

prayerfully consider, if you are financial able, to commit to a small increase (1—2%) in your weekly/monthly contributions.

= This number includes a onetime signing bonus of $22,500 from AT&T to lease land for a cell tower. AT&T has halted construction be-cause of budget cuts until further notice; therefore, we will not receive the monthly rental fee until a tower is actually built.

> This number reflects the total funds collected for the 50th Anniversary Celebration.

£ This number represents money that parishioners and families specifically earmark for the continued Beautification of St. Benilde Church.

** This number includes salaries and stipends paid to Fr. Cooper, Fr. H.L., Parish Secretary, Housekeeper (positioned dissolved as of January 30, 2015), Youth Minister, Outside Bookkeeper, Maintenance and Janitorial Assistance, and certain Cantors, Organists/

pianists, and Musicians for Mass.

+ These beautification Projects were made possible because of the generosity of many of our parishioners who gave memorial gifts for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of St. Benilde Parish. These funds were specially earmarked for Church Beautification.

*** This figure does not include Flower Expenses for Christmas and Easter. Those two celebrations are paid for via the Special Collection for Christmas and Easter Flowers.

>> This number reflects the majority of the costs for the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Some costs were incurred last fiscal year.

^ Many of these Repairs and Maintenance Projects were made possible because of your generosity to the Second Collection for Repairs and Maintenance held on the First Sunday of each month.

^^ This figure includes Casualty and Flood Insurance on School Buildings, Tuition Assistance, and Direct Financial Subsidy of the

School.

~ This figure is the amount St. Benilde Parish pays directly to the Archdiocese of New Orleans to support the Archdiocesan Offices, De-

partments, Ministries, Notre Dame Seminary, Catholic Charities, etc.

^^^ This reflects the capital investment in the Church sound system to increase the sound quality throughout the nave. Additional upgrades are still required for the sanctuary, cry room and vestibule of the Church.

This report was reviewed and ratified by the Parish Finance Council on Sunday, August 2, 2015.

Net Surplus $18,684


Did You Know? Parishioners gave almost $24,000 this fiscal year to continue the work of beautifying our Church building. We have been able to refurbish our new Baptismal Font that came from the former Incarnate Word Catholic Church in New Orleans, replace the stand under the Pieta to match the High Altar, acquire and refurbish beautiful statues of our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph with their original pedestals from a closed Church in upstate New York, as well as acquire other liturgical appointments such as our Paschal Candle stand, Blessed Mother Votive Lamps, Missal Stand, Censor, Lavabo set as well as a new set of celebrant chairs for the sanctuary. It is only because of these special memorial gifts that all of these projects were possible. Thank you for your love for the Lord Jesus and your continued commitment to St. Benilde Parish.



Your Repairs and Maintenance Money at Work! Because of your generosity to our monthly Repairs and Maintenance Collection, we have been able to complete the following projects: replace the roof and flashing over the choir loft, the cry room, the portico cover over the entrance doors of Church and repair a longstanding leak in the nave of the Church; caulk the exterior windows of the Church to prevent leaking; upgrade the sound system in Church; replace various light fixtures throughout the parish campus; refurbish the Church bathroom; re-stain the front entrance doors of Church; replace the fencing around the Boy Scouts storage area as well as the gate by rectory driveway; retool the gutter cans for the rectory and parish office; repair various air conditioning units on campus … and so much more!

Vision Statement

St. Benilde Catholic Church is a vibrant and faith-filled parish family of the Archdiocese of New Orleans serving the people of God by our common witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. We, the clergy and lay faithful of St. Benilde, seek to be instruments of God’s grace for the sanctification of His people through divine wor-ship, evangelization, catechesis and service.

We are committed to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, through our words and deeds, and we aspire to lead others to a saving knowledge of the Paschal Mystery by the way we live and pray together.

We seek to grow in holiness of life and strive for a deeper relationship with Christ and His Church

through a mature understanding of our Catholic faith, faithful to the magisterium of the Church, and a worthy sacramental participation in the Paschal Mystery. Mindful of the example of our patron, we are committed to ongoing faith formation and spiritual development through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Teaching Magisterium of the Church.

We acknowledge the special gift we have been given in the Blessed Virgin Mary – Mother of the Church and Queen of the Clergy – and in the Communion of Saints. We strive to offer all believers the occa-sion for a deepening conversion, a step forward in the journey to God, with Mary as the model for that journey and the Saints as our intercessors during our earthly pilgrimage.

We strive to promote genuine Catholic devotions, maintain time-honored Catholic traditions, and further Eucha-rist Adoration so as to be formed into the likeness of Christ through repentance and conversion.

We endeavor to promote strong marriages and healthy

families and to make each household in the parish a vibrant domestic church.

We aspire to give special attention to the integral forma-

tion of our youth, to enable them to meet the unique challenges of our modern world. Through spiritual, academic, human and apostolic formation of our chil-dren, especially through our school ministry, we seek to teach them to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and to prepare them to become vibrant adult witnesses to the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We invite our children to consider the possibility of serving God and His Church in the priesthood or reli-gious life.


We seek to serve all of our brothers and sis-ters, most especially the poor, the sick, and the elderly. In responding to their spiritual, emotional, and financial needs, we serve Christ and promote the human dignity of those in distress. We also seek to protect and enroll the unborn and to promote the Gospel of Life by bearing witness to the human dignity of all per-sons from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

We strive to cultivate an environment in

which authentic Christian stewardship of time, talent, and treasure is understood, accepted and practiced throughout the parish.

Finally, we find the source and summit of our Christian life in the sacred liturgy, most especially in the

celebration of the Holy Mass. We desire to live in the grace of our baptismal consecration by a con-stant conversion from sin in the sacrament of Penance and a faithful adherence to the Gospel and thus to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, with whom we were sealed in Confirmation. Above all else, for our creation and redemption, we give thanks and praise to the Father, in the Son, through the Holy Spirit by a solemn, reverent, and dignified celebra-tion of the Most Holy Eucharist, in which the Paschal Mystery is recalled and renewed for our salva-tion and sanctification.

By our teaching of the Gospel, our celebration of the Sacred Mysteries of the new and everlasting Covenant, our family lives, and our loving service to our brothers and sisters, we proclaim by the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father that Jesus Christ is Lord!



New Redesigned Website

Coming Soon! WWW.STBENILDE.ORG

Within the next few weeks, we will be unveiling our new

redesigned website! The main objective of revamping the parish website is to make it a more user friendly and informative resource. It will also provide us with a platform to communicate more timely information to our parishioners beyond the weekly bulletin as well as provide some great catechetical and spiritual resources to help each of us grow in our life of faith. We pray that you will find our new website informative, inviting and inspiring!

Congratulations!

Altar Server of the Year

Sean Patrick Sheehan

Order of St. Louis Medallion

Natalie Bostick

Donna Childers


50th Anniversary Celebration Throughout 2014, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the founding of St. Benilde Catholic Church. Yes, we finally arrived at our Golden Anniversary Celebration! What an incredible mile-stone for our parish family! The culmination of the celebration included an Adult Cocktail Party on Friday, November 21, 2014, and a Mass of Thanksgiving, celebrated by Archbishop Aymond, followed by a Parish Family Reception in the school cafeteria on Sunday, November 23, 2014. What an incredible weekend of faith, family and thankfulness to God!

When I listen to parishioners tell of their personal experi-ences over the past 50 years of life and faith, it is impossible not to feel how much their hearts, and mine, are burning with admiration and love for our Church. Our parish has journeyed from small

beginnings to the vibrant faith community that we are today! This has been an exciting and joy-filled year as we continue to remember our past and celebrate who we are and who we hope to be as we continue to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The 50th Anniversary of St. Benilde Parish is a wonderful opportunity to be THANKFUL for God's tenderness, kindness and mercy, which have never failed, as providential fulfillment of the words of the Gospel accord-ing to St. Matthew, “I am with you all the days, until the end of time” (Mt 28:20). Thanks to all “pioneers” who have always been there, putting forth their grain of sand and vivifying a work that belongs to God (cf. Acts 5:38-39), and that has not gone away, even with all the Crosses we have

born over the years. Thanks to all our benefactors who have given of their talents and of their means for this work of God and the Church. Thanks to all the simple, humble and silent people, that even from anonymity accompanied the birth, growth and development of this work. In a word, THANKS to all parishioners for their dedication and service.

~ Fr. Robert T. Cooper, Pastor

Continuing the Vision Campaign for the Beautification of St. Benilde Church

In conjunction with the improvements made to our Church building and worship space for our 50th Anniversary Celebration, we will be continuing the work of beautifying our

Church sanctuary and making much needed repairs to our Church edifice as we build a worthy dwelling place for our God. The people of St. Benilde Parish have taken great care

in providing for the Lord’s House. We look forward to continuing that vision!



Parish Pastoral Planning Nearly two years ago and at my direction, the St. Benilde Parish Pastoral Council entered into a comprehensive strategic and Pastoral Planning Process in order to help me fulfill one of my pri-mary responsibilities as pastor of St. Benilde Parish, that is, to ensure the Catholic Church within our territorial boundaries will continue to be faith-filled, vibrant and strong so we can pass the faith along to our future generations while also evangelizing others by bringing to them the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. In summation, Parish Pastoral Planning is a prayerful and participative process through which a parish characterizes itself as a particular community of faith by developing its own mission statement, assessing its current life, and dreaming about the possibilities of the future. Our Pastoral Planning Process was prompted by many factors, including the fact that our parish was in need of a unified Mission and Vision Statement to guide us as we prepare to set goals of objectives for St. Benilde Parish for the next five years as well as the need to reevaluate our steward-ship of the resources entrusted to us so as to better provide for the care of our buildings and property, to ensure the effectiveness of our ministries and to be more proactive in spreading the Good News of the Gospel. I am grateful to the dedication and hard work of the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Finance Council in collaborating with me in this Pastoral Planning Process. Enclosed in this Pastoral Life Report, you will find a copy of our Mission Statement and Vision Statement, the fruits of much discussion and collaboration. We are preparing to enter into the next phase of the pastoral planning process which is to engage each of our parishioners in a Parish Survey so that we may obtain important information on the seven essential elements of parish life as they are experienced in a real and tangible way at St. Benilde Parish. By early October, the Parish Survey will be available in both an online and hard copy format. I ask that you take the time to provide us with the most complete, accurate, and honest information as it relates to parish life. What we have begun in these last two years of pastoral planning is one more chapter, a new one for us, in the life of this parish family. Before us is a path illumined by the light of Christ, with us is the risen Eucharistic Lord strengthening us, and beyond us is a future that only God can see. But our faith journey together as a part of the glorious history of this wonderful parish is the blessing we give to one another. ~ Fr. Robert T. Cooper, Pastor

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ST. BENILDE CATHOLIC CHURCH 1901 Division Street

Metairie, Louisiana 70001

Phone: 504-834-4980 ∙ Fax: 504-831-5810

Email: [email protected]

Parish Office Hours

Monday - Thursday: 9:00am - 3:00pm Friday: 9:00am - 12 Noon

Closed for Lunch: 12 Noon - 1:00pm

http://www.flocknote.com/frcooper

2014 2015...2014-2015 pastoral life report your repairs and maintenance money at work! because of...

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