 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
You be the judge!
Part 1 of 2
By Mila Glodava
With "Our Jubilee Vision" (OJV) Capital Campaign still in progress, there are comments concerning "all the talks about money." Is this a fair comment? You be the judge!
The building capital campaign officially kicked off August 19/20, 2006 at all the weekend Masses with the viewing of the campaign video. A letter and in-pew appeal followed Sept. 16/17, 2006. In December the General Chairs sent a "Great News" letter announcing that the campaign goal was half way. Father Andrew Kemberling wrote messages and articles in the More Informed about the building project and there were bulletin (including the Nuts ‘N Bolts) and pulpit notices to encourage parishioners to turn in their commitment cards. In March we started publishing the OJV Updates. The next follow-up letter went out April 12, 2007.
Does this mean we talk too much about money? Perhaps, but we're raising $12 million, not $1,200! Father Andrew often says, "This campaign is a marathon, not a sprint!" It would, therefore, take time and patience. It would also mean a lot of efforts expended by the Jubilee Committee-planning, strategizing, and educating the parish. I hope parishioners appreciate the commitment in time, energy, and treasure they give to the campaign. Indeed it is no small task, and we appreciate their generosity and commitment, especially during their quiet background work soliciting major donors. At press time, the Jubilee Committee has generated more than $7 million. Of course, we are extremely grateful to the more than 1,500 who have responded generously to the capital campaign to "make our Jubilee Vision" happen.
Now, let's see if there is truth in the concern that all we talk about is money.
I have served as Director of Communications and Stewardship at St. Thomas More since 1989 and have served two pastors and a number of parochial vicars. I also have worked with four business managers and have seen the parish staff grow from a handful to more than 50, excluding the school staff. It has been a privilege for me to work with countless devoted volunteers. Learning from all of them about how to serve the Lord, I experienced my own transformation. I can honestly say that there's much more to the parish than talk about money. The pages of the More Informed are filled with a multitude of articles regarding the many happenings in the parish and the people behind those happenings.
We have prayer and worship opportunities-Perpetual Adoration, Pilgrim Statue, Prayer Line, Holy Hour, Ministry of Praise (for the homebound) Living Rosary Crusade, prayer groups, novenas-as well as events to help us nourish our faith-adult education series, retreats, and missions. We give away prayer booklets, rosaries and literature on faith. Our weekend Masses are usually packed bringing in for worship nearly 7,000 individuals, and our daily communicants number about 300 per day. These liturgical rituals don't happen by chance. They are planned, implemented and participated in by hundreds of volunteers-Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, musicians, singers, ushers, lectors, greeters-as well as staff.
Our religious education, youth ministry and parish school are outstanding. Every year more than 1,000 children are enrolled in religious education, preparing to receive the sacraments-at least 300 receive the First Holy Communion every year and another 300 receive the Sacrament of Confirmation-strengthening their faith commitment. The RCIA program continues to attract an average of 50 new Catholics per year. The youth ministry has built a reputation nationwide and has produced many young people to serve (see page 15 and the youth pages) in the missions and other ministries in the Church. Their LIFETEEN Mass on Sunday evenings is usually packed. Meanwhile, the parish school received the prestigious Blue Ribbon award in 2006 and that speaks volumes about the quality of education.
Have you seen the crowd who come to the dance hosted by St. Thomas More for the singles in the Archdiocese of Denver? Of course they offer more than dances and social events. The Singles' groups-New Life and STM Singles-offer many activities for spiritual growth and development. We encourage our seniors to participate in the many activities offered by the Forever Mores and the AARP. The Knights of Columbus are very visible in the parish administering the corporal works of mercy. Our Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and the Legion of Mary visit the sick and the homebound. I could go on and on but we would need more space to do so (see pages 16 and 17).
Indeed, our ministries have grown from 100 in 2000 to the current 300 involving nearly 3,000 individuals or 8,200, if we count their multiple ministries. Their service to the parish is worth at least $4 million. We have many outreach ministries-Stephen Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul, Habitat for Humanity, Helping Hands, Bereavement Series, Ambassadors of Hope, Food Bank programs and more. Richly blessed, St. Thomas More has distributed, since Fiscal Year 2000-2001, more than $2.4 million to various causes-the poor, the sick, children, youth, elderly, as well as the inner city parishes and the missions. While most of these grants are distributed locally, we also donate to various causes nationally and internationally, in response to Jesus' command to "go and make disciples of all nations."
In addition, St. Thomas More is fortunate to have been shepherded by pastors who believe in promoting vocations. Since 1984, our parish has seen 10 young men ordained to the priesthood and 10 men ordained as permanent deacons, five of whom serve at St. Thomas More. The other recently ordained clergy are serving in other parishes, even as far away as Kazakhstan where the Rev. Bonaventura Garofalo is assigned. We have one sister, a brother, three seminarians, and several lay missionaries serving in various parts of the world. If all parishes produce this number of vocations, there would not be any shortage of priests!
Yes, we do talk about money, annually, during our Stewardship of Treasure weekends! Why not? We need money to operate and maintain this huge parish. Father Andrew says, "It's always a challenge talking about money for God; but who else is going to do it? That is my job and I make no apologies. For the record, Jesus talked about money more than any other topic in the bible. Even Jesus knows how important this topic is to people. St. Thomas More's founding pastor, the late Rev. Frederick McCallin, was very well aware of this issue. When told that the "church is no place to talk about money," Father Fred's response: "The church is the perfect place to have such a discussion."