Dear Parishioners,

Below are a series of reports from several members of the parish staff.  These reports are meant to provide you with information about what our staff and volunteers have been doing the last 12 months, a kind of job-performance report, if you will.  Please read these pages with keen and grateful eyes.  Much good has been done -- and by many talented and generous people.

In your perusal of what follows, you may be inspired to lend a hand somewhere.  If so, please let us know.

Very gratefully yours,

2007-2008 VOLUNTEER MINISTRIES REPORT

In addition to the 100+ teachers and assistants in the religious education program, those who are involved with Meals On Wheels and with building Habitat Houses and the 25+ who chaperone middle school and high school dances and other activities, we have over 595 jobs that are done at St. Bernard’s by volunteers. 

Our liturgical ministers include Eucharistic ministers, ushers, and servers at the altar, sacristans, lectors, linen launderers and greeters. We send out assignments every 4 months to 325 parishioners.  In addition to the liturgical ministers we see at the altar or in the church, we have 17 ministers who take Communion to the sick in their homes.  There are two people who weekly change out the candles in both chapels. Another person sets up for Mass every Saturday night. Two parishioners have been helpful in training volunteer liturgical ministers.

We have 6 parishioners who either weekly or several times per year, assist with gardens and plants in the church and office spaces as well as outdoors in our gardens.  During the Holy Days, another 15 people come to decorate the sanctuary. 

Forty-two parishioners sing in various choirs or play guitars or drums each week.  That means they are here twice a week through the school year—once for practice and once to sing.

Fifty-one parishioners participate in the Prayer-line ministry. This involves checking their e-mail every day to find out who is in need of prayer. Sometimes they get 5-6 e-mails per day because we try to keep them updated as the requests come in. They obligate them-selves to 15 minutes per day of prayer for those in need. 

When we have a funeral, 90% of the time we serve lunch afterwards. We have 72 people who have committed themselves to cook for luncheons and 8 more regularly serve and clean up after the luncheon. We have an average of 20 funerals a year and use about 30 people’s food at each funeral luncheon.  We use 4 people at each Luncheon to set up and serve and clean up afterwards.  This year has been slow so far but we have already served lunch to over 265 people.

Our Clairvaux Chronicles is put together by a volunteer and sent to the printer. Five or six of our volunteers come to label and organize the Chronicles for mailing. Actually we have 14 people who like to be called so we use 5-6 each time and then call the others for the next mailing. These are mostly retired folks who like to help with this during the day. 

Once a year we have a Day of Caring on which we clean the classrooms, kitchens, church and chapels. We also trim the yards and hedges, pull weeds, paint, and mulch all the gardens, re-enliven the pre-school play yard toys and whatever else needs doing. This year we had 150 participants. We also had 6 ladies who prepared the lunches for the group.

Each month we have two Keenagers gatherings for our Seniors (over 55 and retired). Three or four volunteers come early each time to decorate and prepare the coffee and do whatever is needed to make the event memorable.

Each year we serve coffee and donuts on the weekends that we have religious education (unless the St. Valentine’s Group cooks pancakes) 3 times per year.  We have 50 volunteers to cover approximately 22 Sundays (some bring their spouses and increase the number to 88) through the school year.  They set up, make coffee and sell donuts and bagels and then clean up afterwards and put everything away.

This year the Knight of Columbus will be cooking and serving pancakes and sausage at various times throughout the year. 

We have 12 parishioners who volunteer to transport our Burgundy Residents to and from Mass on Saturday nights. We have five more who have offered to help transport seniors to doctor’s appointments and to Keenagers at the church twice a month. And we use them quite often. 

At our annual Santa Breakfast and RARC parties and other socials during the year, we have 25 volunteers who cook, make decorations and help prepare for events and clean up afterwards. 

We have volunteers who sell religious articles in the community room during the school year every Sunday. We usually have 8-10 who take turns but two regulars who manage it.

Staff sometimes needs a consultant.  We have several who are ready to help out with any project no matter how menial or frivolous they might seem.  We are grateful to them. 

And lest we forget, our Parish Council, Finance Council, Religious Education Committee, Peace and Justice Committee, Worship Committee, Small Church Community Core Team, Spirituality Committee and the Youth Advisory Board are all made up of volunteers as well as a couple staff members to total 57 more volunteer jobs being done monthly (with sometimes in-between meeting duties).

Total jobs done: 595.  Some workers do more than one job and some jobs are done weekly by the same person and some only occasionally, but lots of people are working.

2007 – 2008 PARISH OPERATING RESULTS

       The Lord says:  Give and it shall be given to you.  Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will they pour into the folds of your garment.  For the measure with which you measure will be measured back to you.  (Luke 6:38)

2008 – 2009 PARISH BUDGET

EXPLANATION OF OPERATING EXPENSE CATEGORIES:
Definition of the Parish’s Fiscal Year: Saint Bernard’s fiscal year runs concurrently with the Diocesan fiscal year and begins each July 1 and concludes the following June 30 annually.
Income: Operating income is derived from Sunday and Holy Collections along with any special gifts including cash or assets donated such as stocks.  Other income shown above is self explanatory.
Program Expenses:
costs related to carrying out all parish programs including benevolence, education, RCIA, youth, parish life, worship and music. Administration: expenses incurred for the parish office including supplies, office equipment repairs, telephones and postage.
Plant & Operations: funds used to pay disbursements such as utility costs, property insurance and minor building repair expenses.
Other Operating Expenses: monies expended to meet the annual Diocesan/Catholic Schools assessment, tuition assistance payments to local Catholic elementary schools along with a gift to Bishop Kelley High School’s capital campaign.
Stewardship: reserves set aside for future needs.
Pre-school: income along with expenses required to operate the parish’s pre-school.

Capital expenses for 2007-2008:
Through August 2008, several major repairs were accomplished to parish property.  Among these items was the installation of electronic doors to the west side of the church.  Two new air-conditioning units were installed on the church roof.  Ten small roofing surfaces covering the Griffith Building, gym and retreat center were replaced over the winter of 2007-2008.  The gym’s sound system was replaced in the spring.  The Griffith Building elevator received a new motor last October.  The 3^rd floor (G-level) of the Griffith Building had acoustical ceilings constructed in the halls and classrooms in September.  And finally, the gym’s electrical system received a complete renovation over the spring and summer months.

Capital expenses for 2008-2009:
Looking ahead for this year, plans are in place for the replacement of three older sets or restrooms in the Griffith Building.  The first phase of construction should take place in October and November on the basement floor (D-level).  After Advent, Lent and Easter it is expected to construct new restrooms on the office floor (E-level) and classroom floor just above the office area (F-level).  It is also planned for a repair to the grounds behind the gym.  Planning is taking place as this is written but is being held up due to unforeseen circumstances in getting all utility lines marked on the ground.  And finally three other important projects are set for this year.  They include safety railings in the church, the completion of acoustical ceilings in the Griffith Building halls and classrooms and the installation of the two remaining air conditioning systems for the church.