on Financial Report from July 1 - December 31, 2007

Dear people of St. Barbara,

Inserted into the Bulletin is the Six Month Parish Financial Report from July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006. The report has been prepared and reviewed by the Finance Council. The good news is that our financial situation continues to improve. We have beat the budget for the first six months, finishing with a slight surplus, though this surplus has been quickly used up for much needed repairs around the parish. On behalf of the parish, I am very grateful to all of you who have been so generous. I would particularly like to thank those of you who have responded to our Planned Offertory Program in October and increased your Sunday and second Collection offerings. I am also aware that many of you are feeling the money crunch from a sputtering economy and the sacrifices you make to support your parish.

Looking at the fine print, our expenditures have been $4,000 less than budgeted. This does not take into consideration any adjustment which might be made this spring to our gas bill. We are on a monthly payment plan, and with the cold snowy winter we had, our monthly payments may increase. We have also initiated a number of repairs in the second half of the fiscal year on various deferred maintenance items, which would not be reflected in this report for the first six months of the fiscal year. Also, in the second half of fiscal year 07-08, the parish will be hiring a new organist/choir director.

Our revenues of $224,245 has resulted in a surplus of $27,000. This number is a little deceiving because over $7300 is interest income from monies on deposit with the Archdiocese earmarked specifically for painting of the church for the centennial along with other improvements. When the 100th Anniversary projects begin, this money will be quickly used up and no longer generate interest income for the parish.

Because of this surplus, we have been able to do repairs to the rectory and convent since the first of the year. The rectory foyer has been rebuilt so that rain water no longer cascades in. Rectory gutters have been repaired. A new roof has been put on the rectory. The three layers of old shingles had to be torn off first. Rather than putting on new shingles only guaranteed for 30 years, we put on shingles guaranteed for 50 years. I plan on St. Barbara being around for a long time. Unfortunately, the winter weather prevented repairs from being done soon enough to prevent water damage from melting snow in the second and first floor front rooms of the rectory, which also now must be repaired. In order to spruce up the convent to make it more attractive to lease, new siding has been put on the north wall and soon new siding will be put on the south wall of the hallway connecting the two buildings. A new door has also been installed, exiting to the second floor porch, in order to make the convent compliant with current safety standards. I am deeply grateful to everyone on the Maintenance Committee for all their help with drawing up the specs and making recommendations and contacts for contractors. We recently also had to do repairs to our heating system. An old steam valve in the basement of the church literally blew apart, billowing high pressure steam throughout the basement and causing damage to the church floor. Our next project is to repair all the church windows which are not stain glass. While the stain glass windows were restored in the 1990’s, these plain glass windows were not done. Many of these panes are broken and the wood frames rotting away from lack of regular painting.

To make a long story short, our small surplus has been used very prudently, and St. Barbara needs your continued generosity. Our weekly income goal of $5,500 needs to be met in order to balance the budget.

Yours in Christ

Fr. Dennis Ziomek
Administrator