October, 2007

Each year I write you in October to ask for your financial support for Holy Trinity Church through our Annual Stewardship Pledge Campaign.  Each year you have responded generously to our appeal.  I am very grateful.

As I complete my fourth year as pastor, I continue to be grateful for the gifts of time, talent and treasure which make this parish such a vital Catholic community.   This has been a very good year for Holy Trinity.  Our historic church continues to be filled with worshipers at our Sunday Masses.   Our Sunday religious education program serves 700 children with over 80 volunteer catechists.  Holy Trinity School classrooms are full of youngsters receiving an outstanding Jesuit education.  Almost 150 children received First Eucharist and another 150 received the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Well over 100 couples celebrated weddings in our church or chapel.

We have begun enthusiastically this year’s theme, Living a Faith that Does Justice.  Our social justice committee has reorganized to meet the growing desire of parishioners to serve the materially poor.  Continuing our longstanding commitment, last year we distributed nearly $300,000, ten percent of our Sunday collection, to over 30 agencies that provide direct service to the poor.  We are strengthening our Jesuit heritage of commitment to excellence in preaching, spirited worship, Ignatian spirituality, vital community life and dedication to social justice.

Your regular and prayerful presence at our Sunday Eucharist is your most important gift to us.  We also need your participation in service as we visit the sick, help the homeless, teach our youth, sing in the choirs, or minister at our Masses.

We Holy Trinity parishioners are richly blessed, and we are all called to be good stewards of God’s gifts.  I count on your generous financial support so that we can continue to share the Good News with parishioners and beyond.  Your financial assistance will help us support our numerous ministries, maintain and improve our facilities, address our debt of $1.4 million, and continue our contribution to the poor.

I am privileged to serve as your pastor, and I am grateful for your generous support.

God bless you,

James M. Shea, S.J.
Pastor