ANNUAL REPORT TO PARISHIONERS
HOLY FAMILY PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
SAUBLE BEACH, ONTARIO
Greetings to all of our full time and seasonal parishioners! Holy Family Parish Pastoral Council continues to meet on a regular basis and diligently works for the benefit of all in our parish. It has been a busy year and one of change. After 144 years of dedicated and inspirational pastoral care in this area, we bid a sad but fond farewell to the Basilian Order. In June 2007, Father Paul McGill and Father Mark Gazin were reassigned to St. Basil's Church, Toronto. Father Steve LaCroix and Father Pat Gallagher remained for a transitional period, and will leave us in May 2008. Bishop Tonnos of the Hamilton Diocese appointed Father David Reilander as our new pastor, and Father Jeff Bergsma as our Associate Pastor. They have been working this past year to become familiar with the many churches and communities that make up the parish of St. Mary and the Missions. They have also enjoyed a splendid introduction to the winters here in Grey/Bruce!
I offer special thanks to all our devoted Council members and active parishioners in their efforts to ensure that Holy Family remains a viable community of worship. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the Parish Pastoral Council, please contact one of us. Moreover, I would also like to invite parishioners (both permanent and seasonal) to become Council members. Please consider offering your talents to help with this important work. We would love to hear from you as we welcome you back to another summer season here at the beach. God Bless!
There will be two Masses on the Victoria Day, Civic Holiday, and Labour Day weekends – 5:00pm on Saturday and 11:00am on Sunday. Masses will also be offered at those same two times on each weekend of July and August. On other weekends in May and June, there will be only one Mass at 5:00pm on Saturday.
Holy Family Parish Pastoral Council has thirteen members. Eleven members are permanent residents and two are seasonal residents. The Parish Pastoral Council meets eight times a year from April to November.
The current members are: Father Jeff Bergsma, Deacon Phil Dwyer, Fran Craig (Chair), Michael Melady (Vice Chair), Gerard Kroeplin (Treasurer), John Donnelly, Theresa Dwyer, Valerie Munn, Martha Radbourne, Bill Schinbein, Marilyn Schinbein, and Kathleen Somers. Marlene Burnett, our secretary, has recently resigned. We wish to thank Marlene for the huge contribution that she has made over many years to our Council and to the entire Holy Family Community.
The work of the Parish Pastoral Council is conducted through the following committee structure:
The Executive Committee – Pastor, Chair, Past Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The Spiritual Life Committee – Developing seasonal programs, prayer and discussion groups, visitation of the sick.
The Liturgical Committee – Planning liturgical celebrations, providing extraordinary ministers, lectors, and cantors.
The Adornment Committee– Provision of seasonal sanctuary and altar décor.
The Building and Property Committee– Maintenance of the Chapel building and the grounds.
The Sacristan Committee – Liturgical supplies, preparations for Masses, care of sacred vessels, vestments, and linens.
The Finance Committee – Representation on the St. Mary and the Missions Finance Committee.
The Social Committee – Development of a "Calendar of Activities", organization of "Hospitality" after Masses.
The Publicity Committee – Submissions to "The Sauble Bulletin", St. Mary's Bulletin, production of the "Annual Report".
The Usher Committee – Provision and training of ushers for liturgical celebrations.
The Community Council Committee – Representation on the St. Mary and Missions Faith and Lay Leadership Committee.
The Cemetery Board Appointee – Representation on the Cemetery Board of St. Mary and the Missions .
- A retreat was conducted by Adrienne Corti, and Fran Craig on Nov. 3, 2007 for all the Lay Leaders of Prayer from St. Mary and the Mission Churches. Twenty-three participants met at St. Mary's Parish Centre in Owen Sound
- An Advent Retreat was presented in Owen Sound by Father Paul McGill (former Basilian Pastor of St. Mary's) and Rev. Ken Barker, retired Presbyterian Church Minister. Father McGill spoke on "Salvation History", while Rev. Barker outlined how St. Mary's has interfaced with the other Christian Churches in this area. The DVD "St. Mary's and the Missions: Celebrating 144 years of Basilian Ministry" was premiered.
- An Advent series was held on each Tuesday of this season. Parishioners from Holy Family and St. Mary's, Hepworth, came together to participate in the program outlined in the booklet "Word Made Flesh". The video series "Belonging" by Jean Vanier was also viewed. Mass was celebrated and a light lunch concluded each session.
- 75 people attended the World Day of Prayer service held on Friday March 7, 2008 at Zion Amabel United Church
- The tabernacle has been relocated to a place of prominence in the middle of the rear sanctuary. A new base was built to elevate the tabernacle above the level of the altar. Thank you to Gerard Kroeplin for constructing and donating this beautiful pedestal. Its design matches the existing podium in the sanctuary.
- Taize Prayer Services have been held in the various churches throughout St. Mary and the Missions Parish
- The Mustard Seeds, from Holy Family Parish, Hanover, Ontario were invited to provide the music for a Mass in July, 2007. They will be present with us again on Sunday, July 6, 2008 at the 11:00am Mass
- The Chapel is beautifully decorated throughout the year, and especially so, for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Special thanks to Marlene Burnett, Martha Radbourne, Valerie Munn and Helen Hunter for these liturgical adornments
- Many residents, both permanent and seasonal, volunteer their services as lectors, extraordinary ministers, and cantors. If you participate in any of these roles in your home parish, please sign up in the Summer Ministry Schedule Book located in the Father Lawlor Room, or inform our parishioner, Helen Hunter.
- A monthly news article about Holy Family Chapel has been prepared and published in "The Sauble Bulletin".
- Hospitality events have been held in the Father Lawlor Room after some of the weekend Masses. On Sept. 15, 2007, the attendees donated $100.00 to the Grey/Bruce Branch of the Canadian Alzheimer's Society.
- The Parish Pastoral Council continues to sponsor foster child, Liliya, a ten-year-old girl living in the Ukraine.
- Food drives have been conducted at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter to support the Wiarton Salvation Army.
- The "Christmas Angel Tree Project" collected many new toys for distribution by the Wiarton Salvation Army.
- A very successful "Yard and Bake Sale", held on the Chapel grounds on Sat. June 9, 2007, raised $1,654.
- Due to insurance and liability concerns, it will be necessary to cordon off the entrances to the chapel parking lots during non-church times. This work should be completed before the summer season.
The 2006 and 2007 financial summary for Holy Family Chapel is outlined in the following table. Historically, expenses increase over the winter months, and attendance at the one weekend Mass is reduced to about 50 people. The 2007 deficit of $1,216 represents a shortfall of $2,806 compared to 2006. The rise in expenses accounts for a portion of this deficit.
Year |
Offertory |
Expenses |
Surplus or Deficit |
Building Fund Balances |
|
2006 |
$47,963 |
$46,476 |
+$1,590 |
$41,822 |
|
2007 |
$47,239 |
$48,455 |
-$1,216 |
$48,650 |
The Building fund is used for larger capital projects. The monetary figure given, is a cumulative balance of the contributions for the past years. It is a separate account from "Offertory". In 2007, the reserve in the Building Fund increased by $6,828. In the next few years, the main roof of the Chapel will need replacement. This will be a costly project.
A special "Summer Visitor Envelope" will be used again this season to encourage donations and to facilitate the issuance of income tax receipts. It is important to remember that the Chapel was opened in 1950 for the sole purpose of accommodating summer visitors. We are very appreciative of the financial support provided by our permanent and seasonal parishioners. We encourage everyone to maintain this generous spirit in thanksgiving for God's blessings.
In order to raise needed funds, a "Yard and Bake Sale" will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2008 on the Chapel grounds, between the hours of 8:00am and 12:30pm. More details for this event will be published in a June newsletter. We ask parishioners to support this community activity by providing saleable items and baked goods, and by volunteering to assist with this project. We are indebted to Kathleen Somers, and Rita and Bernie Dugas, for organizing the sale again this year.
As a farewell to Father Pat Gallagher CSB and Father Steve LaCroix CSB, there will be a concelebrated Mass on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 3:00pm at St. Mary's Church, Owen Sound. This will also be an occasion to mark the 50th anniversary of Fr. Pat's ordination to the priesthood. In attendance will be Bishop Tonnos of Hamilton Diocese, and Father Ken Decker CSB, the Superior General of the Congregation of St. Basil. A reception will follow in St. Mary's Parish Centre.
On behalf of all Parish Pastoral Council Members,
Fran Craig Father Jeff Bergsma Michael Melady
Holy Family PPC Chair Associate Pastor PPC Publicity Chair