The Torch. Pastor s Desk. Generations Growing in Faith for more than 75 years!

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1 The Torch Generations Growing in Faith for more than 75 years! St. Dominic Parish Delhi Township, OH March 2015 Pastor s Desk Palm Sunday, on March 29th, begins the most sacred week of our liturgical year. The Triduum is at the very heart of our Holy Week gatherings. The word is from the Latin and it means three days. On Holy Thursday we celebrate Jesus gift of the Eucharist to us. On Good Friday we celebrate Jesus gift of His life for our salvation. At the Easter Vigil and on Easter Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and our destiny of sharing in God s life for all eternity. If some of you who get this report each month have not been to St. Dominic in a while, please consider this an invitation to join us for these three special days. The Spirit of God has been transforming our parish community at each Sunday Eucharist. There are marvelous signs of parishioners growing in the Lord. We invite you to be a part of that. If you have been thinking I have to get back to Church, trust that very thought is already the activity and movement of God within you. Please note the schedule for our Holy Week services. The Mass of the Lord s Supper on Holy Thursday evening begins at 7:00 p.m. Our Good Friday Celebration of the Lord s Passion is at Noon and 7:00 p.m. The Easter Vigil is on Saturday evening beginning at 8:30 p.m. This is the high point of our Liturgical Year and our most important gathering as a St. Dominic Parish community. There will be five Baptisms and seven others will join us in full communion. All twelve will be confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time. This is the highlight liturgy of the year for the St. Dominic Parish family. We celebrate it well. Come and be lifted up! On Easter Sunday, our Masses are at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m. Because of our anticipated overflow crowd at 9:30 and 11:30, we will have an overflow second Mass at 9:30 and 11:30 in O Connor Hall in the parish center. We will fill up the church first and then the ushers will direct the overflow to O Connor Hall. We will have converted that space into an Easter Chapel. My hope and prayer this Holy Week is that you will respond with gratitude to the God who gives you the time of your life. And may that gratitude find expression in your giving back to God some of your prime time on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. May you end Lent well! Remember our Penance Service on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. After the service, I will remain in the confessional, from 8:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. as part of the Archdiocesan program Keep the Light On! Remember our special Tuesday evening Masses at 7:00 p.m. on March 10 (Fr. Norm Langenbrunner), March 17 (Me), and March 24, (Fr. Chris). Don t miss Mike Davis concert on the Passion of Christ on Wednesday of Holy Week at 7:30 p.m. in church. May the Holy Week liturgies fill your hearts with love and gratitude for the salvation that is ours because of Jesus Christ and His passion, death, and resurrection! And may you all have a Happy Easter! Fr. Jim

2 PAGE 2 MARCH 2015 DESCRIPTION PARISH OPERATING INCOME & EXPENSE STATEMENTS GENERAL PARISH 2015 FISCAL YEAR ACTUAL As of 12/31/14 PARISH SCHOOL TOTAL PARISH 2015 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET Thru 12/31/14 DIFFERENCE ACTUAL vs BUDGET INCOME: Tuition & Fees $672,648 $672,648 $624,750 $47,898 Sunday Offerings $542, , ,100 2,696 Admn Cost Reimbursement 51,600 51,600 47,600 4,000 Parish Activities (Festival, Picnic) -4,196-4,196-4, Student Services 8,005 8,005 11,350-3,345 Bequests & Donations 33,419 15,000 48,419 3,900 44,519 Other (Intrst, GP Prgrms, Hall Use etc) 29, ,942 28,250 1,692 TOTAL INCOME 601, ,360 1,349,214 1,251,950 97,264 EXPENSES: Salaries & Benefits 253, ,063 1,198,994 1,194,355 4,639 Facilities & Utilities 33,928 65,384 99, ,760-5,448 Admin & Assessments 73,823 19,834 93, ,605-10,947 Student Services 5,635 5,635 8,780-3,145 Texts, Teach Aides & Lbry 5,203 11,979 17,182 11,600 5,582 Liturgical & Programs 9, ,930 17,480-7,550 TOTAL EXPENSE 376,035 1,048,675 1,424,710 1,441,580-16,870 INCOME LESS EXPENSE $225,820 -$301,316 -$75,496 -$189,630 -$114,134 Did you know that Did you see that Did you also see that our fiscal year begins on July 1 st and ends on June 30 th of each year. And, the amounts above include only those items that relate to our parish day-to-day operations and DO NOT include School Auxiliary Services, Capital Improvement Funds, the Fr. Grimmelsman Society Annual Fund and our Education Assistance Fund. to date, our actual income has been significantly greater than the amount we budgeted by almost $97,300. As you can see, most of our income items were higher than budgeted, with much greater than expected in School Tuitions & Fees, & Bequests & Donations. The Tuition & Fees were higher partially due to higher than expected enrollment in all our Parish School Areas, while Bequests & Donations were much higher due to an unexpected Parishioner s Bequest, who remembered our Parish in her will, and unexpected Donations from several of our Generous Parishioners. We do Thank You So Much for your past and continued sharing of your treasures with your Parish Community!! our expenses were lower than anticipated by just under $16,900. Many of our expense areas were below budget, while 2 were not. Salaries & Benefits were higher due to greater than expected Health Insurance Premiums paid by our Parish, but, was offset in part by lower than expected Salaries. We do anticipate continued savings in our electricity and natural gas consumption due to installation of our new School windows and new LED lighting in our Gymnasium, Church, Parish Center and Gathering Place. Our HVAC preventive maintenance program should also help to reduce our utility usage. We have worked hard to contain and even reduce our costs in several areas, & we pledge that We will continue to be good stewards of the funds you have entrusted to us! Did you see that Did you know that our Parish at large has subsidized our School Ministry, thus far, with a little over $301,300. However, at this point in our budget year, we had expected a $371,725 subsidy. all Parishioners are invited to join our Fr. Grimmelsman Society and help Provide A Solid Financial Foundation for The Generations to Come at St. Dominic Parish. If interested, please pick up a brochure near all the entrances to church or Speak with any of us in our Parish Office!!

3 MARCH 2015 PAGE 3 Congratulations Fr. Jim!!! Fr. Jim Wins the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Distinguished Pastor Award Our very own Fr. Jim, has been recognized as the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Distinguished Pastor for Region 6 (Ohio and Michigan). This award is presented by the NCEA Elementary Schools Department to honor pastors who have given outstanding support to Catholic elementary education. Criteria for the award was based on, but not limited to, his spiritual guidance to the school community, his clear philosophy of Catholic education, and his support of the school administration, Education Commission, and PTO. Fr. Jim participates in school activities and engages the community in providing support to the school, both financial and spiritual. Through his years, Fr. Jim has been generous with his time and talents and his knowledge has served students of Catholic education from preschoolers through seminarians. His lifelong contributions give personal witness to the life of Jesus in serving others, and to his leadership of generations of people growing in faith. Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, Superintendent Dr. Jim Rigg, and Principal Mr. Bill Cavanaugh nominated Fr. Jim Walsh with supporting letters of recommendation from a faculty member, a parish council member, and a parent. Fr. Jim will receive his award at a ceremony in April at the NCEA Convention in Orlando, Florida. Fr. Jim in the seminary before his ordination As you may know, Fr. Jim grew up in Price Hill and attended St. William Elementary School and Elder High School. He was ordained in Rome and earned degrees in philosophy, theology and religious education. He began his ministry at the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in He has served as the president of the Athenaeum and rector of Mount St. Mary s Seminary.

4 PAGE 4 MARCH 2015 Fr. Jim has been at St. Dominic for Almost 15 Years! It was in 2000 that Fr. Jim came to us when he was named as pastor of St. Dominic Church. Fr. Jim s commitment to strengthen the St. Dominic community includes the Building to Serve initiative, which provided a Parish Center and a Gathering Place for over 100 parish ministries. More than 200 parishioners have participated in the Christ Renews His Parish weekends of reflection under Fr. Jim s guidance. Fr. Jim with his dog Barney shortly after becoming Pastor of St. Dominic Fr. Jim displays visionary leadership, and the school s success can be directly linked to his welcoming and warm approach. During his time as pastor, St. Dominic School earned the status of a national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. St. Dominic Elementary School continues to thrive and has expanded to include a very successful preschool program. Fr. Jim is also committed to the Delhi/Price Hill community. He has served on the boards of both Seton and Elder High Schools, and was awarded an honorary degree from Mount St. Joseph University where he delivered their 2014 Commencement Address. He is frequently invited to celebrate Mass, and other sacraments, at these institutions and at other west side churches. His advice is regularly solicited from area churches and schools. In 2007, Fr. Jim was the chairman of the Future Schools Committee which provided information and recommendations to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati regarding the future of Catholic education in our area. He works with the St. Dominic School administration, the Education Commission and the Finance Committee in keeping Catholic education affordable and accessible to parents. Fr. Chris, and Deacon Mark with Fr. Jim after receiving his honorary doctorate from Mt. St. Joe CONGRATULATIONS, Fr. Jim! You truly deserve to be recognized as the 2015 NCEA DISTINGUISHED PASTOR. Thank you for all you do and God bless you! Many of our young children here at St. Dominic beam with pride when they tell him, You baptized me. Fr. Jim teaches all of us that we are beloved sons and daughters of our gracious God. Fr. Jim is a humble, holy man who is devoted to Catholic education. He loves the Lord, learning, and family. He willingly shares his spiritual and educational gifts with all generations of faith at St. Dominic Parish

5 MARCH 2015 PAGE 5 TOTAL STEWARDSHIP - A Way of Life Who is a Catholic Steward? One who receives God s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord. PRAYER Ministry Treasure PRAYER IN THANKSGIVING & IN PRAISE United States Catholic Catechism for Adults says: Prayer is the raising of one s mind and heart to God in Thanksgiving and in praise of His glory. It can also include the requesting of good things from God. Prayer is an act by which one enters into the awareness of a loving communion with God. Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God (CCC, no.2561) Descriptions of prayer are abundant throughout Christian history. "True prayer," wrote St. Augustine, "is nothing but love." Prayer should arise from the heart. "Prayer," said St. John Vianney, "is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself." "Everyone of us needs half an hour of prayer each day," remarked St. Francis de Sales, "except when we are busy then we need an hour." Definitions of prayer are important, but insufficient. There is a huge difference between knowing about prayer and praying. On this issue, the Rule of St. Benedict is clear, "If a man wants to pray, let him go and pray." St. John Damascene gave a classic definition of prayer: "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God" (CCC, no. 2559, citing St. John Damascene, De Fide Orth. 3, 24). The Catechism clearly defines prayer as a "vital and personal relationship with the living and true God" (CCC, no. 2558). Prayer is Christian "insofar as it is communion with Christ" (CCC, no. 2565), and a "covenant relationship between God and man in Christ" (CCC, no. 2564). PRAYER SPENDING TIME COMMUNICATING WITH GOD There are many prayer forms - ways in which we simply take time to communicate with God. One may use formal prayer, such as the Our Father, the Glory Be, the Apostle s Creed, while reading Scriptures is another. We may pray before we go to bed, when we wake up, during those sleepless nights (instead of counting sheep), before meals, or, maybe, while strolling through the park. Whatever our form of prayer might be and whenever we pray, we need to spend some time praising Him, for He is the Almighty, the Creator of all things, the Architect and Engineer of the universe and beyond; thanking Him for all that He has given to us showing our gratitude to Him for all that we have (probably even much more than what comes to mind) - especially for sending The Son to die for our sins, and asking Him for those things that we and others truly need here on earth and in purgatory. If you haven t already, perhaps now is the time to schedule a quiet period to communicate with Him each day. Just as we make other appointments, perhaps, we should make an ongoing appointment with the Lord!? When you do pray, please keep in mind each and every member of our Parish Family. Thank You! By taking time out, hopefully each day, for prayer, we are following Christ - not only learning to be his disciple, but also sharing our life experiences with God - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

6 PAGE 6 MARCH 2015 Dear St. Dominic Community, We are new-ish to St. Dominic and have really enjoyed becoming a part of this community. We are writing this letter as both a thank-you and an invitation. Recently, I have heard 2 questions asked: 1) If we get the Ohio EdChoice Scholarship, will my kids be stigmatized? 2) What motivation do families with the Ohio EdChoice Scholarship have to participate in the Tuition Reimbursement Program? We are an Ohio EdChoice Scholarship Family, and while I cannot speak for all, I would like to answer these two questions. First, we are so grateful that there is not an air of stigma for our children. This was one of the concerns our children voiced when we made the decisions to change schools. It is very difficult to make that change and especially as our oldest was entering middle school. We thank you for your welcoming arms and warm attitude of hospitality. This community love truly heals a part of us. It makes our hearts rejoice to see our kids come home with smiles and stories of laughter and learning rather than worry and fear. We see receiving this scholarship as a privilege and opportunity. We regularly talk to our kids about gratitude and protecting this opportunity for others who might qualify. This scholarship challenges our Christian value of stewardship and philanthropy. Truth be told, before receiving this scholarship, I kind of zoned out when it came to the Stewardship Sunday talk. I took it seriously but had an attitude that I was doing what was required so I could sit back and relax. Since receiving this scholarship, we have been challenged. Our stewardship of the parish and school means giving of our TIME, treasure, and TALENT. It might be said that the State gives the treasure. It is true it covers the tuition. But it doesn t cover the Time and Talent piece and certainly not all it costs to have an excellent school. We have developed a philosophy that we are obligated to pay our tuition through time and talent. Sometimes we wonder what talent we have that would be useful. Sometimes we feel like we have no time to give. We have found that it is often more simple than we think. It might be sitting in the gym working the basketball tournament, picking up a shift at the festival, or cutting out classroom materials for the teacher. Another way we are stewards is by participating in the Tuition Reimbursement Programs as much as possible. For us it means scanning receipts into Shoparoo and making sure our Kroger Card Community Rewards is linked to St. Dominic School. So to the second question: What motivation do we have to participate in the Tuition Reimbursement Program? We are motivated by our appreciation for this community and the opportunity to pursue this Catholic education. By doing this we are making sure that the school has an opportunity to receive those corporate kickbacks. This benefits all our kids by contributing to the school operating budget. We are motivated by our pride in our St. Dominic family and our Christian stewardship responsibility to give in every way we can. So we invite all of you to participate in this amazing community in any way possible. Make sure your Kroger Card, Target Red, GFS, and Shoparoo are designated to St. Dominic School. By doing so, we hope that the challenge of stewardship will bless you as it has us. All our love, The Fitzsimmons Family

7 MARCH 2015 PAGE 7 Tuition Reimbursement Program November 2013-October 2014 Earnings Chart This year, the Tuition Reimbursement Program raised $36, This was collected by money earned through Kroger Community Rewards, Remke Markets Caring Neighbors Program, the sale of gift cards, Shoparoo, Target Take Charge of Education, and GFS Fun Funds. 85% of the money received was given to each student at St. Dominic (K-8) in the form of a $74 tuition credit for the current school year. The remaining $5, was given to the Sister Patrick Ann Fund, which provides financial assistance. 100% of all of the money earned/received goes directly to the students at St. Dominic. Thank you to all of the school families and Parishioners who have linked their Kroger Plus Cards through the Kroger Community Rewards Program! Because of your support, we earned over $23,000 from this program last year. As you can see, Kroger accounts for approximately 65% of the income of the Tuition Program. If you have not done so and would like to help out, please take a moment to enroll your Kroger Plus Card and link it to give to St. Dominic School. You can do this by going to the Kroger website ( and making the changes in your my account. If you need help linking your card or have never done so, please contact either Ann Burke (annmcburke@hotmail.com) or Amy Walter (awalter@ fuse.net). We are more than happy to help you get this set up! If you have questions about any of the other programs that the Tuition Reimbursement Program participates in, please do not hesitate to contact Ann Burke or Amy Walter with your questions. There is strength in numbers and the more people that we can have enrolled in these programs, the more successful the Tuition Program will be. We look forward to another GREAT year together! Thank you again for your support!

8 ST. DOMINIC CHURCH 4551 DELHI PIKE CINCINNATI, OH ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Cincinnati, Ohio Permit No HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Wednesday, April 1 - Concert Mike Davis The Passion of Christ at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2 Mass of the Lord s Supper at 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 3 The Passion of the Lord at Noon & 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 4 Easter Vigil at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5 Easter Services 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. (Church & O Connor Hall), 11:30 a.m. (Church & O Connor Hall), and NO 7:00 p.m. Mass Contents Pastor s Desk... p 1 Operating Income and Expenses... p 2 Congratulations, Father Jim!... p 3 Congratulations, Father Jim!... p 4 Total Stewardship... p 5 Letter from the Fitzsimmons Family... p 6 Tuition Reimbursement Program... p 7