Message from Fr Duane

Thank you to the Parish Finance Council for organising the annual report attached to the bulletin this weekend which sums up the key financial information from 2024. I share a few explanatory notes here:

• The entirety of our parish income comes from the generosity of parishioners – we don’t receive money from the Diocese (or the Vatican!) This regular income is received through the second collection, tap point device, planned giving and direct debit.

Note – the first collection is not included in parish income, as it goes to a common Clergy Fund for all clergy of the Diocese

• During the past two years we have been operating at a loss in our year to year budget. This is in part due to one-off expenses associated with the upgrade of our parish centre and surrounds, but even apart from those our expenses would exceed our income if current trends continue

• For those who feel able to do so, the most helpful means of financial giving is through planned giving or direct debit, as these enable us to plan our budgets from year to year. If you feel that you are in a position to join this program, or if you would like more information about our parish finances, please contact the parish office.

Every donation helps us to ensure that we can continue to fund not only the necessary maintenance and operational costs of our parish during the coming years, but also continue the many new and exciting initiatives that have been helping our parish to grow.

Thank you also to the many other ways that parishioners contribute to this parish. Last weekend’s annual “Come and See Cup of Tea” helped to showcase some of the groups and ministries in our parish, and I thank the Parish Pastoral Council for organising it, and all who attended. It was great to see many

parishioners chatting with the various groups and ministries, and some taking the opportunity to get more involved in the parish in new ways. For those who were not able to attend, during the coming weeks we will have a clipboard with the various groups and ministries listed where you can express your interest if you wish. The Parish Pastoral Council will be liaising with the leaders of our parish ministries and groups to follow up with those who put their names down last week as well as those who do so in the coming weeks.

NEW YOUTH GROUP: “REVIVE YOUTH”

I am excited to announce that during this past term, we have now officially established a parish youth group! This is a joint initiative of West Wollongong and Unanderra parishes. It began with Youth Alpha during this past term. We didn’t publicise that much simply because we reached our capacity limit early on given the number of young adult leaders we had, with about 40 young people attending - far more than we expected! I take this opportunity to thank our wonderful young adult volunteers who led this initiative so generously – and for also committing themselves to continue the youth group into Term 3!

For Term 3, feel free to spread the word, because the capacity will be greater with an increase in young adult leaders, and Revive Youth will be meeting fortnightly on Fridays at St Therese Parish Centre from 7pm to 9pm, commencing Friday July 25th. All high school aged young people are welcome to attend, and there are permission forms available at the church tables, or else contact reviveyouth25@gmail.com for more information or a permission form.