Daily UPDATE



St. Thomas More Financial Update
Friday, April 24, 2020
 
Ron Briseno, our Business Manager/Director of Development, and I felt that it was important to give you, our Parishioners, a financial update in the midst of these difficult days of the Coronavirus pandemic.

First and foremost, it is very important for us to see ourselves as:

A PARISH THAT IS A FAITH FAMILY.

But we also need to see ourselves as:

A BUSINESS UNDER THE CROSS.

 
Our financial condition/situation will seriously determine how well we are able to be faithful to our Parish Mission:

TO WORSHIP GOD,
TEACH AND LIVE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST,
AND SERVE GOD’S PEOPLE IN WORD AND DEED.

With this is mind, how are we doing? Because of your commitment and generosity to STM, we can say that we are doing reasonably well!

Obviously, we are not doing as good as we would have if we were still gathering every weekend for four Masses; but because of your online donations and because of those of you who are taking the time to mail in or drop off your donation envelopes to the Parish Office, we are holding our own.

However, in the midst of all of this, we still have utility bills (and many other bills) that must be paid, a mortgage that is due each month, and we have a dedicated staff--all of whom are continuing to work, depending on circumstances, from either home or the Parish Office. They need to continue receiving salaries for the ministries they oversee.

With this background in mind, Ron and I want to share with you a variety of “pieces” that make and will continue to make STM a vibrant “Business Under the Cross” for the sake of the Gospel.

These are “pieces” that we presently are doing, these are “pieces” for the ongoing development of our Parish Campus, and these are “pieces” that we feel are new directions in which we need to move in the immediate future.
 


WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN MAKE OUR REGULAR DONATIONS TO OUR PARISH FAMILY?
 
  • Sign up for auto checking or savings contributions
  • Sign up for auto credit card contributions
  • Sign up for online contributions at stmoside.org/online-giving
  • Mail your envelope to 1450 S. Melrose Dr., Oceanside CA 92056
  • Visit the Parish Office and use our drop box near the office doors
 
 


OUR SEASONS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

PARISH MORTGAGE UPDATE

We have refinanced our Parish mortgage with the National Office of the Knights of Columbus. Our interest rate is now 4% fixed.

  • Our previous monthly payment: $56,968.45
  • Our new monthly payment: $32,872.71

(In order to lessen the Parish burden for the future, we will add an additional $2,127.29/month to the payment, for a monthly payment of $35,000.)




THE SCRIP PROGRAM
 
Ready to purchase Scrip again?

Order by Sunday Night and we will process your order for a Wednesday pick-up between 10:00am and 12:00noon.

Normal inventory available on a first-come, first-served basis.

**Safety protocols will be observed;
please join us and wear a facemask.

Here’s how it will work:

  • Place your order via email to [email protected].
  • We will process your order and send you back a confirmation email of what was available and your amount due.
  • For easy pick-up we would prefer check or cash, but we can process credit/debit card if needed.
  • Pick up will be outside the Parish Office. Enter from Cannon Road and stop at curb outside the Parish Office. Watch for the sign. 
  • We will bring your order to your car and collect payment.
 
Then off you go … SHOPPING!




ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL (ACA)

Our goal for this year is $100,000:
 
  • $50,000 Diocesan Assessment 
  • $50,000 for the Completion of our Memorial Garden/Mosaic/Memorial Wall
 
As of Sunday, April 26, we are at $60,045.50 from 221 families; our assessment has been met and, at this point, we have collected $10,045.50 toward the $50,000 needed for the Memorial Garden Project. We are on our way….
 


OUR TOWERS OF FAITH

On Sunday, August 9, we will hold a reception to honor our present 31 Towers of Faith participants, to remember the 25 Towers of Faith participants that have died, and to welcome the new Towers of Faith participants.

In the near future, we will be inviting more Parishioners to become Towers of Faith participants.

Since the inception of the Towers of Faith in 2006, nearly $3 million has been raised:
$424,000 directed to our Operations Budget and $2,571,000 for the construction of our Church.

The construction of our Church was greatly helped because of caring and committed Parishioners who included STM as part of their legacy!

 
 

OUR “STAY-AT-HOME” GALA FUNDRAISER

We will be celebrating our 35th Anniversary with our Hawaiian Luau-themed Gala event in the comfort of your home or back yard.

By signing up you will receive a Gala kit containing:

  • Hawaiian Lei*
  • Beverage Recipes
  • Sponsor Boar
  • STM Tote Bag
  • Program
  • Dinner Prayer
  • Event Videos
  • Orchid*
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Photo “Theme” Contest
  • Closing Message
  • Opportunity Drawing
MEMORIAL GARDEN / MOSAIC / MEMORIAL WALL

Because of the refinance of our Parish Mortgage, we are able to once again get this project moving.

The Mosaic is being refurbished by a mosaic artist in Milwaukee and will be delivered to us sometime in the late Fall.

Brian Leahey and Ron Briseno are now focusing on the creation of the wall on which the Mosaic will be mounted.

The Dedication Ceremony for our Memorial Garden will be the central event in which we celebrate the 35th Anniversary of our Parish.




ONLINE VIDEOS OF MASSES AND CHURCH SERVICES

We have brought our Sunday Mass and Special Services to you in your homes. We’ve added a Daily Reflection, Daily Prayer, and constant communication to you, our Parishioners, through emails.

We are now adding a Daily Mass on Wednesdays with Fr. Karl Bauer, starting April 29.




SECURITY FOR OUR PARISH MASSES AND EVENTS

Phase One was completed last year with the addition of four security cameras, and now we are in Phase Two with the addition of five more security cameras, for the intended purpose of creating a safer community for our Parishioners, staff, and Parish campus.


 
 
--Fr. Mike Ratajczak, Pastor
 
--Mr. Ron Briseno, Business Manager/Director of Development



Many of us make our contributions when we attend Mass each week. Our Parish still needs our weekly contributions even though we cannot attend Mass, so that we can continue providing services and ministering to you. Please consider giving online or mailing in your contributions. Thank you!

If you know Parishioners or have family/friends who do not have access to email, please share this information with them. Thank you!

If you or anyone you know needs anything, please contact the Parish Office. We are closed but checking voice mail regularly and will do our best to help. You may also call
2-1-1 for assistance with resources of various types.

The bulletin link is available in every email we send (see golden orange button above. People without email or internet access will be able call the Parish Office and leave a message requesting a bulletin via snail mail each week during this time. Thank you!
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