Help Sustain Your Spiritual Home: 2026 Annual Appeal

Early one July morning, I arrived for Mass and found an oversized camper taking up several parking spaces. A little exasperated, I approached to find out why it was there.

Before I could knock, a woman appeared, smiling. “You must be the pastor—and you’re in a cassock!”

She and her family were traveling from Tennessee, had found our parish online via a reverent Mass locator, and had come for Mass. She was delighted to see a priest in a cassock, something she hadn’t seen at her own church in years.

This family reminded me that people are seeking what we can sometimes take for granted: a parish where the Catholic faith is visible, vibrant, celebrated, and lived.

When I think about what makes St. Anthony and St. Mary special, I think first of our people—the families gathered for Mass, the volunteers who quietly serve, and the parishioners who care for one another through life’s joys and sorrows. Through you, our parishes become places where faith is visible, celebrated, and lived.

As your pastor, I am grateful for all you give to this community. I also want to invite you to reflect on how we can sustain this parish life together, both for those who call it home today and for those who have yet to walk through our doors.

A Most Necessary Appeal for the Parish

You may have noticed improvements around our campuses. Many special projects are funded by private gifts designated specifically for that work. I am grateful for that generosity. Our everyday expenses—staff, utilities, maintenance, and ministries—continue alongside those projects and depend on regular parish giving.

I recognize that many household budgets are stretched. My invitation is to consider what you can give thoughtfully and consistently, according to your means.

You may have heard the “80/20 rule”—the idea that roughly 20% of supporters provide 80% of the financial support. While this is a general observation rather than a verified breakdown of our parish giving, it raises a hopeful question: What could we accomplish if more of us participated?

With Sacrificial Giving on the decrease, imagine if every household that does not currently contribute began with just $5 a month. Together, those modest gifts could provide meaningful support for the parish life we share.

Through staff transitions and changes, our mission remains steady: to worship God, grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, and care for His people.

Please pray about the place your parish holds in your life and how your giving reflects that commitment. If you do not give regularly, please begin. If you already give, please consider a modest increase.

Thank you for helping make  St. Anthony and St. Mary parishes where people— from Tennessee and much closer to home — find Christ, community, comfort, and hope.