money

One of the things that piqued my interest in starting a blog was the suggestion to think about all those questions I had before I became a priest about what a priest does.  What goes into his day?  And one of the things I like about this vocation is how each day can be vastly different from the day before.

One of the things I like least about being a pastor is the worries about where money will come from to pay the bills.  As with any non-profit organization, this is a prime concern for any church.  We depend solely on the generosity of people.

Last night the Parish Finance Council met for over an hour and a half to review the 2010 profit/loss and prepare the 2011 budget.  It's always fun to try to guess how much the cost of things will escalate in the coming year - electricity, heating oil, insurance, etc.  I am fortunate to have an excellent business manager who prepares most of this, but now I need to go to the parishioners with our Annual Report and ask that they consider increasing their weekly giving by $1.  I hate to ask for money, but it is a necessary thing.  Fortunately, my experience is that people rise to the occasion, and if a legitimate need is presented, they respond.  And for that I am truly grateful.

Tonight I meet with a couple looking to get married this year.  That will be a more enjoyable meeting to be sure!