Dear Fellow Parishioners,

If you have been part of our parish community for any length of time at all, you know that I am very reluctant to ask for financial support. Sometimes, more than a year can go by without my making a single request for funds other than the weekly collection, and the national second collections which you can support or not. Regretfully, I’m about to break my record.

The Annual Ministries Appeal (AMA) supports ministries which serve all parishes collectively, and are coordinated at the diocesan level, for reasons of economy and efficiency. While most parishioners are not directly aware of these ministries and services, I am grateful for nearly all of them. They are provided overwhelmingly by, and for, lay employees and volunteers. They include 1) managing health and employment benefits for our lay employees and retirees, 2) Human Resources, 3) Safe Environment Coordinator and assistant, 4) Director of Religious Education to support parish programs and assist in the training of CCD teachers for our children, 5) Director of Communications to maintain websites and channels of communication within the diocese, 6) Risk management, to make our parishes as safe and well-maintained as possible. I’m sure there are more that I have not mentioned.

I will be direct: California is one of the most heavily regulated states in the U.S., non-profits are rarely exempt from these regulations, and the penalties for non-compliance can be onerous. It is very rule-driven, and we need specialists at the diocesan level to guide and protect us which, by and large, they do. In my earlier life, I worked for two stints in the Bishop’s Office. I can say with some confidence that the diocesan staff has never been leaner or more competent than it is today.

For 2025, we are still over $18,000 short of our goal for the AMA (which is reduced from last year). If we do not reach this goal, we will need to take the difference from our regular parish income, which we cannot afford to do without, especially this year.

To those who have already responded to the AMA mailing from the Diocese of Santa Rosa, I am most grateful. To those who have not yet responded, I encourage you to join me in doing so now. Envelopes will be available in the church for you to take home and determine what level of support is right for you and your family. These are restricted funds, legally protected from the current diocesan bankruptcy proceedings (more about that later). It will all go to the designated lay ministries.

The special AMA envelopes are in the vestibule and on the table behind the last pew. They will be in the pews next week. For those who wish to give electronically, the diocesan website offers that opportunity as well, at https://www.osvhub.com/dioceseofsantarosa/giving/funds.

Blessings,

Fr. Bill Donahue