Fr. Hien's Weekly Letter

Stewardship letter from Fr. Hien: My Dear Parishioners of All Saints Catholic Church and School,
     Yes, you are dear to me and to everyone in our church’s family, especially our students.  We rely on your love, prayers, and stewardship to keep our church and school going for the good of everyone and the salvation of all souls.  We are called by God to love and to help each other get to heaven through our stewardship way of life.  Please join me in living out our Catholic faith joyfully, happily, graciously, and even sacrificially as alive disciples of Jesus Christ. 
     GIVEN is the stewardship theme this year for us to imitate Fr. Emil Kapaun in his faithful service to God for the salvation of souls.  Father did so by being Jesus to his fellow men with his care and love.  He sacrificed his life for them by feeding them, bathing them, washing their cloths, and most importantly, praying with them to send God’s blessings into their hearts, minds, and souls when they were so depressed, exhausted, and sick to death.  Yes, they survived the prisoner camp and called Fr. Kapaun a walking saint.  Today, I hope that you and I are striving to be like Fr. Kapaun before God, our families, and friends.  Yes, it’s possible because God is helping us.  We can walk in the footsteps of Fr. Kapaun with our sacrificial love in the stewardship way of life.   
     Lovingly, I am encouraging you and your family to commit yourselves to Jesus by keeping the Lord’s Day holy to receive the Eucharist as often as you can.  Jesus is our source of life and He’s our only way to heaven.  Also, I want to thank you for being members of our church family, while many Catholics have chosen not to register in a parish or to be active in their Catholic faith.  Registering in a parish and practicing stewardship of time, talent, and treasure are duties of every disciple of Christ.
     Since the pandemic started, All Saints has suffered from low Mass attendance and contributions (we are blessed with more students attending All Saints), and at the same time, we have to pay all the bills from salaries to utilities, etc.…  To be just and fair with our employees, earlier this year, I gave a 3% raise to most of them.  They were very appreciative with the little we gave them so that they could sustain their families and pay their bills.  All Saints is blessed to have them among us for I know that they are here to serve God in our students.  Unfortunately, the cost of a Catholic education is high due to the many old buildings we have.  Our buildings’ insurance alone is about $50,000 per year, this does not include age and deterioration upkeep.  Last winter, we had two main water lines break that cost over $10,000; last March our gas bill alone to keep our many buildings warm at 50 degrees was $15,500.  Please know that nothing in life is free, including Catholic education which includes salaries, healthcare insurance, city permits and inspections, etc...  The diocese requires that every family must tithe to the parish.  17% of your contribution goes to the diocese to help with other ministries in the diocese and in the world, what’s left must pay the bills at All Saints.  If you are tithing 10% of your whole family income to our parish, you are not obligated to give to other charities.  Please help our church and school so that we can continue educating and forming God’s children at All Saints.  Anyone can tithe, including fixed income individuals/families.  Recently and sadly, I had to reject a school family due to their failure to tithe and contribute.  Please return your pledges by Sunday, December 19th.  Time and talent forms are in the foyer.  Use direct deposit method for your tithe to avoid additional cost to the parish.
     By now, I hope that you know that I love All Saints and I know you do too.  Would you consider linking your Dillons’ Card to All Saints so that we can benefit from donations from Dillons?  You will not lose your points from Dillons.  Also, please consider naming All Saints as your/your loved one’s memorial.  DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary gives 10% to All Saints when someone refers All Saints.  You can also eat out less often for the sake of our students.  I love you all and am thankful that you love Jesus with me.  See you at Holy Mass to love the only One who can give us eternal life—Jesus.