Keeping St. Peter’s Solvent

I often hear it said from parishioners and visitors alike how much they appreciate St. Peter’s. One testimony often recited is this: “When we go on vacation, we attend a local Catholic church for Mass on the weekend. It is nice, but it is not St. Peter’s.” They go on to praise the beauty of our church; the well-maintained campus and other buildings; the liturgical splendor of our celebrations, the preaching, the reverence, our altar servers, the spirit of prayer, and the season devotions and events we offer, the friendships, just to name a few aspects. There is no question that St. Peter’s has a unique appeal.

Is it important to you that the St. Peter’s tradition always be preserved and available intact? If so, I must request that you increase your regular Sunday donations. The cost of every aspect of running the parish has increased significantly since I became pastor 10 years ago; energy, utilities, ordinary supplies for the buildings and grounds, candles, liturgical items, general maintenance of our old but beautiful buildings, etc.

I do not request you give a tenth of your income as the Bible calls for, but I do request that you increase your weekend giving by 10%. If your regular donation is $10.00, make it $11.00; if it is $20.00, make it $22.00. This will ensure that we remain fiscally solvent and be able to provide all the things about St. Peter’s that you know and love. After all, it is your parish and it rises and falls with your investment in it.

I fully understand that things are tight for everyone, but do we want to see our parish slide into desuetude like so many others? We have to set our priority. Charitable giving is sacrificial.

Let’s start 2026 with a renewed appreciation for the financial needs of our own parish. Remember what Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves an earthly treasure. Moths and rust corrode; thieves break in and steal. Make it your practice instead to store up heavenly treasure, which neither moths nor rust will corrode nor thieves break in and steal. Remember, where your treasure is, there your heart is also. No man can serve two masters. (Matthew 6: 19-22, 24)

St. Peter, pray for us!

Fr. Tim Byerley Pastor