Taping of Mass at St. John the Evangelist Wednesday, September 21, at 10:00 a.m.
We invite all parishioners to a taping of the Mass at St. John the Evangelist Wednesday, September 21, at 10:00 a.m. It will be the Celebration of the Feast of Christ the King, the Last Sunday of Ordinary Time. The Mass will air on November 20th, 2011. Refreshments will follow the regular 8:30 a.m. Mass preceeding the taping.
Middle and high school youth are invited to join guest speakers Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann (of the Archdiocese of Kansas City and of the USCCB Pro-Life Committee – www.archkck.org) and Abby Johnson (former Texas Planned Parenthood Director, Pro-Life/Catholic Convert, and author of the bestselling book “Unplanned” – www.unplannedthebook.com) at the state of Florida’s Respect Life Conference. This year, they have added this special Youth component to educate and involve young people in supporting life from birth to natural death. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the Service and Justice element of not only your parish youth ministry, but of the entire Catholic Church.
The cost of attending this event is FREE and includes lunch on Saturday, transportation to and from the event, and snacks for the ride. Please make checks payable to St. John the Evangelist, and include “FL Respect Life Youth Conference” on the memo line.
CLICK HERE to download your Parish Youth Ministry Event Notification form (one per youth).
If you have any questions about the Florida Respect Life Conference for Youth please contact:
Brendan Budlong, Director of Youth Ministry
Phone: 239-566-8740 ext. 177
Email: Brendan@saintjohntheevangelist.com
If the forecast held true, then Hurricane Irene made a northerly turn and completely missed the state of Florida. Let us pray for the safety and well being of those in the path of Irene in the Carolinas and beyond. We may get some wind and rain but will have been spared from any serious weather or damage. I would say that this would be much needed rainfall, however, we are on a roll recently and have received measurable rainfall (at least a trace) every day since August 14. We are building a healthy surplus of water in our lake at the front of the site. Our Canadian goose seems to have risen several feet over the last few weeks. We still have approximately two months remaining in the rainy season so barring a dry spell, we should be in pretty good shape heading into fall.
The lighting in the North parking lot behind the Claussen Center has been an issue since the installation back in 2005. The bollard lights initially installed have deteriorated and been reduced to a corroded mess in only six years. Mark Stahlman (buildings and grounds committee member) recently contacted the original vendor to come out and inspect the bollards. Based on their deplorable condition, the vendor has agreed to replace all 45 fixtures at no cost to the parish. We will only be responsible for labor to install the new fixtures. Thanks to Mark for his efforts in saving the parish substantial dollars and enhancing the poor lighting in our parking lot.
In last week’s column, I inadvertently included the wrong dates for the flu shots. Here is the correct information. The Visiting Nurses Association will once again offer Flu and Pneumonia shots right here at St. John the Evangelist on Thursday, October 6 and Tuesday, November 15 beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the ballroom of the Parish Life Center. The seasonal Flu shot is $25 and the Pneumonia shot is $65. Both shorts are covered by Medicare Part B.
After meeting with several members of the finance council last week, the subject of the Catholic Faith Appeal came up and a long discussion ensued. These members were concerned that many of our parishioners are still not completely aware of the mechanics of the CFA. Over the past eight years, I have explained in detail from the altar and in writing the importance of the CFA and the financial implications of reaching and exceeding our goal. However, I will once again lay it out in detail. As you know, the CFA is the single most important component of our annual budget. This year’s assessment/goal is $440,000.00. How is this number derived? We are assessed at a rate of 26% on all receipts which the Diocese of Venice deems to be assessable income. This includes regular offertory, rental income, memorial garden income and special gifts and donations. Jamaica Outreach, Habitat for Humanity and all Diocesan Collections (Catholic University, Peters Pence, etc…) are non-assessable. We then receive a credit (30%) for all donations made for tuition subsidies and gifts to other parishes. Gifts to other parishes would include the payment of our obligation for the convent in Clewiston. The net of the assessable receipts and credits results in our annual assessment, which is based on the prior fiscal year. Beginning in February with kickoff Sunday, we have approximately 11 months to raise the funds to meet our goal. Everyone receives a mailer from the Diocese and has the option of making an annual pledge. We strongly encourage all parishioners to make a pledge. Many choose to forego this option and make donations to the CFA through the offertory during the course of the year. These checks are then sent directly to the Diocese of Venice. The funds allocated for the CFA are non-assessable and every penny of every dollar donated will be used to offset our assessment. Your contributions to the CFA are not recognized by the parish, and, therefore, you will not see your gifts on the annual statement from St. John the Evangelist. You will receive an acknowledgement from the Diocese of Venice at year’s end detailing your contributions to the CFA if you gave in excess of $250.00 during the calendar year. If not, you will need to retain your cancelled checks or copies for tax purposes. If we exceed our $440,000.00 goal by the first week of January 2012, the excess will be returned to the parish free of assessment to be used for whatever programs or ministries we choose. This could be a huge windfall for the parish as we could use these funds to create reserves to replace the aging Parish Life Center air conditioning units or to purchase materials for Faith Formation, Music, etc. Conversely, if we fall short of our goal, which we have numerous times in the past, we must use funds out of our general operating income to pay the shortfall. We have exceeded our goal for the past three years straight, however, this year we
seem to be lagging behind somewhat. Our budget for 2011/2012 is based on meeting our CFA goal, therefore, if we fall short, this could certainly be a “budget buster.” I hope this lengthy explanation has cleared up any questions you may have about the mechanics of the Catholic Faith Appeal. It is imperative that we reach our goal and with your help, I am confident that we can extend our streak to four years. If you are able, please consider making a pledge or contribution to the Catholic Faith Appeal. Please make your check payable to the CFA with St. John the Evangelist in the memo line.
I have included in this bulletin frequently asked questions regarding the Catholic Faith Appeal. This should clear up any misconceptions you may have as to the use of your donations. Thanks you again for your support of the Catholic Faith Appeal.
In His work together,
Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager
Did you read the article in the Florida Catholic regarding the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry? Due to the poor economy and many other factors, the need for assistance from St. Vincent De Paul has been enormous this year. The food pantry at the main office is literally running on empty. Our St. John’s conference recently made a monetary donation to assist with the purchase of food to partially replenish the pantry. In addition to the donation made by our conference, caseworkers from St. John donated more than $10,000.00 in the month of June to assist 26 needy families in our area. Statistics for July are not yet available. These donations were for rent assistance and utilities. Other donations were made in the form of food vouchers and gasoline vouchers. The need continues to be great! The president of our conference told me that he handled five cases in only the last two days. Many of those requesting assistance are individuals and families that never thought they would be in this situation. Many are also parishioners sitting right next to you in Mass. If you would like to make a donation to help, please make your check payable to St. Vincent De Paul and drop it in the collection basket. Your donation is completely tax deductible.
A note from the St. John’s St. Vincent De Paul Society
The members of St. John’s St. Vincent De Paul Society are humbled using resources that you give in the offertory and poor boxes. In these difficult economic times there are many individuals and families being helped because of your generosity. In the past week, a home visit was made to a young couple with a 4-year old daughter. They had come to St. Vincent De Paul because the father had lost his job and was living on unemployment benefits. Unfortunately, the benefits did not cover half of their expenses and they had fallen behind on their rent payment. The benefit would pay for half the rent and they would be out of money. We asked the man if he prayed and he told us that in the morning he asked Jesus in his heart to help him take care of his family. And then St. Vincent De Paul knocked on his door. We were able to assist with his rent and when we asked if they had enough food, embarrassed, they opened their refrigerator to reveal a half gallon of milk and a banana. We then helped them with the purchase of food. “How can we thank you?” they asked. We answered: “Pray for the good people of St. John the Evangelist Church who sent us.”
Bishop Frank J. Dewane traveled to Madrid along with 100 young people of the Diocese of Venice for World Youth Day from Aug 15-21. They will be joining other young people from around the globe as they gather to celebrate their faith in Jesus Christ with Pope Benedict XVI. Please pray for World Youth Day and the safety of all who attend
The Diocese of Venice will be continuing its’ Theology on Tap series for young adults (20s and 30s) in the Southern Deanery. The event will be held the last Thursday of every month at Fred’s Food, Fun and Spirits, 2700 Immokalee Road, Naples. Similar to the Northern TOT, it will feature dynamic presenters, Q&A, and table discussions. Admission is free and attendees are welcome to purchase food and drinks. For further information, please contact George L. Smith, gsmith@dioceseofvenice.org or 941.484.9543.
Thank you to all of our parishioners for your strong showing the first Sunday of “Undy Sunday.” The bags were overflowing by the end of the weekend and as a result, many deserving children in Collier County will have appropriate undergarments as they head back to school this week. Donations at St. John the Evangelist are up over last year. Let’s finish strong this final week of “Undy Sunday.”
The Visiting Nurses Association will once again offer Flu and Pneumonia shots right here at St. John the Evangelist on Tuesday, October 6 and Tuesday, November 15 beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the ballroom of the Parish Life Center. The seasonal Flu shot is $25 and the Pneumonia shot is $65. Both shorts are covered by Medicare Part B.
Many of you remember my comments regarding the Tabebuia trees on campus and the beautiful yellow blooms displayed during the spring. I have also heard of the Pink Tabebuia but had never seen one locally. We now have our very own which is prominently located in the Paniccia Prayer Garden commingled with the Yellow Tabebuia,s which were retained to enhance the beauty of the garden. There are a few random blooms currently (picture attached), and I have to say that they are absolutely gorgeous. The contrast between the pink and yellow in springtime will be stunning. The St. Francis of Assisi water feature is now completed and landscaped. I trust you agree that it looks amazing. I am very excited for the grand opening of the Prayer Garden so that you may all see the beautiful and serene environment we have created.
We had a surprise renovation in the Parish Life Center this past week. Due to a poor original installation, a portion of the ceramic tile in the reception area buckled and shattered. Since the old 12” tile was dated, we decided to replace the entire floor with new updated 20” tile cut on the diagonal. Marcos Burgoa (Director of Maintenance) is an accomplished tile setter as this is what he did for a living prior to joining us. He also is responsible for installing the new tile in the bathrooms of the church. We were able to complete the entire job with our in-house maintenance staff and save substantial dollars in labor costs.
In writing my weekly column, my goal first and foremost it to inform our parishioners of what is going on within our parish. It is my way to communicate with all of you. That being said, I would appreciate some reciprocity if there is something that is of concern to you that is not being addressed. Please don’t feel that you are burdening me with something that is not important. As is often the case, if there is a problem (no matter how small) that I am not aware of, then it will most likely not take care of itself. If I am aware, steps will be taken to ensure that it is resolved. My phone number is clearly listed on the front of the bulletin and I may be reached via email at scotts@saintjohntheevangelist.com. I look forward to hearing from you if you would like to discuss something that you feel is important or simply to talk.
Triplet update:
For those of you interested in attending the baptism of Ella, Mia and Nate, August 28 is the date. Fr. John will baptize all three of our little ones during the 11:00 a.m. Mass. We would love to have you in attendance if you are interested. Ella, Mia and Nate cannot wait to receive the sacrament of baptism and to meet all of their extended family. They are also excited to get out of the house. We hope to see you there!
In His work together,
Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager
The rainy season has returned in earnest. This past week, we were treated to a very tropical air mass that fed continual showers and thunderstorms from the Gulf of Mexico onshore. As of this past Wednesday, we had received several inches of much needed rainfall. We have a long way to go before water restrictions are removed, but this is a good start. Our lake at the front of the campus is actually beginning to resemble a lake rather than the pond that we have had for the past month. The grass parking areas have also regenerated and look better than they have in well over a year. With the enhancements we have made to our irrigation system, we should now be able to keep the grass parking areas looking good even in the dry season. Of course we still need a lake full of water from which to irrigate so continue to pray for rain.
I find it hard to believe that children in Lee County have already begun their school year. Although Collier County schools do not commence until the 22nd, the beginning of the school year is a sure sign that summer is coming to a close. Is summer really over? As a non practicing meteorologist, I am well aware that summer does not truly end until September 23rd of this year with the arrival of the autumnal equinox. Years ago I used to cherish the summer months when activity slowed dramatically and July, August and September could be used to catch up on projects put on the back burner or simply to catch your breath. These days, I fear the summer months mainly due to the financial implications of our depleted cash flow. Even with the many budgetary adjustments made this past fiscal year, it is still quite a challenge to manage the parish finances during the summer with greatly reduced offertory collections that equivocate to greatly reduced operating revenue. This summer was certainly a challenge with numerous projects taking place on campus. It won’t be long until we are seeing car carriers dropping off the vehicles of our seasonal residents. For those of you reading this online at your northern residences, we hope you had a great summer and look forward to seeing you in the next couple of months.
What do you think of the new format for our weekly bulletin? Kathy Sims (bulletin editor) has been working tirelessly to create something more than a bulletin and more like a magazine format. The idea is to have more stories and less bits and pieces of information. We also plan to have more articles on the different ministries so parishioners can become enlightened as to what goes on in these ministries We have re-named our weekly publication The Evangelist. Considering that The Evangelist is our main source of communication with the parish, it seems only fitting that it is the best that it can be. I feel it safe to say that we have the finest bulletin that I have ever seen. When I think back to the black and white bulletins of years past, I am extremely proud of what we now distribute to our parishioners. Thank you to Kathy for creating a beautiful, informative and easy to read weekly publication.
Our website also continues to improve on a weekly basis. Sam Kojiro has done a fine job of updating and redesigning many of the pages to create a much more user-friendly site. We truly hope you enjoy visiting our site. We will continue to improve the site, adding more interactive features and videos.
St. Francis of Assisi has arrived and is now in place atop the magnificent water feature in the Paniccia Prayer Garden. The water seems to flow from under the feet of St. Francis and then cascades down a beautiful stream. The landscaping surrounding the fountain was partially installed as of this past week creating a truly breathtaking focal point in the garden. Immediately upon entering the gazebo entrance into the garden you will be met with a massive fountain (donated by our very own Men’s Club), which sets the tone for entry into the garden proper. After passing through the gazebo you are immediately drawn to the water feature which is prominently placed in the middle of the garden. 
Basically, all the infrastructure for the prayer garden is now in place and we are only waiting for the granite benches and bases for the Stations of the Cross to arrive. We are actually ahead of schedule on this project, which is something that I rarely say when it comes to special projects taking place on campus. I would like to once again recognize Mark Stahlman for his efforts in coordinating and managing the Prayer Garden project and Marty Gauthier for his gifts of time and talent in designing the Stations of the Cross. Marty is fabricating the housing for each Station by hand. Every Station will feature a “roof” with a copper top and lighting to illuminate the statues after dark.
Many of our male parishioners are familiar with Faith & Ale, which is a monthly gathering of Catholic men hosted right here in the ballroom of the Parish Life Center. Soon, we will be hosting Faith & Wine. Faith & Wine is a similar gathering of Catholic women, which will also be hosted right here at St. John the Evangelist. Please see upcoming bulletins for further information on Faith & Wine, beginning this fall.
We are currently approximately $165,000.00 shy of reaching our Catholic Faith Appeal (CFA) goal for the 2011 calendar year. We do have time on our side in that we have nearly five months remaining to accomplish this massive task. It is incredibly difficult to address the CFA issue during the month of August when our cash flow is at its worst. Hopefully, some of our seasonal residents are indeed returning to Naples and will be able to assist us in our efforts. If you are a visitor or returning seasonal resident, please make your check payable to the CFA with St. John the Evangelist in the memo line.
In His work together,
Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager
