From the Pastor's Desk | January 14, 2024

Transparency

We’ve received some questions as to why offertory is no longer being reported in the bulletin. First, thank you for the questions. Second, I apologize for not explaining. The lack of explanation is by no means intentional nor is it meant to be opaque or questionable. We have been going back and forth about the best way to report this data. Reporting offertory numbers without something to compare it to (like the budget, for example) is meaningless.

Our accounting software spreads budgeted revenue and expenditures evenly over twelve months or fifty two weeks but does not take into consideration nuances in the business cycle. For example, in August each year, we will always have a lot of up-front expenditures in the school for things like textbooks, supplies, etc. Because the software spreads budgeted expenditures evenly over twelve months, it then appears as though we’ve overspent in the month of August. Similarly, on the revenue side, budgeted revenue is also spread evenly over twelve months. However, we have an annual fundraising appeal as well as certain times in the year, like Christmas and Easter, when offertory and revenue increase. We want our reporting to make sense and be meaningful to you.

In lieu of reporting the weekly offertory numbers, please expect a six-month financial report, much like our annual report, sometime at the end of January and after we have closed December’s books. Moving forward, a quarterly financial report will be provided, again, much like the annual report. This way, you can see everything and have a greater understanding of where the parish stands financially throughout the year.

My sincere apologies for not making this more clear or providing an explanation when the reports were removed from the bulletin. As always, Hallie Card, our Finance Council members, or myself are happy to answer any questions anyone may have.
 

Safety, Security, and IT

In April of 2023, we received a grant from the State of Michigan to undergo a review of our safety and security protocols and infrastructure. We have reviewed the report with the guidance of our safety consultants. You might recall that one of the first things we did as a staff when I arrived was to undergo ALICE training with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department. Our kids have been, are, and continue to be safe. That being said, there are ways in which we can improve our safety and, moving forward, will be taking significant measures to do just that.

After having solicited numerous bids from various vendors, I brought our proposed improvements to the parish Finance Council and requested to use up to $300,000 of unrestricted funds from the Parish Saving, Loan, and Trust to fund these endeavors. The Finance Council approved the request as did the Diocesan College of Consultors which is required both by diocesan policy and canon law. We will use these funds to pay for the following:

• Lockout SmartBoot System - The SmartBoot System is a comprehensive school lockdown and building security system that combines both physical and technological deterrents. It is designed to keep building occupants safe while providing first responders with the tools and critical information they need to quickly and effectively respond in an emergency. With three modes of protection and instant lockdown notifications for local law enforcement, the SmartBoot System prepares any facility for any situation. The SmartBoot system will be installed in both the church offices and confessionals in addition to the school offices and classrooms beginning in March 2024. 
• New security cameras in the church, school, and exterior of the building.
• Key card door access to the north and south church entrances, school entrance with camera and remote, both interior doors to the school, and the preschool.
• Genetec Security Center
• New cabling
• Network switching 
• Wireless LAN
• Cloud Management 
• New server

The total cost of this project will be $261,821.28. We are in the process of securing grant funding in the amount of $43,000 which will reduce the cost to $218,821.28. The cameras, electronic door access, and IT upgrades will begin as soon as possible.

In addition to all of the above safety, security, and IT upgrades to the building, our contract with our current managed IT service provider is up for renewal. Coinciding with the end of our IT management agreement, the servers and firewall need to be upgraded because they are seven years old. We have therefore decided to contract with the same vendor who will be installing all of the new cameras, wireless access points, etc. to also be our new managed IT company and upgrade our servers.
 

Protecting God’s Children

Related to safety and security are the efforts the Catholic Church has taken over the last twenty plus years to ensure that our children are safe from predatory behavior and abuse of any kind. In the fall of 2023, the Michigan Catholic Conference, which serves as the official voice of the Catholic Church and its bishops in Michigan on matters of public policy, published a special FOCUS newsletter titled On Mission to Protect and Heal. This issue of FOCUS outlines all the Church’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well being of children. These are available for you to take at the entrances of the church. A link to the newsletter is also available by clicking here.

If you have been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church, please believe in the possibility for hope, help, and healing. We encourage you to come forward and speak out. Every diocese in the United States now has a Victim Assistance Coordinator who is available to obtain support for your needs, to help make a formal complaint of abuse to the diocese, and to arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his representative if you desire.

If you have been the victim of child sexual abuse by someone representing the Catholic Church, contact appropriate law enforcement and the Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Diocese of Lansing:
Lisa Veenstra, LMSW
1-888-308-6252
vac@dioceseoflansing.org

We take safety and security very seriously here at St. Martha Parish and School. Be assured of our continued and ongoing efforts to ensure your safety and the safety of your children while on campus and in the care of the faculty and/or staff.

Please know of my prayers for you all! 

Fr. Ryan