ADA 2021: Journeying Together in Hope

Dear Parishioners of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish,

A Blessed and Healthy New Year! I can’t believe that it has been 10 months since we gathered altogether in the pre-CoVid-19 days. We continue to pray that we experience more ‘normalcy’ in 2021!

2021 marks the 40th Jubilee for the Diocese of San Jose. Forty (40) years ago in 1981, our Diocese was established and has brought all of us together from all walks of life to do God’s work of justice, mercy, outreach, and formation in this Santa Clara Valley. Journeying Together in Hope, the Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) of the Diocese provides the financial support of these ministries/services for all Catholics which include Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Life, Justice & Peace, Family Life, Tuition Assistance for Catholic Elementary schools, formation and ongoing education for future priests as well as the Institute for Leadership in Ministry (ILM) for parish leaders.

As we prepare for another year of the joint ADA Campaign and our Parish Fundraising Campaign, I thank everyone who participated last year with their prayers and generous support. With the sacrifice of 32% participation of parishioners, we did surpass the ADA goal of $117,465 and will hopefully realize a rebate to our parish of $30,000 to start a fund for several restoration and repair projects inside the Church. The costs of these projects exceed the $30,000 start of this fund.

The 2021 ADA assessment to St. Lawrence has been decreased 21% to $91,907. Along with our Parish Fundraising Goal of $60,000 makes our joint campaign goal a total of $151,907. In the time of CoVid-19, our parish budget has been impacted due to receiving much lower offertory collections, rentals, and catechetical fees. We could not offer our summer children’s camp which funds over $110,000 to the parish budget. Our added parish fundraising goal of $60,000 will be used to help offset the effects that CoVid-19 is having on the annual parish operations budget, in order to avoid having to make more personnel and hours reduction, while paying for additional sanitizing and disinfecting supplies and equipment in order to keep everyone safe.

Each year we pray that we reach our goal of 100% participation in our joint campaign of all who come to St. Lawrence Parish to make it a success for our Parish and Church to continue Journeying Together in Hope beyond our 40th Jubilee. Even if you have not pledged in the past, please prayerfully consider supporting our mission and our work here at your spiritual home of St. Lawrence Parish.

There are several ways to support the joint campaign as noted in the enclosed pledge envelope. Please bring your completed pledge when you come to Church any time after you receive this letter and place it in the offertory basket at Mass. You may also leave them at the Parish Office. Our ADA Kick-Off weekend will be January 23/24.

Your support of the Annual Diocesan Appeal along with your prayers are appreciated and can make a huge difference in our Parish and in our Diocese. I hope I can count on your support and continued generosity this year.

Thank you and may the Lord continue to bless and keep you and your loved ones safe!

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Ernesto M. Orci, Pastor

www.dsj.org/ada