See Father Dan's message about the 2024 Grand Annual Campaign for our parishes:
Dear Parishioner,
Today, I write to announce the beginning of our 2024 Grand Annual Campaign for Saint Agnes and to share the FY24 Annual Financial Report/FY25 Annual Budget (Found in the bulletin).
At all times, the main goal of our work is to provide for the spiritual and sacramental needs of our parishioners which include baptisms, anointing of the sick, visits to the dying, celebration of funerals, confessions, marriages, devotional prayers, and daily and Sunday Masses.
This year we have focused on developing a stronger parish community, especially through Sunday Mass, Religious Education (particularly for our First Communion and Confirmation Program), and community involvement. By setting a priority on the worship of God at Mass and through spiritual activities such as the Corpus Christi Procession, Installation and veneration of the Relic of Saint Faustina, praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Eucharistic Adoration we have seen a corresponding increase in Sunday Mass attendance. We have 25% more people at weekend Masses than we did two years ago. By continuing to focus on community-building events such as the Annual Golf Tournament, Parish Picnic, weekly coffee and donuts, and participation at the Middleton Winter Festival, Veterans Events, and Memorial Day Parade, we have also seen an increase in parish activities.
Our community has also continued its history of service to those in need through the St Vincent de Paul Society, Support of the Unborn, support for Catholic Chaplaincy at the Middleton Jail, Cor Unum and Bread and Roses Food Services, support of seminarians, and other charitable activities. We have expanded opportunities for service and evangelization, especially among the youth. This year we served children alongside the Missionaries of Charity in Dorchester, built affordable housing in Wenham with Habitat for Humanity, and supported a fundraiser for at-risk youth in Cameroon, Africa.
In addition to these important pastoral works of the parish, we also took the opportunity to repair and repaint some of the walls in the parish office, and to remove, restore, and repair the non-functioning windows in the church and church hall. This coming year we will research how to increase the efficiency of our old church heating system, evaluate how to best replace inefficient, outdated, and failing church hall lighting, and save money for these expenses.
A contribution to the Grand Annual Campaign supports all these activities, as well as the general upkeep of the parish buildings, including everything from lights and heat to snow removal and landscaping, salaries, church cleaning, and church supplies for the celebration of the sacraments.
This year our Grand Annual Goal is $50,000. I ask that you prayerfully consider contributing to the Grand Annual Campaign this year, with a generous gift of $500 per family. Please give according to your means, perhaps making a gift of more than the suggested amount to make up for another family that may not be able to give as much this year. Donations can be made electronically Here.
Thank you for your consideration. Please know of my prayers for you, your families, and your daily intentions. May Our Lord Jesus continue to bless us, and may Saint Agnes of Rome, our Patroness, intercede for us.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Daniel Hennessey, Pastor
Donations may be made to the Saint Rose of Lima Grand Annual Campaign Here.