Official Announcement Regarding The 2006-2007 School Year
From: Gary Padgett [mailto:gpadgett@ascension-parish.com]
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 9:07 AM
It is the consensus of the leadership of our community to decline the invitation to join St. Barnabas, St. Bartholomew, and St. Pius in a new regional school. We will continue to operate our parish school as a ministry of the Church of the Ascension next year. This decision was arrived at after prayer, consultation with the Archdiocese and neighboring parishes, consultation with our parishioners, and then considerable debate and discussion among the leadership.
This decision may become an issue of interest to our local media. I have required all staff to make no comment to the media and to refer the media to Cecelia Price, spokesperson for the Archdiocese.
As I told the parish community last evening, I will enthusiastically support the consensus decision of the parish leadership and I look forward to doing so. Our stewardship renewal campaign begins this weekend. It is essential that our membership respond generously and promptly. We need accurate information on pledging of time, talent, and treasure by the first of March. Our leadership will join me in doing everything in our power to see that this happens. Please come to Mass this weekend and receive your materials and return them to us.
Furthermore, our $70,000 shortfall in pledged contributions must be made up as soon as possible. While the period for pledge fulfillment does not end until June 30, the leadership will rely only on the amount of fulfilled pledges to date in deciding whether or not to implement a tuition plan for the upcoming school year. It is our intention to announce a tuition plan (if one is needed) no later than the first week of March. This is necessary because the deadline for application for financial aid from the Archdiocese is March 15. At the moment however, tuition is required only for those who are not members, those who are in their first year of membership and those who did not fulfill their stewardship pledge last year. Those who do not fulfill their stewardship pledge by June 30, 2006 will be required to pay tuition next year.
If you are having problems fulfilling your pledge now, please contact Theresa Garrett in our office immediately. We will confidentially and discreetly work with you.
I am pledging my public support for the three parishes who are seeking to form a regional school and I am asking us to do the same. While we have decided not to join them in this effort, we wish them success as they seek to provide Catholic education for the children entrusted to them.
This message is being sent to the entire parish community for whom we have an accurate e-mail address. The leadership of the parish appear in your distribution list. The regular members of the parish have been sent a blind carbon copy to maintain the privacy of your email address.
On behalf of the parish and school staff and parish leadership, I look forward to our continued growth as a stewardship community.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Gary Padgett
Pastor
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 9:07 AM
It is the consensus of the leadership of our community to decline the invitation to join St. Barnabas, St. Bartholomew, and St. Pius in a new regional school. We will continue to operate our parish school as a ministry of the Church of the Ascension next year. This decision was arrived at after prayer, consultation with the Archdiocese and neighboring parishes, consultation with our parishioners, and then considerable debate and discussion among the leadership.
This decision may become an issue of interest to our local media. I have required all staff to make no comment to the media and to refer the media to Cecelia Price, spokesperson for the Archdiocese.
As I told the parish community last evening, I will enthusiastically support the consensus decision of the parish leadership and I look forward to doing so. Our stewardship renewal campaign begins this weekend. It is essential that our membership respond generously and promptly. We need accurate information on pledging of time, talent, and treasure by the first of March. Our leadership will join me in doing everything in our power to see that this happens. Please come to Mass this weekend and receive your materials and return them to us.
Furthermore, our $70,000 shortfall in pledged contributions must be made up as soon as possible. While the period for pledge fulfillment does not end until June 30, the leadership will rely only on the amount of fulfilled pledges to date in deciding whether or not to implement a tuition plan for the upcoming school year. It is our intention to announce a tuition plan (if one is needed) no later than the first week of March. This is necessary because the deadline for application for financial aid from the Archdiocese is March 15. At the moment however, tuition is required only for those who are not members, those who are in their first year of membership and those who did not fulfill their stewardship pledge last year. Those who do not fulfill their stewardship pledge by June 30, 2006 will be required to pay tuition next year.
If you are having problems fulfilling your pledge now, please contact Theresa Garrett in our office immediately. We will confidentially and discreetly work with you.
I am pledging my public support for the three parishes who are seeking to form a regional school and I am asking us to do the same. While we have decided not to join them in this effort, we wish them success as they seek to provide Catholic education for the children entrusted to them.
This message is being sent to the entire parish community for whom we have an accurate e-mail address. The leadership of the parish appear in your distribution list. The regular members of the parish have been sent a blind carbon copy to maintain the privacy of your email address.
On behalf of the parish and school staff and parish leadership, I look forward to our continued growth as a stewardship community.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Gary Padgett
Pastor