MORE THAN HALF OF PARISHES OVER GOAL
FOR STEWARDSHIP APPEAL

            One hundred thirty parishes in Brooklyn and Queens that have surpassed their goals in the 2004 Annual Stewardship Appeal are benefiting from the over-goal funds, which they are using to support their programs and services.

            In a Mill Basin parish, Mary Queen of Heaven, for example, the extra dollars are being used for renovation projects, according to Father Jamie J. Gigantiello, the pastor.

            Under the distribution formula established for the appeal, each parish is assigned a goal. The monies contributed up to goal help fund diocesan programs and services, while everything above the goal is returned to the parish.

            On July 30, the over-goal parishes shared $745,085. A second distribution will be made at Dec. 31, when the appeal draws to a close. More than fifty percent of the 217 parishes are over goal.

            Statistics released by the diocesan Stewardship and Development Office show that parishioners have contributed $5,223,489 to the appeal, whose goal was $4,535,400. With the amount pledged by 41,208 donors currently at $6,287,483, the Diocese and the parishes stand to receive additional funds by year’s end as pledges are redeemed.

            At Mary Queen of Heaven as of late August, 403 parishioners had pledged to donate $84,987, well over three times the goal of $23,000. Because parishioners were faithful to their commitment to redeem their pledges, the parish received $51,190 in over-goal funds on July 30, the highest amount among the parishes of the Diocese.

            “This was a great way to raise funds for projects in the parish,” Father Gigantiello said. “And our parishioners could see how the funds were being used.

           The projects included building an outdoor ramp to the parish hall, mainly for the senior citizens, resurfacing the schoolyard, purchasing furniture for the Msgr. Burns parish center and contributing toward the cost of renovating the convent for four Dominican Sisters.

            The additional funds the parish will receive in December from the over-goal pledge payments will help ease the burden of underwriting the expense of the projects, Father Gigantiello said.

            Twenty-six percent of Mary Queen of Heaven parishioners contributed to the annual appeal, compared to 19 percent diocesanwide.

            The theme of the appeal is “Walk in the Presence of the Lord. . .know Him, love Him, serve Him,” evoking the image in Luke’s Gospel of Jesus traveling with two disciples on the road to Emmaus.