The Finance Council continues to meet during the pandemic to review the parish’s financial position and discuss issues related to the operation of the church, rectory and property.

At our January meeting, we confirmed the final results for 2020, which showed that the parish finished the year with a surplus of $7,727. Even with the $25,000 received from Enbridge last year, total revenues were roughly $55,000 lower than in 2019. Operating expenses were also significantly reduced, down $50,000 compared to 2019. The parish mortgage was reduced by $81,876, leaving a balance of $344,803 at the end of the year.

The parish is required to present a balanced budget to the Diocese at the beginning of each year. This is particularly difficult to do for 2021 given all the uncertainty with respect to COVID-19. To prepare the budget, we have assumed that many of our variable expenses – maintenance, utilities, etc. – which were reduced in 2020, will increase, but to a level that is roughly halfway between 2019 and 2020 levels. To pay for these expenses, we have forecast revenues that are higher than what was collected in 2020, but lower than what was originally forecast for the year. We do not expect to benefit from Enbridge renting the parking lot again this year.

The lockdown and closure of the church in January and the first half of February did not help us start the new year in a strong fiscal position.

As mentioned in our last report, the carpets in the rectory have been replaced with hardwood flooring. The carpets were the original ones installed when the church was built in 1998 and were never of the highest quality. The cost of this project was roughly $17,000. Please use the Building and Maintenance second collection envelopes, dated February 14, 2021, to direct funds for this expense.

As always, we rely on your continued generous support to keep the church in operation. Please remember that you can make donations at the parish or online from the parish website.


Faithfully yours,
Sean Keenan
Chair, Good Shepherd Finance Council