Annual Report
2016-2017
1 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 WHO we are
Parish Mission Statement Parish Pastoral Council
We are a community of believers, proclaiming that Jesus The Parish Pastoral Council is a is Lord. We come together as Catholics to celebrate the leadership group through which Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, to hear and be priests and people work together as transformed by the Word of God, to bring Christian values co-responsible partners in furthering and love into our world and to live and share the teachings of the mission of Christ in our parish. Jesus. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we strive as a parish family As a group, they think and plan for the parish on an ongoing basis, to to further the Kingdom of God, making God’s presence felt respond to present and future needs. and extending the caring spirit of Jesus. The Parish Pastoral Council is a An Engaged Parish consultative body. Consultation in the We pray that the Lord will help us to be an engaged community Church is rooted in the understanding with open hearts and open minds to Seek The Lord, Share His of the Church as a community of Gifts and Rejoice in His Blessings. believers who share in the priestly, prophetic and governing mission of
Jesus. The priest consults his people because he knows that wisdom Preparing to celebrate our resides within them. That wisdom emerges in dialogue. The task of 65th Anniversary as a parish parish pastoral council members next year! is to “represent” by “making present” the wisdom of the parish.
The Parish Pastoral Council members are: • Stephanie Cantrell • George Rourke • Joe Cook • Jim Sweany • Michael Collins • Maureen • Sue Dudek Vance • John Kerrigan • Liz Weber • Bridget Merck • Laura (Chair) Wilkison • Jackie Noteman • Jim Wolf
2 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 A letter from the
PARISH ADMINISTRATOR
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As we prepare for our 65th Anniversary next year, St. Mary of the Woods continues to be a vibrant and active parish. I am proud to present to you the Annual Report for the past fiscal year, July 1st, 2016 — June 30th, 2017. It is a snapshot of who we are and what we are doing at this moment in our parish’s exciting and colorful history. I am grateful to all involved in its preparation: the parish finance committee, the leadership of the various ministries and parish organizations, parish and school staff and particularly Kathy Kaminski, parish secretary, for her considerable work on lay-out and presentation, and parishioner Kim Weber for her Father Aidan O’Boyle editorial skills as the document neared completion. In this report you get a great sense of the state of the parish. You will find in its center pages a transparent summary of our fiscal health. On either side of the financials are pages capturing the vibrancy of parish life and showcasing our parish at its best. The St. Mary of the Woods Your generosity to the parish continues to inspire me. As our finance committee notes elsewhere Finance Committee assists in the report, the parish is financially solid due in significant part to the goodness of so many the Parish Administrator in parishioners in supporting the church and school through the regular Sunday, Christmas and the financial governance of Easter collections, as well as our parish fundraisers throughout the year. Moreover, words can the parish. scarce express my gratitude to all of you who responded with such extraordinary generosity, once again, to our recent St. Mary’s Summer Projects Campaign where $225,000 was The members of the contributed. These Summer Campaigns are allowing us to undertake some very necessary Finance Committee are: maintenance and improvements to the church and school campus. Your financial support • is a testimony to the love and loyalty toward St. Mary’s by so many great people! Ed Sutoris (Chair) • Michael Collins In addition to supporting many ministries and programs and maintaining our facilities, St. Mary • of the Woods makes a significant commitment to those in need. The commitment to our sister Sue Dudek parish St. Sylvester, our Loaves and Fishes Ministry, support for the Maryville Crisis Nursery, • Jenny Novy and our teens’ dedication to service at Feed my Starving Children are tangible ways we respond • Michael O’Rourke to those who are struggling. • David Weber Please take the time to read this report. It speaks of an active and vibrant community of faith. You can feel proud of the parish to which you belong.
The future does not exist until it happens. And we are the ones who make it happen. The future is neither a blank page nor is it an already designed house into which we are required to move. The future is what we build together, what we create together. Nor is it implemented in one deft and intelligent stroke. It occurs only at each moment, with the next step we take. Let us step out together for another year as we seek to shape our future and build a stronger and even more vibrant St. Mary’s, under God’s guiding hand.
Thank you for being part of St. Mary of the Woods Parish, for your faith and your faithfulness. Thank you for your talents and for all that you share with us. Thank you for the smiles and the challenges you bring. And thank you for the warmth and friendship that shows our new young families that All Are Welcome! Mass of Thanksgiving in Gratefully, celebration of twenty-five years of Fr. Aidan O’ Boyle service as priest for Fr. Aidan O’Boyle
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 3 Preparing to Celebrate
SIXTY-FIVE YEARS AS A PARISH
St. Mary of the Woods was conceived in January 1952, 65 years ago. A group of Catholic women in the area began petitioning door-to-door for a parish. They worked tirelessly because their children had missed so many school days at distant Queen of All Saints due to the inability of school buses to get through the snow. It seems that decisions were made more swiftly back then, because those petitions were presented to Cardinal Stritch on March 12th of 1952. On June 29th, Father Daniel B. 0’Rourke was named pastor of the yet-to-be-named parish. A storefront at 6141 West Touhy Avenue provided Father 0’Rourke a temporary location for offering Sunday Mass. He celebrated the first Mass there at the end of July 1952, 65 years ago this summer. His new parishioners became his new family and they all sacrificed time and money to build St. Mary of the Woods.
The year 2017 marks the 65th anniversary since the foundation of the parish - a significant milestone on the faith journey of St. Mary's. Moreover, the first Mass was celebrated in the new Church at midnight on December 24, 1953. We look forward next September to marking the 65th Anniversary of the opening of our school and the 65th Anniversary of the first Mass to be celebrated in the Church on Christmas Night 2018!
The reported cost of the original Church and school was $436,000. These costs were kept to a minimum due to the generous donation of time and talent given by the architects, John Voosen and Michael Gaul. They designed a new addition that extended perpendicularly, yet separately, from the existing structure. This addition housed three classrooms, a music room and a hall for physical education.
4 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 In Loving Memory of FATHER PATRICK G. CECIL Pastor 2010-2016 AD MULTOS ANNOS REQUIESCAT IN PACE
Born to Life June 21, 1952 Ordained May 10, 1978 Born to Eternal Life November 14, 2016 Rest in Peace... FATHER PAT CECIL By Father Raymond Klees
Father Pat Cecil died exactly twenty years after Joseph Cardinal Bernardin to the day: November 14th. Pat loved the priesthood, the Church and parish ministry. So did Bernardin. There is a simple kind of harmony in the vocations and the vows they each took and lived. Each had a deep faith, a kind nature, a shy spirit and a touching humility. Each loved what he believed and lived what he loved. Each found administration taxing, church life enjoyable and Father Pat with the priesthood fulfilling. Deacon Thompson &
The two Latin quotes above, “For Many Years” and “Rest in Peace,” sum it Cardinal Cupich up. The first is the title line from an old priestly ballad that hails the many years of glorious ministry and service to the Church. The second is a simple prayer that one ‘rest in peace.’ It’s our prayer for Pat. We treasure his many years of faith commitment. Well done, Pat: Thank You! Deacon Intern: Queen of Angels Parish, Chicago; June 1977 - December 1977 Associate Pastor: St. Angela Parish, Chicago; June 1978 - June 1984 Associate Pastor: St. Zachary, Des Plaines; June 1984 - June 1991 Associate Pastor: St. Mary Parish, Buffalo Grove; June 1991 - February 1996 Pastor: St. Patrick Parish, Wadsworth; March 1996 - June 2010 Dean: Deanery I-B; June 2007 - June 2010 Pastor: St. Mary of the Woods, Chicago; June 2010 - November 2016 Dean: Deanery II-F; July 2015 - September 2016 Vicariate Awards Dinner
School Kids visiting Father Pat in Peru Father Pat at Alden’s
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 5 WITH GREAT AFFECTION & GRATITUDE FROM ST. MARY OF THE WOODS
People say one person can’t make a difference in the world... but we know that isn’t true, because we’ve seen the difference you make in the lives of those around you. May your path be filled with simple Joys and Blessings without end.
This past year saw the retirement of Father Raymond Klees (Associate Pastor) and Mrs. Marcy Mahoney (Pastoral Associate / DRE) from the staff of St. Mary of the Woods. The parish took time with each of them to mark with gratitude and affection the significant contributions made to parish life. In both instances, the Liturgy was inspiring and uplifting. A committee under the direction of Sue Dudek oversaw the arrangements for both receptions. Members of the Altar and Rosary and Holy Name Societies, under the leadership of Jackie Noteman and Joe Cook, ensured the two occasions lacked for nothing. The Religious Education parents helped oversee Marcy’s function and a great team of volunteers took care of us for two wonderful celebrations. Thank You!
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF FATHER RAYMOND KLEES Thank you for the difference you’ve made in the lives of so many as a Priest, Teacher & Friend WORK EXPERIENCE • Pastoral Internship Quarter, Albert B. Chandler • Our Lady of Victory, Chicago, IL. Associate RETIRED ON Memorial Medical Center, University of Kentucky, Pastor/Resident, 1986-91 JUNE 30, 2017 Lexington, KY. 1971 • Mercy Home for Boys/Girls, Chicago, IL. • Deacon Internship, St. Eugene, Chicago, IL.1972-73 Assistant to the Superintendent 1986-91 • Priesthood Ordination, Archdiocese of Chicago, IL. 5/9/73 • University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN. Graduate Studies, • St. Juliana, Chicago, IL. Associate Pastor, 1973-79 1991-92 • St. Mary of the Woods, Chicago, IL. Associate Pastor, 1979-83 • St. Cletus, La Grange, IL. Pastor, 1992-2006 • University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN. Graduate Studies, • Notre Dame College Prep, Niles, IL. Executive Vice 1983-85 President, 2006-2012 • St. Gabriel, Chicago, IL. Associate Pastor, 1985-86 • St. Mary of the Woods, Chicago, IL. Associate Pastor, 2012 - 2017
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PASTORAL ASSOCIATE / DRE MARCY MAHONEY Good-bye With Love after 26 years
WORK EXPERIENCE Under Mgr. Leo Mahon as Pastor, Marcy Mahoney became Director of RETIRED ON the Religious Education program in September 1991. She brought extensive education and teaching experience to her position. She began JUNE 30, 2017 with 29 students and 4 teachers and enhanced the program year-on-year. In July 1998, Marcy was appointed Pastoral Associate by Fr. Greg Sakowicz. She coordinated the sacramental programs for First Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation, working closely with the school and religious education programs. She also co-chaired with Fr. Pat Cecil the Parish Liturgy Team.
“Working among you for so many years has been a delightful blessing and life-giving opportunity for me. I sincerely hope all those years have been good for you as well. I say good-bye to my leadership roles in this parish as I realize that it is time to move on. Life needs to move forward with vigor and vision and I know that God will provide for all that we need. May we all allow the Spirit to move within us leading all of us forward into the future.”
God bless you always, Marcy Mahoney
6 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS—SCHOOL AGE EDUCATION RELIGIOUS EDUCATION highlights The 2016-2017 Religious Education Program brought new students and families to us. We were delighted to hold an all-inclusive parent, Altar and Rosary, Holy Name and Religious Education Advisory Board meeting with Father Aidan and Marcy Mahoney. We worked hard to fulfill our Mission Statement, “The Religious Education Program at St. Mary of the Woods teaches us to live Christian values and encourages us to share the love of Jesus.”
Our special focus for March was service. We made 800 sandwiches for the hungry! • October Those preparing for Confirmation were presented The students decorated sandwich bags and made cheerful to the Faith Community and our 8th graders raised funds notes to go inside. The dignity of each person was stressed to treat the homeless by selling Affey Tapples. in this preparation. We set up everything needed to make • November was the time when each class presented this project work the day before. We wanted to be sure that its work on Saints for their parents. All 8th graders had there were enough bottles of water, bags of chips, packs a Retreat day with Friar Johnpaul Cafiero in preparation of cookies, loaves of bread, pieces of fruit, sandwich bags, for Confirmation. It was a thought-filled day. napkins and loving notes from the students available for the morning’s work. The meat for the sandwiches and the hard-boiled eggs were put out in the morning before 8:00. Gathering at 8:00 on a Sunday morning, 7th and 8th grade students along with some teachers, Seniors and Youth Group volunteers made 800 sandwiches for the hungry Annual in Chicago. Then at 9:15, all the students left class Christmas Story and came to the Gym to assemble 400 sack lunches for presentation Chicago’s needy. Members of the Contemporary Choir • In December, the teachers prepared the 3rd through 8th came and lead us in joyful song. It was a very memorable graders for reception of Reconciliation and our 1st, 2nd experience for all. and 5th graders for our Annual Christmas Story presentation. • The First Communicant’s Retreat in March gave children Our Christmas Gathering was delightful on December 18th. and their parents a time to celebrate and to reflect on the • The New Year found our 2nd graders working diligently sacrament to come. to prepare for their First Reconciliation on January 21st. • April was busy with Palm Sunday and Easter as well as • February 11 found us celebrating the reception of Spring Break. Confirmation with Bishop Kane. We also presented those • On May 6th, the children received their First Communion. preparing for First Communion to the Faith Community It was beautiful. Our classes closed with Mass on May 21st. at a Family Mass. It was a very good year and my last. Bittersweet as that • In March, our special focus for the month was service, might be, it is time to encourage another to step forward particularly, feeding the hungry in our own city. With the and lead. While I shall always cherish my work, I leave with exceptional commitment of one of our teachers, we structured a deep gratitude for all the lives I have been able to touch, a sandwich-making morning in conjunction with class. and hopefully, help. Thank you!
7 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS—ST. MARY OF THE WOODS SCHOOL SCHOOL highlights The single biggest ministry of St. Mary of the Woods Parish 2016-2017 Accomplishments Strengthened Academic Achievements: Instituted Defined STEM program. Engaged STEM Presentations: --Reptile Show (Pre-K, K) --Mr. Freeze Cryogenics (K-4)
--STEM Career Presentations (5-8) Received school recognition through the Highlighted hands-on STEM activities in each classroom. Illinois State Board of Education. 100% Acceptance into High School of choice for 8th Showcased students musical and artistic grade students. talents with 3rd Annual Fine Arts Fair. Our 2017 graduating class will be attending 10 different high Conducted local Science Fair and five schools including: Loyola Academy, Trinity High School, St. students advanced to regional and one Patrick’s High School, Resurrection High School, Notre Dame to the state science fair. College Prep, Regina Dominican High School, St. Ignatius College Hosted History Fair with 7th graders to highlight important Prep, The Willows Academy, Lane Tech High School and Northside historical figures. th College Prep. Held Best of the Best Fair with 8 graders highlighting individuals Scored higher on the ACT Aspire Test than both the Archdiocese who have made an impact on society. of Chicago average and National Average in all areas (English, Tied Battle of the Books for top spot for fourth year in a row. reading, writing, math, and science) for grades 3-8. Continued Academic Team for students reaching higher Scored above the National Mean in the areas of reading, language achievement levels in grades 7 and 8. usage and math, according to the NWEA Map Assessment for Held Christmas concert performed by grades K-8. preschool-3rd grade students. Mrs. Krupa, our physical education teacher, featured in “Mid Summer’s Night Dream” Musical The Atlantic, Americans at Work: Elementary and High performed jointly by 4th and 5th grades. School Educators in Chicago. A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream Hosted High School Night. School Buddies continued for PreK-8. Hosted Grandparents (or special persons) Day.
Afforded 27 faculty members with continuing education opportunities.
Grandparents Day Celebration Doubled preschool enrollment within two years. Supported Student Council functions. Maintained a 1:1 iPad Program for students in grades 6-8. Hosted an Internet Safety speaker for all grades. Purchased and installed 3 Promethean Boards for grades 4 & 5 classrooms. Hosted educational opportunities outside of the Installed a Mimio Teach in grade 3 classroom. classroom including: Maintained certification of Common Sense Digital Citizenship --Chicago Culture Field Trip - 5th Grade Certified School. --Emily Oaks Nature Curriculum - 4th Grade Maintained AdvancEd Accreditation –Archdiocesan Continuous --Fire Prevention Week activities (all grades) School Improvement Process. --City of Chicago Museums
8 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS—ST. MARY OF THE WOODS SCHOOL St. Mary of the Woods is dedicated to providing a Catholic education to advance and promote the academic, spiritual, physical and social growth of our students.
Promoted Social Growth for our Students Coordinated a food drive to supply the St. Barbara’s Food Expanded the Character Pantry collecting more than 670 food items and a winter Counts Program to emphasize coat drive for our sister parish St. Sylvester. trustworthiness, respect, Prepared students for Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy responsibility, fairness, Eucharist and Confirmation. caring and citizenship. Steered the National Junior Honor Society in grades 7-8 to Highlighted a “Student of the Week” who exemplified the focus on service. Character Counts traits. Planted pinwheels for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Provided daily enrichment classes including Windy City Theatre, Young Rembrandts, Chess Scholars, Bricks 4 Kids, Yoga and Band. Advanced Physical Health & Education: Expanded enrichment offerings to include Karate. Offered numerous sports to students in grades 4-8 including Hosted New Parent Night to welcome all new school families basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, cross country, volleyball, to the community. track and golf. Provided every new family a current St. Mary of the Woods Participated in parish-sponsored football and cheerleading. “Buddy Family” for guidance and support. Supported Health & Wellness Committee activities. Posted welcome signs at all new family homes. Developed a health and wellness plan based on the Held Moms, Pops & Tots days. recommendations from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation th Sponsored 7 grade field trip to Springfield, IL. (working toward accreditation). th Celebrated our 8 grade graduates with dance classes, Provided Physical Education classes for all students in PK-8. all-school farewell, red carpet entrance into final dance and Held both a second Annual Track-A-Thon and a Health & celebration yard signs. Wellness Day. Welcomed new Baptismal families to SMOW community with Conducted food allergy and anaphylactic responsiveness “Knight Lights.” education for teachers, faculty and room parents. Supported Lacrosse team for boys and girls with Provided Spiritual Direction: neighboring schools. Completed year one of online catechist certification training Held March Madness basketball for all teachers. tournament for 1- 8 grades. Continued weekly Mass for all students in K-8. Partnered with the Chicago Continued monthly Mass attendance for preschool students. Fire Department to offer CPR Held monthly dress down days to promote the missions of training to junior high students. Misericordia, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Juvenile CPR training Diabetes Research Foundation and Multiple Sclerosis. Raised Advancements in Communication: more than $300 for each. Shared important student and community moments with Raised more than $17,000 for St. Baldrick’s Foundation. parents and the community through expanded use of social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, NextDoor St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser Edgebrook and our school website: www.smowschool.org. Shared school information with the community through local newspapers including The Sounds, The Reporter and DNAinfo. Participated in Edgebrook Farmer’s Market Hosted Open Houses for prospective families. Featured in DNAinfo article “New Era For NW Side Catholic Schools? Enrollment Up After Years Of Decline.” 9/11 First Responders Mass information covered by DNA info, Fox News and social media sites: NextDoor Edgebrook, Gladstone Park and Jefferson Park.
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 9 St. Mary of the Woods ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2017
The Finance Committee of St. Mary of the Woods is pleased to present the 2016/2017 financials. The Finance Committee meets with Fr. O’Boyle at a minimum of once per quarter to review the Income Statement, balance sheet, and capital expenditures of both the Church and the School. In our opinion, the parish follows the best practice guidelines required by the Archdiocese as well as generally accepted accounting standards and controls. We are happy to report that for this fiscal year, the parish is reporting a profit of $270,171. For the first time in more than six years, the School also reported a (modest) profit of $37,661. This was primarily due to a higher enrollment in the school last year on the previous year, better collection efforts on school tuition, and a savings in the school overall of salaries and benefits following the retirement of some senior members of staff. The parish remains on firm financial ground due to the support through weekly offertory collections and reduced expenses.
As mentioned in last year’s Annual Report, the parish is responsible to the Archdiocese for a total of $442,000 for the “To Teach Who Christ Is” campaign. St. Mary’s made its first of five annual payments of $88,400 to the campaign in June 2017. We continue to reserve $1,700 per week for this obligation and Fr. O’Boyle is grateful to the parishioners who are donating money to help the parish meet this specific obligation. Please do consider a gift to this important campaign in the coming year.
In May 2017, the “Summer Projects 2017” campaign was launched to address tuck-pointing needs on several of the buildings, two further roofing sections plus the roof directly above our Church organ and choir sections. It also covered repairs needed to the Church Bell Tower. The goal for this campaign was to raise $225,000. Again, due to the generosity of parishioners, this campaign was fully subscribed at $225,000. Thank you!
The sale of the “Jubilee House” was completed in May and netted $333,165 for St. Mary of the Woods Parish. With advice from parish leadership, the funds raised by the sale were deposited into the parish savings account. It paid back to that account a large portion of what had to be withdrawn when the parish’s annual expenses exceeded the revenues over the past several years.
In addition to the financials, the Finance Committee’s annual report includes a number of graphs illustrating the key financial points about the parish. We are also providing a number of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about financial topics regarding the parish as well as information about the status of current capital projects.
Please know that we feel the parish is on strong financial ground due in large part to the strength and willingness of the parishioners to support the Church and school through the Sunday collections and parish fundraisers. We are, however, asking all parishioners to consider increasing their weekly Sunday donation by 3%. This increase will go a long way toward covering the cost of living adjustment for salaries for the parish and school and allow us to run the parish efficiently while helping to support the good work of the parish. If you are able, please consider using Faith Direct for your offertory contributions and support the parish fundraisers through your participation and giving.
St. Mary of the Woods Finance Committee: Mike Collins, Sue Dudek, Jenny Novy, Mick O'Rourke, Ed Sutoris, Dave Weber
10 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 St. Mary of the Woods ANNUAL REPORT
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 11 St. Mary of the Woods PARISH FINANCES OUR PARISH COMMITMENT TO GIVING
Religious Ed. & Other Easter General 5% 4% Offertory 70% Christmas 8%
Fundraising & Outside Funds 13% PARISH INCOME $1,270,364
St. Mary of the Woods is a dynamic faith community that is home to 1,450 families. Last year our parish celebrated 48 Baptisms, 55 First Communions, 73 Confirmations and 8 Marriages. We celebrated together more than 900 Masses, both weekly and special occasions. St. Mary of the Woods is also a community of action, fellowship, mutual enrichment and support as exemplified by our 35 ministries. Our award-winning school supported 365 students and 47 full and part-time teachers and staff.
All of this would not be possible without your generosity: weekly offertory; Christmas and Easter giving; school tuition; scholarship giving; capital, summer-projects and Archdiocesan appeals; support of Altar and Rosary and Holy Name fundraising events; estate gifts; special collections and the dedicated and diligent stewardship of our finite resources. A total of 630 families gave between $500 and $13,000 last year. Our Faith Direct online giving participation continues to grow. St. Mary of the Woods year-over-year parish income exceeded expenses for the first time in more than six years, due in large part to increased average weekly Assessments Salaries & Utilities & 13% Benefits giving, expense management and a Maintenance 55% positive school budget. Our summer 14% projects appeal was very successful, with generous and timely giving that allowed us to complete necessary maintenance on our facilities and roofs.
Other PARISH EXPENSES *Operating Expenses: OPEX* Insurance, Admin. Expenses, other misc. 18% $1,037,854
12 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 St. Mary of the Woods SCHOOL FINANCES
Miscellaneous 4% Fundraising & Fees (inc. parish investment interest) Outside Funds 11% 2%
Tuition SCHOOL INCOME 83% $2,118,094
Each year, the parish creates a balanced budget for school operations. The two greatest variables in the school budget are total enrollment (with associated tuition and fees) and staffing salaries and benefits. Enrollment is a fluid consideration year over year, due to the variability in annual enrollment. In addition to tuition and fees, our parish community is very generous in its support of fundraising for school events, Altar and Rosary, Holy Name and Scholarship collections, all of which contribute to offsetting expenses for school operations. Last year the parish was very fortunate to reverse a six-year trend of a deficit budget for school operations. Income slightly exceeded expenses and therefore eliminated the need for a monetary investment by the parish.
Other OPEX* & Utilities & Maintenance Misc. 7% 5% Books & Admin. 7%
*Operating Expenses: SCHOOL EXPENSES Salaries & Benefits Insurance, Admin. Expenses, other misc. $2,080,433 81%
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 13 STRENGTHENING our Foundation Fiscal Year 2016/2017 Capital Improvements In Summer 2016, the Summer Projects Campaign realized $300,000 to the parish. As a result, the following work was undertaken this past summer:
Three major sections of the school roof were re-coated or torn off and replaced. Two roof areas were repaired and recoated (7,000 sq. ft. and 13,000sq. ft.) (Marshall Roofing / $133,000) One section of roof was removed and replaced (4,500 sq. ft.) (Marshall Roofing / $100,000)
Four new HVAC units replaced existing old units on the school roof (Precision HVAC / $52,000)
This work was completed on schedule and under budget. Subsequently, it was decided to also undertake the following work:
Section of the Church roof over the organ required tear-off / re-roofing The combined Mechanical / Organ Room Roof Section is a 6,200 sq. ft. roof consisting of a concrete deck that has been covered by 2 inches of insulation covered by a built-up roof system. Work consisted of a roof removal to the concrete deck and the installation of a new coal tar built-up roof system. (Marshall Roofing / $18,885)
Section of lower gym locker room roof and canopy were torn off and replaced Work consisted of the removal of the existing roof and installing a new Modified Bitumen roof system. New sheet metal coping, counter flashing, cap flashing, and new scupper and downspouts were also installed. (Marshall Roofing / $24,660)
Proposed Fiscal Year 2017/2018 Capital Improvements: Set aside $80,000 as a first (of three) installments toward major roof repair and re-coat of the Church and rectory in 2019 Tuck-pointing of the gym building Church Bell Tower repairs The target figure of $225,000 has been raised to achieve these objectives. Thank you to all our parishioners who contributed so generously. The tuck-pointing work and the Church Bell Tower Repairs will begin in June 2018 (after the end of the school year). Parish Facilities Committee, in cooperation with the Facilities Office of the Archdiocese, is overseeing these projects from the bid process through completion.
14 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 Renovated and refurbished the Pastor’s house
Following an inspection by the Parish Facilities Committee earlier in the year, we decided to renovate and refurbish the Pastor's House (7041 N. Moselle) in advance of Fr. O’Boyle’s moving to the home. The Committee concluded the property was in serious disrepair. Work was undertaken between early April and mid-July. While some of the work was cosmetic, i.e., painting, removing old carpeting and refinishing the hardwood floors underneath, the kitchen had to be completely gutted and a number of other areas required substantial renovation, including major plumbing and electrical work. Ivy Contracting was awarded the general contract, Precision undertook the HVAC work, John’s Plumbing carried out the re-piping and plumbing and J.Z. Painting & More undertook the dry walling and painting.
Costs were as follows: General contracting, tuck pointing, and HVAC* $49,623 Dry Walling & Painting** 11,155 Re-Piping & Plumbing*** 9,508 New Kitchen & bathroom appliances 17,961 Furniture and accessories 18,356 Total $106,603
Funding: In the course of this past year, four bequests amounting to $46,661 came to the parish. In each case, it was stated in the will of the deceased that monies were to be used at the discretion of Fr. O’Boyle. He decided to allocate the money to the house refurbishment. The remaining funds ($59,942) came from last year’s capital improvements’ budget. (No ‘reserve funds’ were used in the house refurbishment).
* Includes removal of carpeting, sanding and staining all hardwood floors, demo of the entire kitchen, rewiring the kitchen electricals, installing new wood doors, removal of back stairs that were rotted and installing modest wood deck and stairs, some laminate flooring, and a new HVAC unit for the Master bedroom. All HVAC ducts were cleaned throughout the house, and some much needed tuck-pointing was done.
** Includes installation of drywall in various rooms of the house, particularly the kitchen. All walls and ceilings throughout the house were sanded, primed and painted, extra patching as required in the bathrooms. All the doors throughout the house were sanded, stained and varnished.
*** Installation, re-piping and connection of kitchen sink and bathroom vanities, re-piping of water lines for the basement, and first and second floor bathrooms, installation of new water heater, new toilets and new lines for washing machine and gas piping for the dryer. Be sure to thank our Parish Facilities Committee for their service: • Kevin Brady • Patrick Clifford • Paul Juettner • Pat McGowan • Morris O’Riordan
15 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 Frequently asked QUESTIONS about St. Mary of the Woods Parish Finances
WHY IS MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL OFFERTORY SO IMPORTANT?
The General Offertory, or Sunday Collection, is our single largest source of income. It is vital to all of our efforts. We cannot overemphasize the importance of your gifts to the Offertory. Your contributions to the General Offertory are used to fund parish ministries, pay salaries, maintain our buildings and fund our school and religious education program. Our mission reflects our Gospel values: to grow in faith together, to educate our young and to reach out to the needy. Without a financially stable parish, this would not be possible.
WHAT IS FAITH DIRECT AND HOW DOES IT HELP OUR GENERAL OFFERTORY?
This secure program works directly with your bank, credit, or debit card in the same way as other electronic funds transfer payments you may already conduct (such as utility bills or your mortgage payment). All transactions are processed electronically, debiting your bank account or charging your credit/debit card automatically for the amounts you designate. Faith Direct gives you peace of mind because you'll be able to support St. Mary of the Woods every week. Whether you're out of town, unable to attend Church due to weather, illness or a family emergency, your gifts will always be received. This will help St. Mary of the Woods maintain financial stability.
WHERE DO MY DONATIONS GO?
Donations to the General Offertory provide the means for our parish to operate day to day. Comprised of Sunday and Holy Day Collections, the Offertory supports all parish ministries. It is vital to all of our efforts here at St. Mary of the Woods. Donations to the Altar and Rosary Society, Holy Name Society, Mahon Fund and McDonough Fund also support our Church and School.
WHY MUST OUR PARISH CONTRIBUTE TO THE ARCHDIOCESE’S TO TEACH WHO CHRIST IS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN?
The campaign, To Teach Who Christ Is, allows financially–blessed parishes like St. Mary of the Woods to help ones who struggle to make ends meet. Many of the parishes of the Archdiocese do not have the means to raise money for roof refurbishments or to support their school, for example. They need our help.
In this regard, an essential component of the campaign is the Gospel imperative of Jesus: “In so far as you did it for the least of my brothers and sisters.....You did it for me.” (Matthew 25:40) In our hearts, each of us knows something of the truth of the Prayer of St. Francis: “It is in giving that we receive.”
St. Mary of the Woods is obliged to contribute $1,700 per week for the next four years in support of this campaign. Thank you to our parishioners who have donated money to help the parish meet this specific obligation. Please do consider a gift to this important campaign in the coming year.
16 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS—PARISH OUTREACH SHARING with the poor As blessed and gifted Catholics, we know we are called to go beyond our borders and reach out to those less fortunate than ourselves. Here are a few of the ways we did that last year:
LOAVES & FISHES MINISTRY THANKSGIVING DESSERTS We collected sack lunches and delivered them to We collected desserts on the needy at various soup kitchen locations 5 or 6 Thanksgiving to bring to the times during the year. The Teen Ministry also St. Mary of the Lake Soup helped out with some of the collections. Kitchen. A tradition that has brought joy to many people! MARYVILLE CRISIS Tables were set up down the NURSERY center aisle of the Church and We supported the work everyone brought a pie to at Maryville’s Crisis share. Thanks to Sue Sullivan Nursery by donating and family, the desserts diapers, clothes, games and healthy food that were delivered were delivered in time for a Thanksgiving dinner treat. by dedicated parishioners. TURKEY TROT We help organize an Annual 5K Run/ Walk that families TOILETRIES GATHERED FROM TRAVEL participate in after the Thanksgiving Day Mass. All funds go The small toiletries handed out from the places we visit are to help St. Mary of the Woods parishioners that are in need. collected and passed on to people down on their luck. This was an ongoing ministry throughout 2016-17. The items ST. SYLVESTER’S CHRISTMAS were donated to soup kitchens around town. COLLECTION Once again, LENTEN SOUP & SALAD GOOD WILL DONATIONS we held a very For three years, special Christmas we hosted a collection to provide soup and salad Christmas dinner dinner before for up to 200 needy Stations of families at our sister parish St. Sylvester’s. the Cross during Lent. BABY BOTTLE PROJECT Parishioners Our parishioners donated their loose change to benefit the who came to the dinner donated money each week. This year, Woman’s Center via their annual baby bottle collection. $947 was given to Maryville Academy to help those in need. RICE BOWL PROJECT ALMS COLLECTIONS Our Lenten Project this year was in support of the We have sponsored Alms collections to assist those Catholic Charities Rice Bowl Project. We distributed groups who reach out to others. Upon recommendations, Rice Bowls, tying the sacrifice of the Lenten call to we investigate organizations and give thoughtful consideration give alms in support of those less fortunate. to assisting them. Once selected, we assign a collection weekend that doesn’t conflict with the Archdiocesan or our RACIAL / SOCIAL JUSTICE own special collections. That weekend, we set aside the Throughout the year, our Racial/Social Justice Ministry money from the loose collection that is above our normal presented interesting discussions regarding race relations and collection and earmark it for the listed organization. justice. The group also collected coats for those being deported. ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 17 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
ALTAR & ROSARY SOCIETY highlights
Annual Grand Gala Dinner & Auction
Benefiting St. Mary of the Woods School
2016-17 YEAR IN REVIEW The Altar and Rosary Society (A&R) has been at the heart of our parish life from the founding days of our parish 64 years ago. Although the times have changed, A&R’s dedication and support of the parish remain the same.
Here are just a few of the Altar & Rosary Society’s highlights from the year:
Donated $100,000 to the parish operations budget. Hosted numerous parish-wide events and activities which brought the St. Mary of the Woods community Provided $9,500 in high school scholarships through the O’Rourke Fund. together including All-School Reunion, Mum and Wreath Sales, Bunco for Breast Cancer, LifeSource Hosted the 53rd Annual Grand Gala. The largest Blood Drive and Trivia Night. fundraiser for St. Mary of the Woods is held at the Holiday Trivia Night Inn on Touhy. Parents wine and dine together while bidding on hundreds of live and silent auction items.
Magazine Drive Held annual Magazine Drive in September to benefit the school.
Hosted the annual Breakfast with Santa and In January, held our annual Membership Mass and Wine Tasting Reception. Bake Sale along with the Stacy McDarrah Holiday Managed the Scrip Program which allows families Toy Drive benefiting the to purchase gift cards and earn rebates toward their Lutheran General tuition, while also raising funds for the Altar and Children’s Hospital. Rosary Society.
Hosted Retirement and Jubilee celebrations. Breakfast
with Santa Sponsored monthly Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheons as well as the popular hot lunch program for the school.
Continuously partner with the School Advisory Committee to maximize effectiveness of programs and build better communication between the school Toy Drive and parish.
18 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
HOLY NAME SOCIETY highlights 2016-17 YEAR IN REVIEW Golf Outing It is the goal and mission of the Holy Name Society to provide both financial and advisory leadership toward the betterment of our school and parish. Holy Name provides both financial leadership and oversees parish-wide activities promoting fitness, fun and family. The Holy Name Society has an active member on the School Board to assist in carrying out our school policies. Through its many functions and events, the Holy Name Society raises funds necessary for the operation of the school and parish and promotes “parish-wide” participation to help strengthen family interaction and values within our faith community.
Activities: The Parish Picnic was held for the second time in Wildwood Park. The Picnic was held the day before school started following a special 11:00 Mass hosted by the Family Association. The Annual Golf Outing was held September 9. More than 120 golfers and 40 sponsors played Glenview Country Club. A post-golf outing party and dinner was held in the school gym which featured some spirited games of bags and Kan Jam. Oktoberfest was held in the tented St. Mary of the Woods parking lot on Oktoberfest Friday, October 28. The winning Grand Raffle tickets were also drawn at Oktoberfest. Almost 95% of all Grand Raffle tickets were sold. The $25,000 Grand Prize was won by Peggy & Jim McSherry, parents of parishioners Katie Moran & Meghan Musbach. Thank you to the McSherry’s for donating a portion of the Grand Prize back to the Parish. Susan Baker won the $5,000 prize and Tess Naselli won the $2,500 prize. The Annual 5K Turkey Trot was held Thanksgiving Day, November 24, following 9:00 Mass. This family friendly fun run generates proceeds which help parish families in need, as well as the Danny Did Foundation. Almost 500 runners and walkers turned out for this great event. The St. Patrick’s Day Celebration was held March 10 and featured a full gymnasium of St. Patrick’s Day parishioners enjoying the tastes, sounds and traditions of Ireland. The evening featured bag pipes, Irish dancers and music from Turkey Trot our very own Parish band In Spite of Themselves. The Holy Name Society also honored Fr. Aidan O’Boyle as our Volleyball League Champs “Person of the Year” for his leadership and guidance during the past year in which we lost our Pastor Fr. Pat Cecil. Holy Name Athletics in 2016-17 included our basketball, volleyball and bowling leagues. We had our annual softball games on Memorial and Labor Day. Our parish hockey team, the Knightsticks, also did the parish proud this past year. The Holy Name Society contributed more than $50,000 to the parish and was also proud to support the Retirement Party for Fr. Ray Klees, the New Parents Welcome Night, the all-school Alumni Reunion, Parish Families in need, the 8th Grade trip to Washington D.C. and the 8th Grade Wellness Day. Contributed holiday gifts for school and parish staff. Annual Softball Games ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 19 THE YEAR IN REVIEW MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS—FAMILIES OF FAITH
September FAMILY ASSOCIATION Family Day at the Races highlights A fun day at Arlington Park The mission of the Family Association ministry is to unite for all parish families. 2017 parish families in faith and fun.
Arlington Park SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE In order to support our sister parish, St. Sylvester's, we organize an annual school supply drive. Bins are placed in the narthex for ongoing summer collection. Over the past few years we have collected hundreds of items for those in need in our sister parish. Children from St. Sylvester's have come to rely on our annual drive to get them ready for back to school. A DAY AT THE RACES Parish families gather in a special enclosure at Arlington Park to enjoy a day at the races. Kids can enjoy the petting zoo and pony rides, families share picnic fare and a good time is had by all! October PET BLESSING Pet Blessing In celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we welcome all parish pets for an annual In celebration of the Feast blessing. Dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, turtles, hedgehogs and birds gather with their human of St. Francis of Assisi, we owners for a special blessing and some tasty treats! welcomed all parish pets CHILDREN'S LITURGY OF THE WORD is an ongoing opportunity for our younger with their human owners parishioners to learn about the day's Gospel though art, craft and story. The group meets to come for a blessing! once a month during the 10:30 am Mass. See bulletin for specific monthly dates. FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN is a twice a year outing by our ministry. We travel to the Libertyville location during Advent and Lent. We work together to package food for shipment overseas to aid those in areas suffering from famine. This is a meaningful community effort to help those in need. MOTHER-SON DANCE Our newer tradition sees mothers, special persons and boys from pre-K through 5th grade gather for an evening of fun in the gym. A DJ provides the entertainment with games, refreshments and fun for all! ST. JOSEPH'S TABLE This annual tradition of Italian hospitality and charity takes place in March—close to the feast day of St. Joseph. Generous parishioners and local bakeries donate their time and baking talents to fill a bountiful table with delicious sweets and treats. Free-will offerings are accepted, the proceeds of which we donate to Feed My Starving Children.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
A parish-wide initiative sees many parish ministries participate in the weekly Stations of the
Cross during Lent. Fathers and daughters, brothers and sisters, cousins and friends actively participate in the presentation of the story of Jesus' passion and death and together enjoy
a simple supper of soup and bread. February Other FA activities include family ice skating party, mother-daughter tea, guest Mother-Son Dance An annual dance with DJ, Speakers and family movie night. games and refreshments.
St. Joseph Sweets Table was a great success! We have wonderful bakers among us who shared their talents and a generous community who, together, raised almost $400 for Feed My Starving Children.
20 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS SENIORS highlights Christmas 2016-17 YEAR IN REVIEW
Luncheon The St. Mary of the Woods Seniors will begin its third year in operation since the club was revived as a result of the 2014 Transformations program. Just like AARP, the club is open to any interested persons over age 50. The goals of our club are to provide social, educational, cultural and volunteer opportunities for our seniors. Our meetings are generally held on the second Wednesday morning of each month in the Parish Hall between 9:30 and approximately 11:00. Our total membership is about 75 persons, with attendance and active participation at our monthly meetings averaging between 35 and 40 persons.
Here is a listing of events and meeting topics covered between July 2016 and June 2017: • Two movie meetings, featuring the films “The Waking of Ned Devine” and “Up,” both of which were followed by a delicious luncheon. • Two other luncheon meetings, featuring a Senior Olympics with a Brazilian theme and a performance by “Those Were The Days Radio Players” for our belated Easter celebration. • Presentations on subjects of interest to seniors, such as Sylvia Sorgel on workout programs for physical fitness; Sheriff Tom Dart’s representatives on avoiding ID theft and telephone and in-person scams and basic safety issues for seniors; and Attorney Doug Davidson discussing wills, trusts and powers of attorney for medical and property issues. • Entertainment meetings (both parish-based and outside): JuDee Merck and her accordion for Christmas carols as part of our Christmas celebration; SMOW 2nd Graders distributing Valentines to our seniors; Arkady Bodner on the accordion and piano for a combination St. Patrick’s Day-St. Joseph’s Day celebration; and Sandy Haines with skits and musical numbers. • “Travel Treasures” Day featuring interesting souvenirs from our travels and a Below: 2nd Grade St. Mary of the Woods Games Day, featuring card and board games. students honored the SMOW Seniors with • The Deanery Senior Christmas Party at White Eagle and the Deanery Senior hand-made Valentine cards and little candy Picnic at St. Juliana’s Gym. bags at our February 8th meeting! • Senior Service Events included serving dinner at the Catholic Charities Des Plaines center and creating food packages at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville. Some of our members volunteer to work with students in our school as a result of a fine presentation by our principal Mrs. Mary Yamoah. • Cultural Events included a Chicago Architectural Foundation guided boat cruise on the Chicago River; an excursion to the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre to see the musical “Mama Mia;” and an excursion to Barrington to see the San Filippo Estate and Museum. The Seniors took the Architecture Foundation This tremendous number of interesting activities would not be possible without Cruise Tour of Chicago and had the dedicated planning and execution by our wonderful Club Officers and other a wonderful time! club volunteers. It should also be noted that each meeting features delicious baked refreshments, beautiful decorations for the hall and all the tables, and great looking name tags for all of our members in attendance. All of these things are provided by members who volunteer their time and talents to make them. In fact, the main reason why our revived St. Mary of the Woods Seniors has been so successful is because of its wonderful members who give of themselves to make this club happen. The St. Mary of the Woods Seniors look forward to many more years of friendship and interesting and enjoyable activities for our members and guests. ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 21 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS—HIGH SCHOOL AGE TEEN MINISTRY highlights Graduating Seniors Summer Reception Teen Ministry grew from a desire for more teen involvement in the Parish. Confirmation can sometimes feel like a “graduation” from the faith when there is not a next step to progress in faith development. We launched a monthly Teen-Led Mass. With a base of students involved in the Mass and interested in doing more, we began Teen Ministry. We have a Teen Ministry Board made up of parents and alumni of the program who evaluate and assist in its direction.
There are 4 components of Teen Ministry and teens lead each of these components:
LITURGY SOCIAL The teens ministered to the community through singing We went tubing during the Christmas break. in the Choir, Lectoring, being a Eucharistic Minister, ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EVENTS Ushering and Greeting parishioners who came to the Vicariate II Youth Ministry Leadership Awards Banquet monthly Teen Masses.
SCRIPTURE STUDY The teens gathered once a month to listen to the readings for the Sunday of the Teen Mass and discuss what they mean for their lives today. They participated in studying the readings and giving some reflections for the guest homilist.
SERVICE Feed My Starving Children
Teens who have been in leadership roles for two years are given an award from the Archdiocese. The teens are honored at the Vicariate II Youth Ministry Leadership Awards Banquet. This year four teens were nominated for the Vicariate II Youth The teens spent every other Friday volunteering at Feed My Ministry Leadership Awards. They were Amy Hoover, Emma Starving Children in the summer. They also made blankets Dunderdale, Emily Hoover and Ally Cantrell. Amy Hoover was for the infants at Lutheran Children's Hospital during the one of three students who was chosen to read her Witness Christmas season and sang carols in the lobby. Talk to the 400 teens, parents, youth ministers and priests We walked in the Northside Hunger Walk in September at of the Archdiocese who were in attendance. Resurrection College Prep. For the Seniors, every year we have a Blessing and Sending- Caroling at Lutheran General Off Prayer Service to ritualize their transition into college. Amy Hoover served on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Youth Council (APYC) for the second year in a row. This is a council that meets with Cardinal Cupich to talk about the Catholic Church and their experience within it.
Teen Ministry at St. Mary of the Woods gives our teens the chance to develop and grow into leaders in our Church and beyond.
22 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS ADULT FAITH FORMATION highlights
Honoring our patron Saint Mary in the 65th Anniversary of our parish, Adult Faith Formation presented this eight-part series featuring Father Don Headley as a guide into the history of where Mary lived:
We learned about the grotto of Mary’s home, the cave where Christ was born and other rarely seen places in the Holy Land. We experienced the significance of Mary and explored the Biblical roots of our beliefs about her. This series deepened our devotion to Mary as we discovered our Blessed Mother in a uniquely personal way.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS—HUMAN CONCERNS PARISHIONERS honored Those who make a difference are certainly in abundance here at our parish. Just read a few stories of parishioners who received a special honor in the past fiscal year.
JOHN KERRIGAN AND ELIZABETH WEBER October 2016 – Archbishop Blasé Cupich presented the Christifideles Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago to John Kerrigan and Elizabeth Weber at Holy Name Cathedral. This award is given to lay men and women for their dedication to the Church and its ministries.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS—PARISH CELEBRATIONS 65TH ANNIVERSARY celebration There was a special Mass and celebration this year to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of our parish and school.
May 2017—Mass, tours and reception afterward in the school gym. Many alumni from throughout our 65 years came back to celebrate our parish anniversary.
23 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS—PARISH LIFE, LITURGY AND WORSHIP supporting PARISH LIFE Making Strong Connections for the Future St. Mary of the Woods Parish is an active and vibrant community of faith. We have every reason to stay committed to keeping our parish vibrant and moving forward. We will continue to welcome new families into our parish. A STRONG AND VIBRANT PARISH (at Church and in school) is a significant asset to the Edgebrook and Wildwood neighborhoods.
St. Mary of the Woods has always been a SCHOOL PARISH. The strength of the parish VITAL statistics was traditionally measured by a vibrant school with strong participation from school parents. SACRAMENTS CELEBRATED: St. Mary of the Woods School has 358 children enrolled this year. Let us build on that for 73 Confirmations next year by promoting the great gem that is St. Mary of the Woods School, the heart of our 55 First Communions neighborhood and parish. 48 Baptisms 55 Funerals The General Offertory, or , is our single largest source of income. SUNDAY COLLECTION 8 Marriages It is vital to all of our efforts. We cannot over-emphasize the importance of your gifts to the LITURGICAL MINISTRIES: Offertory. Please consider increasing your Sunday contribution by 3% (or by whatever 91 Eucharistic Ministers you can afford). This will help the parish enormously to cover the cost of living adjustment 75 Altar Servers for salaries and help us to run the parish efficiently and support our good works outside the 55 Music Ministry Members parish. Please also consider making your Sunday donation through FaithDirect. 42 Lectors This will help the parish maintain financial stability. 22 Ushers 6 Cantors SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD: Laura Wilkison Katherine Divita Mary Kate Hickey Nicole Blazejowski Jackie Noteman Joe Cook Brian Stearney Ann McBride Betsy Kadlec RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
St. Mary of the Woods School Faculty and Teachers’ Aides ADVISORY BOARD: Janet Troher Nancy O’Neill Donella O’Donnell Bill Bunker Amy Logue Brian Wilson
Some of St. Mary of the Woods Staff Lay-out and presentation: Kathy Kaminski 7033 N. Moselle Ave., Chicago, IL 60646 Editing: Kim Weber www.smow.org Printing: J.S. Paluch Company ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 24