Letter from Father Zywan

 IMPORTANT: UPDATE ON PARISH FINANCES

Living within our means…                                                                                                               September 25, 2020
Managing the resources of a parish is not very different from managing a household budget: often, it comes down to the question “how can we provide what our family needs, given the limited resources that we have?”  In those times when our families have more resources at our disposal, it’s easier to provide those things that our families need and want. But, in those times when resources are scarce, families are often forced to make difficult choices in order to prioritize their spending in order to ensure that they don’t spend more than they’re able to afford.
Our parish and parishes throughout the Diocese are currently experiencing “lean times”.  Over the past few decades, parish registrations, Mass attendance, and contributions have been decreasing.  The effect of parish mergers, the August 2018 grand jury report and more recently COVID – 19 is being felt at each of our parishes.  Donations toward the operation of our parish has decreased significantly over the past few years and in particular since March due to COVID-19.  As a result, our parish expenses are greater than our revenues.
Recently, we had the opportunity to meet with the staff members of our parishes, as well as our Pastoral and Finance Councils.  At these meetings, we presented the reality of our current situation:

• Offertory giving has declined steadily, by $600,000 in the past 5 years, from $2.4 to $1.8 million.  Since March, weekly offertory has declined another 20% on average.  In the past year, total parish revenue including offertory and fundraising totaled $2.0 million.
• Annual operating expenses, including the subsidy the parish provides to St Elizabeth grade school to cover costs not funded by tuition and fundraising, are $2.3 million.
• As you can see, with revenue being less than expenses and with the impact of COVID likely to continue, in order to keep our faith community solvent, we must begin to “live within our means”.
• There are two aspects to the situation which we must consider.  First, I would ask all of you to consider increasing your support of our parish in our weekly offertory. God has a plan for our giving that we need to know and practice as best we can. Second, with the merger of 4 parishes there is always some overlap and duplication of staff and roles.  While some consolidation of staff has occurred in the past year, there are still areas which must be addressed.  As a result, in order to attempt to “live within our means” as a single parish, reductions in the number of staff members will be necessary.

This presents a difficult situation for all of us.  The staff members of our parishes are our friends and our family.  How can we be fair to them while being responsible with respect to the financial limitations of our parish community? Our goal is to honor the contributions that our staff members have made over the years, while continuing to be good stewards of the resources that our faith community is providing to our parishes. 
In our recent meetings with staff and councils, we discussed these issues and how we might address them.    Our commitment is to be equitable to those who have served our parish communities faithfully over the years, while also ensuring that our faith community returns to financial solvency.  As we move forward we will continue to keep you updated.  I humbly request your prayers for me as your Pastor and seeking God’s will in navigating through these difficult times.  Together as a parish family, let us pray for one another that each of us will do the best we can as stewards of God’s gifts that we may grow His Church.

                                                                                                In Jesus’ Love,
                                                                                                Father Zywan

               *********************************************************************************************************************************************

The Fourth of July
This Fourth of July weekend feels so different than the ones that have preceded it. We are separated by social distancing for safety’s sake. There are no firework displays or traditional celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our schools closed early this spring and we are visiting our relatives and friends in personal care facilities by peering through outdoor windows. Parish events have been scaled back or canceled. The Mass is beginning to be celebrated in many churches with fewer people allowed to be present. It all seems crazy! But God is with us in the midst of all things.

Though there’s much that makes us feel separated from one another, really, we are not. That’s because we are always one in Jesus, and this is what needs to be our focus.

Living in the shadow of the cross, Jesus is the perfect source of unity. Separated by sin and division, Jesus came to reunite us with our heavenly Father and one another. Jesus continues to bring and restore life.
 
On the other hand, it is the evil one who divides and continues to bring disunity and suffering into the world. Nothing makes Satan happier than when the flock is scattered and pitted against one another and our good Lord. Very simply, this is the state of sin. For all humanity, the healing remedy is to turn from sin and to turn to God.

And Jesus, who has freed us from sin and death makes this kind of change possible.

Tensions are felt in every parish grouping and newly formed parish across the diocese. Admittedly few people like change. That’s because with change there are uncertainties and the old familiar looks better than the new unknown. Just as with Moses in the desert, the Israelites complained greatly about their circumstances and wanted to go back to being slaves under the weight of Pharaoh’s rule. They grumbled and said that at least there they had food to eat and a sense of familiarity in Egypt. But through Moses, God wanted something more, something greater for His people—the Promised Land. Now, like then, we need to be united and move forward less we miss the blessings that God has intended for us. Friends, we have been charged with truly rebuilding God’s Church.

Let this Fourth of July holiday serve as a reminder not just of the unifying of our nation, but of what we are to be about as a Church and citizens of the kingdom. We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We can do this—together. Think before you speak, and pray before you think. Be intentional about building up the Church and not tearing it down by your attitudes, words, and actions. The present and future generations are counting on us to be resolute in transmitting the gospel and the sacramental life of the Church on to the end of time. Begin each day by putting on Christ. Appreciate that you—yes, you, really do make a difference, either for better or worse, but there is no standing still or sitting on the sidelines. Jesus is calling us to be all-in!

I look forward to being a part of that new Church—God’s church, and moving forward On Mission for The Church Alive! as a member of Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish. We are not just a parish in the South Hills; we are literally a city set on a hill for all the world to see. Know that I already and will continue to grow in love with you.

So, this Fourth of July, let’s celebrate our dependence on God who never abandons His Church but leads it through the Holy Spirit.  He invites us to accept a meaningful role in rebuilding the Church - one soul at a time.  Even in these awkward times, let us gather physically, virtually, or spiritually around the altar Jesus made holy.  Nourished in word and sacrament, be filled with confidence and be about God’s work, not our own.  Remain one in the love of Jesus both here on earth, and forever in heaven. These are exciting times though not without challenge.  And we are called to make a difference for and with Jesus.
 
Christmas in June!
Not long after it was made public that I was being reassigned, a parishioner from my soon to be a former assignment in Wexford asked me, why do you think Bishop Zubik reassigned you?  Besides stating the obvious that I have been there for a remarkable 22 years, I told him, I have been reassigned because the Bishop loves me. 

From the bottom of my heart, I truly believe this. Though I will deeply miss my Wexford family whom I have gotten to know, love, and be loved by, I am convinced that God renews His promises each day. I have heard wonderful things about my new parish family from a number of brother priests. I am looking forward to getting to know, pray with, and accompany you on our earthly pilgrimage. 

But besides loving me, Bishop Zubik loves you, the good people of Triumph of the Holy Cross community. I say that because following the ordination of three young men to the priesthood this past Saturday at Saint Paul Cathedral, Bishop announced that one of the newly ordained, Father Michael J. Faix (pronounced Fakes) is being assigned to us. How fantastic is that! I will let Father Faix tell you more about himself after he arrives. But for now, just PRAISE GOD!

His assignment begins on July 13. Be praying for him and his two classmates, Father Jeffrey Craig and Father Matthew Hawkins, who will also begin serving in their new assignments that same day. God is so good!

In addition to this good news, I learned that our community has a young man studying for the priesthood at the Franciscan University of Steubenville while residing at Saint Paul Seminary here in Pittsburgh. He is Nicholas Wytiaz, Wow, twice blessed! Nick is the son of Nick and Phyllis Wytiaz who are long time parishioners at Saint Elizabeth.

Friends, we have been given these two great gifts – men of discernment and witnesses of discipleship. However, each of us needs to acknowledge and embrace our responsibility to foster a spirit of holiness in our homes and among our families so that Jesus is always welcome and the one sought after. 

I look forward to doing more to foster a culture of vocations in our parish. As I have often said, vocations to the priesthood do not grow on trees!  They come from families – like yours.  

Pray with me in thanksgiving for these two men and for all our young people who are discerning how they are to respond to God’s love. 
      
The Lord is doing amazing things in His Church, and our parish is being blessed by His graces. Always, Praise God!  

                                                                                                                                                                                 In Jesus’ love,
                                                                                                                                                                                 Fr. Zywan