Dear Parishioners:
In last Sunday’s homily, I referred to the second reading, which is a passage from the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (8:7, 9, 13-15). 

Paul was preaching regarding God’s generosity to us and how we in return are called to be generous as Christ’s disciples. A mature faith allows us to realize that we have enough and more than we need and that giving is a celebration of life. Acts of love and charity are the converse of displaying envy and greed.

As the 2023-2024 fiscal year concluded last week, I wish to extend my profound gratitude for your generosity to our parishes. I am thankful to all of you for your tremendous faith and commitment to the parishes and cemeteries of Downtown Kenosha Catholic and for all the ways that you use your gifts to lift up the poor and bring light to our community. 

I wish to be transparent regarding last year’s finances, especially in light of the increased amount needed each week to support the FY 2024-25 budget, which is published in today’s bulletin. 

For FY 2023-24, St. Elizabeth budgeted $620,000.16. Parishioners gave $754,801.49 and the parish earned an additional $126,842.51 in income (religious education fees, parish events, bulletin advertisements, etc.). This is over budget which is very nice. However, we spent $1,049,785 in expenditures for a deficit of $168,141.

St. Elizabeth maintains the cemeteries of St. George and St. Casimir, which earned $246,543 in income yet spent $310,919 in expenditures for a deficit of $64,376. The parish subsidizes that deficit, so the total deficit for the corporation was $232,517 for FY 2023-2024.

St. James budgeted $265,999.76 for FY 2023-24. Parishioners gave $268,469.99 and the parish earned an additional $37,018.01 in miscellaneous income. However, we spent $465,933 in expenditures for a deficit of $160,445.

St. James maintains the cemeteries of St. James and St. Mark, which earned $46,440 in income yet spent $52,919 in expenditures for a deficit of $6,479. The parish subsidizes that deficit, so the total deficit for the corporation was $166,924 for FY 2023-24.

Some of these deficits were covered by payouts from Catholic Mutual due to settlements surrounding the St. James’ church roof and St. Elizabeth convent fire claims. This source of income will not exist during FY 2024-2025, and we cannot count on insurance money to buffer our budget moving forward.

We are always maintaining, improving, and beautifying our many facilities over time. Some of the projects that we were able to accomplish during FY 2023-24 include the following.

New roofs, gutters, and downspouts on the church, garage, and rectory; repaired and charged the air conditioning units in the church; augmented the church boiler system so it is self-feeding from the water lines; installed new underground drainage surrounding the church and rectory; completed the remodel of the servers’ sacristy (flooring, lighting, painting, and new cabinetry); began the remodel of the priest’s sacristy (flooring, lighting, floor plan, closets, and painting) in anticipation of new cabinetry; purchased new clerical vestments (chasubles, stoles, dalmatics, etc.) and tabernacle veils, which match the sets at St. Elizabeth; repairs and upgrades to bathroom plumbing; redesigned and installed a brand new unified sound system that incorporates the sanctuary, wireless, and music ministry microphones – plus the removal of the hanging speakers in the sanctuary; and regrading, sealing, and striping of the main parking lot.

Upgraded sound system with additional speakers and antennae; began the remodel of the servers’ sacristy (flooring, painting, reconfiguration of the floor plan, and lighting) and await the new cabinetry; repaired damaged areas of the rectory and outfitted with new furniture to make it habitable for additional priests; replaced the roof on the gym/auditorium; installed new sound panels and performed stage upgrades in the auditorium; repainted and made repairs to classrooms and hallways; performed upgrades to our kitchen to host parish activities, which includes the purchase of new refrigerators and freezer; a new storeroom was created by removing the old inoperable walk-in refrigerator and freezer units; electrical upgrades were performed in the Ministry Center and rectory; the altar from the old convent was returned and construction of a new chapel in the Ministry Center has begun; and the drains were cleared in the courtyard parking lot for adequate drainage.   

Upgraded the electricity in the building, installed a new pump unit for the well, and completed the installation of the new statuary and shrine at St. Casimir Cemetery. At St. George, we upgraded lighting, tuck pointed the chapel building, installed a new roof and exterior windows in the chapel building, repaired and repoured the concrete garage floor that was leaking into the structure below, and made numerous repairs on the interior of the apartment as a result of water damage.

While we submitted deficit budgets to the Archdiocese for the upcoming fiscal year, they are incredibly realistic in scope. I am confident that, through God’s blessing, each one of us will be generous with the gifts that have been bestowed upon us by the Lord. 

In addition to facilities, we are able to maintain a tremendously amazing staff and greatly impact our outreach by helping the poor and needy at our doorstep first-hand — all by being good stewards of your financial donations. Our St. Vincent DePaul conference food pantry serves more clients than any other in Kenosha, and we are only able to do that because of your generosity.

Please accept my heartfelt appreciation. I am grateful to God to be able to serve this wonderful community in downtown Kenosha.

I invite you to intentionally reflect on the blessings you have received from God and how you might use your gifts to serve others generously. May God protect you all the days of your life and bless you abundantly.

With Gratitude to God and You, 
Fr. Sean