Greetings St. Tom's Parishioners,
In our Uniting in Heart parish-wide surveys over the last two years, many parishioners expressed a need for more communication in the parish. One step in that direction, taken about a year ago, is a newly formatted monthly financial report in the bulletin. Plans are underway for a “town hall” meeting where more information about our financial situation will be made known. The good news, in short, is that thanks to your wonderful generosity, St. Tom’s is stable financially and operating in the black.
Another step toward better communication is periodic updating on what’s happening in and around St. Tom’s. That’s the purpose of my writing to you today.
Over the last couple of months, a new Network Video Recorder (NVR) security camera system was installed in the church and office/classroom building. This replaced an outdated and inadequate surveillance system that left many entrances and areas without coverage. The new system utilizes POE (Power over Ethernet) cameras that are relatively easy to install, allowing our Facility Committee volunteers to install the cameras, saving considerable expense. Several security experts and the equipment vendor assisted in determining camera locations. A few additional cameras are planned to be installed in the coming weeks.
Other items of interest are:
- We recently received $15,000 for our Mother Teresa Fund from the Diocese of Lafayette to help our disadvantaged brothers and sisters in the community who are coming to St. Tom’s in greater numbers. This money was from contributions for the poor that the Diocese received, and none came from the Catholic Ministries Appeal.
- As your pastor, I recently reaffirmed the custom here that 5% of our Sunday and holy day collections be set aside to assist our twin parish in Haiti.
- We have contracted with experts for landscaping on State Street and Marsteller Avenue. Plants, bushes, and trees are being purchased in time to plant them before winter sets in.
- We have a new staff member: Abigail Treacy, a native of Connecticut and a recent graduate of Catholic University in America. Abigail is an Echo intern working on a master’s degree in theology from Notre Dame. She will serve as an associate campus minister under the direction of Dee Bernhardt. Abigail is an excellent addition to our staff.
- The photo display of priests and religious who are Purdue graduates in our Gather Space will soon be replaced, and the photos reframed thanks to parishioner Mike Devine. If you know of a priest or religious whose photo is not displayed, please get in touch with me at frtom@boilercatholics.org.
- Also, parishioner Mike Devine created and installed the new bookshelves in the Sacristry to store our Gospel lectionary and other prayer books and hymnals.
- We recently had the pavement at the bottom of the ramp leveled on the east side of the Gather Space to prevent people from tripping.
- Our Pastorate Parish Council recently held elections. Sebastian Kenny, a Ph.D. student from Indonesia known to many of us, was re-elected president; Leo Plomin was elected vice-president, and Tammy Loew was elected secretary. Both Leo and Tammy are resident parishioners.
- Fr. Steve Kuhlmann, OP, our recently arrived parochial vicar, is now in charge of overseeing the MARK group that helps disadvantaged youth with their homework on weekday afternoons at Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM); he also is the liaison to the Knights of Columbus, the Men of St. Tom's (MoST), Boiler Catholic racing and sports, and Never Alone Ministry to the Elderly (NAME). He will also participate as an advisor on a spring break trip.
- Millies @ St. Tom’s, the upscale secondhand clothing store off of Newman Hall downstairs, has surpassed expectations. In August alone, 305 students passed through our doors off the patio to access Millies. Most of these had probably never entered St. Tom’s before. Profits from the location support Central Catholic High School and St. Tom’s.
- We resumed “Name Tag Sunday” last weekend and will continue it every last weekend of the month.
- Bulletin board notices must now be approved by going to the parish office. Once an item has been approved, it will be stamped in red with the words “Approved by the Pastor.”
- St. Francis's blessing of pets will take place Sunday, Oct. 2, at 4:30 p.m. in St. Tom’s parking lot on the east side of the church building.
- Bravo! to all our generous parishioners who have supported the Dioceses’ Catholic Ministries Appeal. We are now just $1000 short of fulfilled pledges to reach our goal of $129,203. (St. Tom’s depends on a grant from the Diocese of Lafayette from contributions to the Appeal.) The deadline is December 31.
- Do you or someone you know bring Holy Communion to a loved one? If so, please request an ID card from the parish office. We can not give you the Sacrament to bring home if you do not have an ID card.
Have a blessed week!
Fr. Tom McDermott, OP