Saint Helen Parish

2445 N. Charles St.

Saginaw MI 48602

989-793-0618

10-Jan-05

Dear St. Helen Parishioner,

In November of last year, a group of us within the St. Helen community were asked to serve on a newly formed parish finance committee. The mission of this committee has been to assess the parish’s fiscal situation and to recommend a course of action to the pastoral committee that will ensure a solid foundation upon which the parish can continue to operate.

We were asked to do this in response to an operating budget deficit that has markedly depleted the parish’s savings over the course of the past 3-4 years. While the situation has not yet reached the crisis stage that would necessitate the hard decisions that have faced other area parishes, maintaining the current status quo will indeed bring us to that point, probably within the next 12 months. We do, at the present, have the ability to avoid a crisis and to continue to offer the spiritual services that our church community has come to expect, but it will take a small effort on the part of each and every member family of St. Helen.

To this end and as a call to action, we have proposed a fundraising effort for 2005 called STEP UP! With this program, we are asking that each family assess their own level of weekly giving over the past year and make a small increase in that weekly commitment. To aid you in your personal assessment we have enclosed two charts. The first is a breakdown of our parish’s weekly giving. The second is a guide that each family can use to determine what level of commitment is realistic and reasonable for them.

Our goal is a modest increase of $5.00 per week per family. Those families that can afford more please consider it. Those who cannot, please consider something. Every bit will help us achieve our goal together. If all 733 families participated, this small amount per family would add up to an additional $200,000 in the parish treasury over the coming year, replace lost savings, and return us to firm financial footing.

So, make the STEP UP in 2005 to keep St. Helen healthy, strong and alive!

Sincerely,

You’re Parish Finance Committee

BEYOND A TITHE

TITHE

UPPER RANGE GIVING

MIDDLE RANGE GIVING

LOWER RANGE GIVING

WEELY INCOME

15%

12%

10%

$200

$30

$24

$20

$18

$16

$14

$10

$300

$45

$36

$30

$27

$24

$21

$15

$12

$400

$60

$48

$40

$36

$32

$28

$20

$16

$12

$500

$75

$60

$50

$45

$40

$35

$25

$20

$15

$10

$600

$90

$72

$60

$54

$48

$42

$30

$24

$18

$12

$700

$105

$84

$70

$63

$56

$49

$35

$28

$21

$14

$800

$120

$96

$80

$72

$64

$56

$40

$32

$24

$16

$900

$135

$108

$90

$81

$72

$63

$45

$36

$27

$18

$1,000

$150

$120

$100

$90

$80

$70

$50

$40

$30

$20

$10

$1,100

$165

$132

$110

$99

$88

$77

$55

$44

$33

$22

$11

$2,000

$300

$240

$200

$180

$160

$140

$100

$80

$60

$40

$20

$3,000

$450

$360

$300

$270

$240

$210

$150

$120

$90

$60

$30

1. Find where YOU are on this chart (your current weekly income / giving)

2. MOVE one block to the left to determine what STEP UP % would be for you.

Total of Sunday Collection per Envelope (2004)

16 mbrs.

A REVEALING BREAKDOWN OF

24 mbrs.

$100 and up per week

OUR PARISH'S GIVING

21 mbrs.

$80.01-$100 per week

PATTERNS

25 mbrs.

$60.01-$80 per week

FIND WHERE YOU ARE ON THIS CHART

32 mbrs.

$50.01-$60 per week

(YOUR WEEKLY GIVING)

56 mbrs.

$40.01-$50 per week

82 mbrs.

$30.01-$40 per week

114 mbrs.

$20.01-$30 per week

CAN YOU MAKE ONE

140 mbrs.

$10.01-$20 per week

STEP UP THIS YEAR?

189 mbrs.

$5.01-$10 per week

45 mbrs.

$0.01-$5.00 per week

$0.00 per week

THE AUTOMATIC OFFERING PLAN

Save time.

With the automatic offering plan, you don’t need to spend time writing checks or filling out offering envelopes.

Save money and provide church security.

You’ll save on check printing costs and your bank service fees. Plus, the church can better budget its finances when they can rely on a stable, regular income base. Your offering will be made on a consistent basis, even when you’re away from home on business or vacation. Actually, it doesn’t take any time at all.

How it works.

You designate how often you want to contribute and the amount you select for your offering will be transferred automatically from your chocking/savings account to the church’s account. Each offering amount will be noted on your bank account statement.

Just complete the authorization form. Return it to the rectory with a voided check or draft.

How will my offering be made?

Our parish bookkeeper will inform your financial institution of the amount pledged and they will automatically transfer that amount from your account to the church’s account on the date(s) you select.

But what If I don’t bank where the church has its bank account?

It doesn’t matter whore you bank, be it a credit union, bank or savings & loan you’re offering can be transferred from any financial institution in the USA to our parish’s checking account.

How can I be sure my offering has been transferred properly?

The account statement from your financial institution will note your offering.

Can I change my participation in the automatic offering plan at any time?

Yes, simply call or write the parish office.

Is there a charge for this service?

No. The automatic offering plan is offered by the church and Bank One free of charge.

What should I do if I change banks or discontinue my account?

You will need to complete a new authorization form. They are always available at the parish office.

St. Helen Catholic Church

2445 N. Charles St.

AUTHORIZATION FORM

Saginaw, Ml 48602

(989) 793-0618

Name:

Address:

Zip:

Phone

I authorize the following withdrawals from my account.

Please check all that Apply and fill in the amount authorized.

Regular Sunday Collection

Diocesan Collection (as scheduled)

Name of Bank :

Account and Routing # :

Preferred method of withdrawal (circle only ONE)

( ) Checking

( ) Savings

Weekly (Wed.)

Semi-Mo. (15 th & last day)

Monthly (on the 5th)

Signature: __________________________ Date: ___________

I have attached a voided check from the above account.