AN INCREASED OFFERTORY PROGRAM FOR OUR PARISH

This weekend, Fr. Americo Santos, our Pastor, is speaking at each Mass to announce the beginning of a new program that will prove to be very important for the life of our parish. The program, the Saint Peter Parish Increased Offertory Program (IOP), is aimed at each parishioner worshipping here at our parish. All adult wage earners are asked to participate by making a commitment, to the best of their financial ability, in our Sunday Offertory Collection. In this, we are asking each parishioner to reflect on the importance of the program and their role as stewards of this parish. No matter the amount, an increased contribution will help our parish greatly.

In two weeks, you will be asked to bring your COMMITMENT FORM to Mass, since that weekend is designated as “COMMITMENT WEEKEND” for our Increased Offertory Program. You will soon receive the Commitment Form in the mail along with detailed information about this program. Your commitment and your generosity will mean so much to our parish and will have a significant impact for generations to come. If we join together and make an intentional decision, we will be successful in this important parish
endeavor.

If you are going to be out-of-town or unable to attend Mass that weekend, please drop off your Commitment Form at the Parish Office or simply place it in the collection basket the following weekend. It can also be mailed directly to the Parish Office.

“Commitment Weekend”
September 27-28

Our Parish Community is a reflection of each of its members. Your generosity will determine what this community can do or cannot do. A small sacrifice will make a big difference.

Please see Fr. Americo’s letter to the Family of Saint Peter below.

Dear Family of Saint Peter Parish,

“Where there is no vision, the people will perish.” ~ Proverbs 29:18

As the Pastor of Saint Peter Parish, I want to express my deep gratitude for the faith and commitment our community demonstrates, both within our Parish and throughout the city of Cambridge. The compassion and care that parishioners show toward one another, along with their desire to help those in need, are truly commendable. Many of you are actively involved in organizations that assist those in our community who are struggling. I also extend my heartfelt thanks for your generous contributions to the Parish, both through our weekly collections and in supporting our ministries and services.

I want to take a moment to reflect on the invitation from God to recognize the abundance of His blessings that we receive every day. We should be thankful for all we have from God.

When discussing generosity, we often frame it within the context of stewardship, which includes our time, talents, and resources. Each of us is a steward of God’s gifts, and we share the responsibility of utilizing them to uplift our Parish, its ministries, and our school, “Saint Peter.” Our vision, given to the Church by Jesus Christ, is to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” To fulfill this vision, our mission is to welcome everyone to encounter Jesus Christ through the Sacraments, prayer, study, acts of generosity, and service to others.

In this spirit of generosity, I am excited to introduce the Increased Offertory Program (IOP) here at Saint Peter Parish this September.

To achieve our goals for this program, we have two specific requests: First, for those who currently do not contribute, we kindly ask that you begin to do so; second, we encourage all parishioners to consider increasing their offertory contributions each weekend. We are not asking you to give more than you can afford, but we do request that you prioritize your contributions to our Parish in your family budget. I understand that this may require some sacrifice, especially with the rising costs of living, but it is a collective effort that will enable us to better serve you and our community. Our ability to provide services as a Parish and support our school depends on this collaboration.

Discussing finances can be uncomfortable, and I prefer to avoid this topic. However, it is necessary, and I trust that you understand the difficult decisions that come with budgeting at home. Our Parish faces similar challenges. In making this request for increased giving, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of regular contributions while also highlighting the significant financial burden we carry in maintaining our Parish, its programs, and its facilities, particularly in our aging buildings. We are committed to financial transparency and will always inform you about how your contributions are used to support our parish community.

I am immensely grateful for your prayers, support and encouragement. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Americo Santos