Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Praised be to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! For while we were sinners deserving death Christ died for us that we might be saved for eternal life. This is the Good News echoed in St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Our mission at St. Columbkille Catholic Parish is to Worship God, Serve Others, and Grow Disciples of Jesus. I am happy to say St. Columbkille continues to be a sacred place where Jesus is personally encountered, intentionally followed and joyfully shared! Thank you for worshiping together, serving those in need, and growing spiritually as men, women and children filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. 

This report gives a snapshot of exactly how we are fulfilling our shared mission over the past 12 months. Statistics only tell part of the story, when we see them, we need to understand the love and hard work behind the numbers. Your giving to our parish is not only an act of worship, it is an investment in the faith life of so many future parishioners who have yet to step through our doors to pray. Several months ago a young woman I’d never seen before approached me after our 10 AM Sunday Mass, her eyes welling up with tears. Her mother had just passed away suddenly from a stroke two days prior…before I could offer my condolences she told me that one of our parishioners (a good samaritan) spent thirty minutes with her mother a week before she died - praying with her the litany of trust, making her laugh and feel special in God’s eyes. With tears in her eyes the daughter said, “I promised my mom I would come back to Jesus…and that good samaritan from your church showed me Jesus that day, that’s why I am here.” I was overwhelmed with joy, what a grace filled moment! This young woman came to St. Columbkille because she met Jesus in just one of our parishioners acting like Christ in the world. 

Stories like this remind us that every act of faith, generosity, and service has a ripple effect far beyond what we can see. They show how God works through each of us to bring hope, comfort, and connection to others. This spirit of giving is at the heart of stewardship. We must recognize that all we have is a gift from God. As we reflect on the impact of our parish over the past year, we are invited to consider how our time, talents, and treasures help sustain and grow this mission, ensuring that stories like these continue to unfold in the years ahead.

Our parish is growing stronger with Jesus because of dedicated parishioners like you. I ask that you pray about your financial giving to our parish for the year ahead. Giving draws us closer to God, grows our character and expresses our love for people. There is no better investment in the world than our local Catholic parish because at St. Columbkille people meet Jesus and lives are transformed by the Gospel. 

When thinking about your financial stewardship giving this year, please use the following Five P’s of Giving to guide you in your decision making: