Parish Support

The members of our parish are the primary source of support for our parish life and our parish facilities.  Through gifts of time, talent, and treasure we are able to sustain the operation of our parish as well as provide for the programs and activities so important to our community.

It is always easier to invest in what is personally important to you.  Therefore, you are encouraged to get involved in our parish life, to experience what is being offered here, and to make your commitment.  Our challenge is to continue the work of the past, to attend to the needs of the present, and to build for the future.

The Pastor, Director of Administration, and Parish Finance Council share responsibility for developing and managing the revenue and expenses of the parish, and report to the parish concerning our financial situation on a regular basis.

Stewardship as a Way of Life

With the encouragement of our Pastoral Council and Finance Council, in the Fall of 1993, our parish began an on-going effort to educate ourselves about stewardship in the Catholic Church.  This effort promises to be an important means of spiritual growth for our parish members, and should help us plan for the future more effectively. A Stewardship committee meets regularly with a mission to inspire our parish community to live out their faith and to achieve a closer relationship with God through prayer, service and commitment.

Though new for many Catholics, stewardship is based on a biblical view of God as Creator and ourselves as servants.  From this perspective we are encouraged to develop or renew the practice of regularly reflecting on God’s love for us and the goodness of our lives.  With a sure sense of our blessings in mind we are encouraged to make gratitude the fundamental motive for our giving.  The Bible also reminds us that as servants we are accountable to God for the use (stewardship) of our gifts of time, talent, and treasure.

While our parish has many particular needs for which funds must be raised, we must continue to reflect on the fact that stewardship is much different than fund-raising.  Stewardship is rooted in one indisputable need – the need to give.  Our gratitude can so easily become a matter of words only, unless we are returning to the Lord, the giver of all gifts, a truly grateful share of our time, talent, and treasure.

With such an attitude, your family’s needs and the needs of our parish will be met – with a surplus for the future.  Such an attitude is a faith decision rooted in trust that what is left over after we have first given to God will be enough.  Over time few practices deepen faith more effectively than this decision to really put God first in our lives.

All parish members are encouraged to pray for each other that we might receive the grace of
understanding to know how God is calling each of us to be stewards, the grace of wisdom to know what we have to give, and the grace of courage to trust that we will be blessed in our giving.

A Guide for Making Your Stewardship Intention

While your commitment to giving is important for a vital parish life, FIRST spend some time experiencing our parish activities, sharing our Sunday worship, reviewing our Time and Talent Directory, and talking with other members.

SECONDLY, think about what you expect from your parish, and about the gift of your time and talent as an investment in All Saints.

FINALLY, think about what’s really possible, listen to your heart, and challenge yourself to grow.

Many find little or no time left at the end of the day. That is why it is so important for you to plan when and how you can share your time and talent with your Parish and those in need.

Your gift of treasure should also fully express your gratitude to God for all you have received. 

Planned Giving

Planned giving combines personal, financial, and estate planning concepts with a donor’s desire to support a charitable cause or organization – offering specific advantages to the donor, including tax and income benefits.

In particular, planned gifts provide a way for individuals and families to make a significant gift to All Saints Parish.  Such gifts may be for unrestricted use or may be designated for some specific purpose.  In addition, planned giving supports the donor’s belief in the value and importance of our parish’s ministries and programs – now and for years to come. 

Planned gifts include:

• Will Bequests
• Charitable Remainder Trusts
• Real Estate/Residence Gift
• Charitable Gift Annuities
• Life Insurance Policy Gifts
• Gifts of Stocks and Securities

We pray that God will always help us to be wise and generous stewards of the gifts that have been entrusted to our care.  May the generosity of all who give of themselves for the good of others always be life-giving for each person and family of our parish.

If you would like more information on how to setup a Planned Giving gift, please contact the parish office.

Parish Endowment Funds

The money in our endowment funds (the principal) is never spent.  Only the interest gained on these funds is used for the needs of our parish, and generally the use of these funds is restricted to the purposes indicated by the donor.

In January 2001 our Parish Finance Council recommended the establishment of two endowment funds for the benefit of our parish.  Members of the Council have also received information and training to develop various kinds of planned giving materials or activities that might be of interest to our parish members.  These funds are intended to support the future needs and ministries of our parish.

All Saints Cemetery Endowment

This endowment will help to insure the perpetual care and maintenance of our parish cemetery.  Not every parish has the blessing of a cemetery located so near to its church.  It is a reminder for us all – each time we gather for worship or return to our homes – that these brothers and sisters of ours have gone before us in faith and accompany us on our mission of bringing Christ to others.  Every gift to the endowment will help to guarantee that our cemetery will remain a sacred place of beauty and respect for our loved ones.

All Saints Parish Endowment

This endowment will generate significant future support for the Catholic education of our parish members of all ages and for the historic preservation of our parish church.  From the founding of our parish in 1823 our members have been committed to growing in faith as well as to passing our faith on to our children.  We have also valued highly our place of worship and have been quite responsible in maintaining its beauty and dignity.  Your generous support for this endowment will help to insure that in the years ahead the cost of Catholic education and the expense of maintaining our church will never be too great of a burden for our members to bear.

Historic Preservation Fund

Throughout the history of All Saints Parish, the ninth oldest parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the faith of our members has been centered around the celebration of the Mass.  Gathering first in homes and small log cabin structures, our community’s spiritual life was nurtured by worshiping together regularly.

Our sense of responsibility for what we have inherited from others, and our great desire to preserve the treasure of our parish church for future generations have led the Finance Council to recommend the establishment of an Historic Preservation Fund for the present and future needs of our church.

All funds received as gifts, memorials, or tributes to others through the coming years will be set aside for the on-going historic preservation of our parish church.  The 1994 Steeple Restoration Project marked the establishment of this fund and was its first major undertaking.

If you would like more information on how to contribute to one of the Parish Endowment Funds, please contact the parish office.