Letter from our Pastor Father Steve - December, 2022
At Saint Brigid Parish, we strive to be intentional in forming people and sending them out as disciples of Jesus in the world, in responding to his call that we hear in Luke’s gospel to Encounter, Love, and Serve Jesus, One Another, and the World.
I continue to be amazed at the ways in which you as individual disciples and all of us together as a community of faith witness to the Lord’s infinite compassion and mercy in the world in which we live and work.
As we approach the end of the calendar year and begin a new liturgical year with the season of Advent, I invite all of us together to consider prayerfully our financial support of the parish, so that we can continue to thrive in the mission entrusted to us as disciples of Jesus.
I invite you to consider an approach that I have been using annually for years. First, consider what percentage, and corresponding dollar amount, of your annual income, that you would like to set as a goal for your charitable giving. Consider giving half of this amount to the parish and the other half to other charities for which you have a passion in supporting. For the upcoming year, I have set a goal of 12% of my income, or $6,000, for charitable giving. I am committing $3,000 to the parish, or approximately $60 a week.
If you are able, I ask you to consider increasing your giving from the past year. Our parish budget for the year has a projected annual shortfall of about 9% or $120,000. About 2/3 of our total annual budget goes for priest and staff salary and benefits. We have a fantastic staff that is very dedicated to their work, and what they receive in compensation is quite modest.
Therefore I invite you to prayerfully reflect on your level of giving to the parish for the upcoming year. If you can give more, it will be a tremendous help. If you can maintain your current level of giving, I appreciate it very much. If you have had to reduce your contributions because of financial hardship, I understand.
May the Lord who is abundant in His blessings beyond all our imagining continue to be with us, to sustain us, and to guide and inspire us all.
Sincerely Yours in Christ, Father Steve Callahan
Father Steve's Stewardship Homily from Sunday, December 18, 2022
Father Steve shared this information and more on the topic of financial stewardship in his homily on Sunday, December 18, 2022. Watch the video below to hear more.
Sharing treasure - an integral part of discipleship
As members of a faith community, we know that it takes all of us to accomplish God’s work. If we all chip in, in proportion to our resources, we can make a significant impact in the lives of others—those in our parish family, in our community, and well beyond Pacific Beach. We prayerfully and intentionally consider what we are being called to give to our Sunday offering, the annual diocesan appeal, and other worthwhile causes. Also considering giving online which helps our parish be better stewards of our time and resources.
Together, we are Making an Impact!
- We Serve and Provide: by providing weekly groceries through our food pantry from the Knights of Columbus, our bi-monthly hot meal through neighbors in need, and various Give Back Sunday collections and community outreach for Compass Station, Community Christian Service Agency (CCSA), Casa de Los Pobres, and more
- We Care and Support: Bereavement, ministry to the homebound, Catholic School tuition assistance, and more
- We Gather and Grow: Mass and Sacraments, Adoration, Healing Prayer, Centering Prayer, RCIA (becoming Catholic), Connection to Christ and Reach More small groups, Gifts Discernment groups, Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) family faith formation, youth ministry, young adults, seniors, and more
Financial Trends 
While it takes a significant amount of money to maintain our parish, our focus is mission. We seek to create a culture of radical hospitality where people are welcomed as they are, accompanied as they journey the path of discipleship, and inspired and equipped to go and make disciples of others.