Posted on January 20, 2019 View all news
Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus!
Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ!
The response to our Office Manager position has been astounding. I received over 150 applications. We have been able to narrow this down to about twenty candidates, and from there we will choose five to interview. I am working with a small committee to help select the right person. This person will assist me with the administrative end of running two parishes as well as manage our support staff. With so many business requirements regarding payroll, health insurance, relations with the Archdiocese, bulletins, web pages, the many repairs both of our churches need, and so many other administrative items to be concerned about, and having to do each of those items twice between two parishes, an Office Manager will be helpful. It is not as easy as it once was to run a parish or even a business.
Administration, the governance office, is only one part of what a pastor is called upon to do, while also being concerned about the sanctifying and teaching offices that properly belong to the pastor as well. I look forward to being able to focus a little more on those areas, to help grow our parishes. Please pray for whoever the final candidate will be, and that we make a wise and prudent choice.
A note regarding parking at Old St. Mary’s. The city recently, which came as a surprise, approved an Over-the-Rhine residential parking plan. Certain areas have been designated as residential permit parking only. Clay Street is one of those streets. Starting February 1, a $50 citation will be given to vehicles who park in any place that has been designated as residential parking only. Please be aware of this so that you do not get a ticket.
I have met with a member of City Council to help try to ease the burden that this places on Old St. Mary’s. While they are open to helping us, they also want to allow the plan to be in effect for a few months before modifications are made. We will be keeping a watch and study how many cars with residential permit stickers are using the parking on Clay Street on Sunday mornings. We will forward these reports to the City Council each month. Please be patient with us and know that we are working for a resolution.
I am also considering a proposal that would see our parking lots metered at times when the parish is not using the lots. This would possibly be in cooperation with another business who manages parking lots. In exchange, or with the extra revenue that this would produce for the parish, I am looking to see if other parking lots could be potentially available for our use on Sunday mornings.
These are just a few things I am currently trying to work on to assist the parishes. Please keep the success of each of these items in your prayers.
I wish each of you a blessed week ahead, and God Bless!