November, 2009

Dear Parishioners:

We are a parish community that has been truly gifted by God and that seeks

to answer the call to share our gifts to help build God’s kingdom! Through

our common prayer and worship, our sacramental life, and a variety of

ministries of love and service we are better able to respond to the call

of Jesus: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Although I have only been at St. William’s for five months, I have already seen many instances of the great commitment and generosity of the people of this parish. As you well know, St. William’s is a very large and active parish, and I am therefore very grateful to all the staff members of the parish and to the hundreds of parishioners whose ministries sustain and develop our sacramental, educational, and community life.

We are now in the middle of our Annual Financial Stewardship Renewal. It is my prayer that you will seriously pray over and reflect upon how your financial resources are used and how you can assist the work of this parish. Without your strong financial support, we would simply not be able to provide the kinds of services and programs that we have today. The enclosed brochure suggests ways in which you might “take a step” in the level of your support.

I have also enclosed a summary of the parish’s pastoral activity over the past year as well as the Annual Financial Report. You may notice that there is an approximate deficit of $213,000. This is due to a drop in the value of the parish’s investments, which will, I hope, be reversed as the economy improves. Also, I have listed the income from the Capital Campaign and the expenditures for the Church Renovation after the totals since those figures should be in a separate category.

Lastly and most importantly, I thank you for your support of our parish over the past year. In light of the economic difficulties that we have been experiencing, this support is especially appreciated. May God bless you with his kindness and keep you ever close to Him!

Sincerely,

Rev. Robert L. Hayden

Pastor

Annual Report on

Parish Activities

and Stewardship of

its Resources

September 1, 2008 – August 31, 2009

Church

of

St. William

the Abbot

Seaford, New York

Stewards of God’s Gifts to Us

The following projects have been completed during the past twelve months.

CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW GARAGE

Shortly before last summer’s Parish Festival began, the new parish garage was completed. This large structure contains six bays for the priests’ cars and parish vehicles on the ground level and additional storage space on the ground floor and second floor. This building replaces several older garages that were in poor condition, and it provides accessible and secure storage space for items from the rectory, for maintenance supplies and equipment, and for the supplies for parish activities, (e.g., the craft fairs, the parish festival, and Christmas celebrations).

RENOVATION OF THE REAR ENTRANCE OF THE CHURCH

As part of the overall renovation of the Church, the sidewalk area around the rear entrances was expanded and renovated. Insofar as this part of the Church is for many people the main entrance, it had been decided to improve its appearance. New lighting was installed in the form of attractive light poles; the sidewalk was made larger; and four trees were planted along the border. In addition, two openings in the sidewalk were provided in case it is ever decided to add statues or memorials in this area.

RENOVATION OF THE BAPTISTRY/ST. JOSEPH CHAPEL

Another part of the Church renovation was the conversion of the old baptistery into the St. Joseph Chapel. With the already existing Chapel to Mary along the nave, we now have two beautiful Chapels for prayer and reflection. For the St. Joseph Chapel, the parish’s statues of St. William and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton were refurbished, and a new statue of St. Joseph was commissioned from the same studio that supplied the Sanctuary crucifix. The chandelier in the Chapel was one of the chandeliers that hung in the nave of the old Church, and the domed roof was renovated after the dropped ceiling was removed.

INSTALLATION OF AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PLAYGROUND

In an area between two wings of the St. William School, a rubberized surface was installed on the ground, and a fence was erected along the parking lot side. This provides a safe and secure area in which our youngest students can play. Equipment for the playground was donated by parents and is removable when necessary. The “tiny tots” equipment and the rubberized pavement give the children an attractive and, we hope, an injury-free area in which to play.

INSTALLATION OF NEW CAFETERIA LIGHTING AND

AIR CONDITIONING

The School Cafeteria is used by many different groups besides the school and was in need of better lighting and air conditioning. Throughout the year the cafeteria is used, for example, for Saturday night Bingo and for the Crafts Fairs. The accompanying picture shows Brownie Troop 3275 in the cafeteria getting ready for one of their trips.

A Summary of the Sacraments Celebrated

and

Children Formed in Our Faith

at

St. William the Abbot Church

September 1, 2008 – August 31, 2009

Baptisms	195
First Communions	255
Confirmations	288
Marriages	58
Funeral Masses and Services	177
Children in Religious Education	1,469
Catechists in Grades K through 7	181
Students in St. William the Abbot School	579
Faculty in St. William the Abbot School	25 Full Time 3 Part Time

Church of St. William the Abbot Financial Report

September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009

Revenue
Regular Collections (incl. Sunday, Easter and Christmas)	1,302,697
Catholic Ministries Appeal Rebate	28,924
Parish Festival	45,928
Parish Programs (Rel. Ed. Fees, Parish Social Ministry, Youth Ministry, Other Programs	321,043
Auxilliary Income (wedding and funeral offerings, shrines, interest on savings, donations, convent rent, The Long Island Catholic collection	43,030
Collections on Behalf of Others	59,419
TOTAL	1,801,041
Extraordinary Other Revenue (Capital Campaign)	496,652

Expenditures
Salaries	571,189
Fringe Benefits	245,654
Parish Programs (incl. Rel. Ed., St. Vincent de Paul, Youth Ministry, Parish Social Ministry)	259,827
Fund Raising	37,191
Parish School Subsidy	271,055
Printing and Office (incl. postage, mailing, printing, professional fees	133,356
Auxilliary Expenditures (incl. votive shrines, liturgical expenses, the Long Island Catholic Diocesan Assessment)	189,942
Collections on Behalf of Others	58,242
Rectory and Supply Expenses	23,672
Utilities and Maintenance	223,940
TOTAL	2,014,068
Extraordinary Capital Expenditures (Church Renovation Project)	397,091

Charitable Gift Annuity

Are you watching income from your investments decline? Here’s a choice you might not have considered that will offer you: Secure, stable payments, Attractive rates, Fixed income for life.

A Diocesan Charitable Gift Annuity will make fixed payments at an attractive rate to you – or you and your spouse – for life. This year, you will save on taxes because you’ll earn a charitable deduction. Plus, if you put stock in your gift annuity, your capital gains tax will be reduced and paid over several years. Your income will be backed by all the assets of the Diocese. After your passing, what remains will be a gift to your parish.

Here are the numbers based on a $25,000 Charitable Gift Annuity:

Your Age Every year for life you receive Rate

65 (minimum) $1,425 5.7%

70 $1,525 6.1%

75 $1,675 6.7%

80 $1,900 7.6%

85 $2,225 8.9%

90 $2,625 10.5%

For more information about a Diocesan Gift Annuity, call Barbara Kilarjian, Director of Development in the Diocese of Rockville Centre at (516) 379-5210, x 229.