May 20, 2013 - Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

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Page 6 The Catholic Register, May 20, 2013 SAINT ANNE: Celebrating May Crowning at Saint Anne Parish, Johnstown, were (left to right) First row: Aubrie Shingler, Adalin Matejovich, Emma Matejovich, Devyn Shingler. Second row: Leah Amsdell, Kendal Shingler and Erica Amsdell. Franciscan Father Bernard Karmanocky is pastor. (Continued From Page 3.) Religious Life FRANKIE AWARDS: Saint Francis University, Loretto, presented the 2013 Mr. Frankie and Miss Frankie Awards on Tuesday, April 23. Pictured (left to right) are: Mr. Frankie, Thomas Johnson; Saint Francis President Third Order Regular Franciscan Father Gabriel Zeis; and Miss Frankie, Christina Rombouts. Every Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. and every First Friday of the month, Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament is given in the public chapel at Carmel, followed by veneration of the relic of Saint Therese. Trips to Scotland, France, Ireland, Shrines of Europe and much more.. ranging from $3,599—$4,699. Prices are ALL-INCLUSIVE w/ Airfare from anywhere in the continental USA Italy/Switzerland: Jun. 15-27, Jun. 22-Jul. 4, Jun. 29-Jul. 11 … Italy: Jun. 15-23, Jun. 22-30, Jun. 29 -Jul. 7, Jul. 6-14, Aug. 31-Sep. 8 ... Holy Land: Jun. 10-20, Jun. 17-27, Jun. 24-Jul. 4, Aug. 26-Sep. 5 ... Holy Land/Italy: Jun. 10-23, Jun. 17-30, Jun. 24-Jul. 7, Jul. 1-14… Ireland/Scotland: Jun. 15-27, Jun. 22-Jul. 4, Jun. 29-Jul. 11 ... Italy/Lourdes/Fatima: Jun. 15-27, Jun. 22-Jul. 4, Jun. 29-Jul. 11 ... 855-842-8001 | 814-479-4165 Carmela A. Dupuis - Executive Director www.proximotravel.com email: anthony@proximotravel.com New Monastery Bakerstown: On Monday, April 22, the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh, who were founded in Carrolltown in 1870 and taught in the diocese of Altoona - Johnstown for over 100 years, moved from their monastery located at 4530 Perrysville Avenue in Ross Township to the new Saint Benedict Monastery at 3526 Bakerstown Road. The Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh moved from Carrolltown to Allegheny City in the mid-1880’s. In 1926, they moved to the monastery in Ross Township and opened Saint Benedict Academy. They have been serving in western Pennsylvania and beyond in a wide variety of ministries for 143 years. This community of 50 monastic women built the monastery in Bakerstown as part of an overall plan to be good stewards of their financial resources and personnel. They are committed to continue living the 1500 year old Benedictine tradition of seeking God in community, prayer and ministry. The new monastery will serve as their home and the base from which their collaborative SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI: First Holy Communion was celebrated at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Johnstown, on Sunday, April 14. Pictured are (left to right) First row: Marcus Zierer, Kelsa Migut, Alana Murphy, Branden Wincer, Samantha Migut, Addison Gates, Lindsay Weaver. Second row: Brent Zierer, Sierra Fisher, Paige Goggin, Conventual Franciscan Father Anthony Francis Spilka (pastor), Christian Haberkorn, Connor Haberkorn, Andrew Zierer and Cecilia Neiderer (catechist). ministries flow as the Sisters continue to reach out to others in education, health care, the arts, spiritual direction and other services. They will be seeking new ways to minister to others in their new location. The Sisters are looking forward to inviting their families, friends and benefactors, and their new neighbors to visit the new monastery. Dates for these events will be announced in the near future. Schools Math Competition Loretto: The seventh annual 24 Challenge math competition was held on Friday, April 26, at Saint Michael School. Sixty students from schools in the Altoona - Johnstown Diocese participated in the competition. Awards were given to the top four students in each of five different grade level categories. Denise Nairn, a teacher at Saint Benedict School in Johnstown, organized the event. The award winners are as follows: Grade 4: 1st Place – Jack Majercsik – Saint Benedict, Johnstown; 2nd Place – Jordan Benshoff – Saint Benedict, Johnstown; 3rd Place – Caitlyn Dale – Lock Haven Catholic; (Continued On Page 13.)
The Catholic Register, May 20, 2013 Page 7 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In this edition of The Catholic Register, we are providing you an annual report on the finances of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2012. And, once again, the certified public accounting firm of Reilly, Creppage & Co., Inc. has given us an unqualified opinion as to our financial management. As we celebrate the Holy Spirit among us during these Pentecost days, it is a time of renewed joy and hope in our Church. The recent election of Pope Francis also brings excitement and optimism for Catholics around the world. Indeed, it is a time to celebrate the present and look to the future. Here in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, there is good news to report with regard to our financial situation. For the first time in two decades, our cash balance in our operating fund was positive at the end of the 2011-2012 fiscal year. As we welcome that news, we are striving to be even more efficient with our valuable resources. For example, I recently commissioned a study our 20 Catholic elementary schools to ensure that Catholic education in the Diocese remains strong and efficient in the future. A committee, comprised of 14 individuals with educational and/or financial expertise, will study areas including faith formation, governance, finances, enrollment, curriculum, technology, facilities, extra curricular activities, marketing, and development. And speaking of education, I am happy to report that the four independent Catholic high schools in the Diocese continue to grow financially stronger thanks to the work of the Boards of Trustees that manage the schools’ dayto-day business operations. This past fiscal year, the Diocese was able to reduce that amount of subsidy paid to those schools. Despite that encouraging news, challenges remain. Soon, we must address significant maintenance issues with church buildings and other Diocesan properties. Some problems have been put on hold for too long, and tackling the issues will likely come with a large price tag. We must also continue our efforts to help Catholic Charities help others. Keeping in mind the words of Jesus, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me,” the agency assists individuals and families with emergency financial help, counseling, and adoption services. Despite serving countless people every year, Catholic Charities still must turn away many others in this difficult economy. Together, we can meet these challenges. As always, I am grateful for your continued prayers and support. Please know that you, too, remain in my prayers. May our Risen Lord richly bless you, and may He continue to bless the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Sincerely in Christ, Most Reverend Mark L. Bartchak Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown The Secretariat for Temporalities in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown has a mission to support the diocesan bishop in the stewardship of temporal assets within the 8-county region of its local church. It achieves this mission through the development, management, and accounting of its temporal goods and services for the diocese’s parishes, elementary schools, agencies and administrative offices. The Finance Office ensures that internal controls are in place to safeguard church assets, and that financial activity is accounted for properly. Reviews of internal controls at parishes and elementary schools are done to help them be good stewards of their respective assets. The Diocesan Finance Council meets 5 times each year to provide advice to the bishop on the management of temporal affairs, including annual budgets for revenues and expenses. A member of the Finance Council serves as the Chair of the Mutual Aid Plan Advisory Council, which oversees the deposit-and-loan operation of the Mutual Aid Plan Trust. The individuals that provide their time and talent on these councils are shown separately in this report. The financial statements in this report reflect the accounting of the diocesan offices for the past 3 years, including Catholic Charities. Parishes and schools produce their own separate reports and are not included here. Also not included are the separate funds kept by the Diocese for Second Century scholarships, medical benefits, pensions and insurance, and building values. The numbers shown here are from the Diocese’s audited financial statements, with a “clean” opinion each year by the independent auditor, Reilly, Creppage & Company. A clean opinion means the statements fairly presented the financial position in all material respects. The Central Office of the Diocese receives about 80% of its annual income from 3 sources: the Cathedraticum (known as the Parish Assessment); the Education & Evangelization Assessment; and the Annual Catholic Appeal. The amounts for all 3 of these are predetermined as a percentage of parish incomes. As parish income goes up or down, so does the diocesan income. This requires the Diocese to adjust its spending according to the economics of its parishes. In addition to this restriction, the diocesan budgets for the past several years have successfully trimmed spending wherever it could without sacrificing important ministries. In the most recent fiscal year that ended June 30, 2012, some notable things happened. The cash balance at the end of the year was a positive balance for the first time in 20 years! An extra contribution of $250,000 was made to the Pension Plan for Lay Employees to reduce the unfunded liability for future retirees. The amount of subsidy paid to support the independent high schools was reduced by ($97,818), from $1,660,229 to $1,562,411. The money saved by this reduction was used to help pay for evangelization costs in the offices of Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Campus Ministry, and the Fulton County Mission. In recent years, when many of our own faithful are feeling the impact of a slow moving economy, it is gratifying to know that it is still a priority to give financial support to our local churches and schools. The works of the Diocese depend upon that generosity. On behalf of all the hard-working people that carry out your diocesan ministries – Thank you! Larry R. Sutton Chief Financial Officer The Diocese Of Altoona - Johnstown Financial Accountability Report For Year Ended June 30, 2012
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May 20, 2013 - Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

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