BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE AFFECTED PARISHES

Saint Agnes Parish
Average attendance at the one Sunday Mass is less than 140. This represents a 65% decline since 1995.

Most parishioners live outside the parish boundaries; it no longer is a neighborhood parish.

There has been a significant decline in participants in parish devotions outside of the weekend Mass and in various ministries and faith formation programs.

During summer 2007, the weekend Mass schedule was reduced from three Masses to one Mass.

Parish has not had a balanced budget for several years.

Parish is unable to continue paying its bills.

Parish staff have had their hours reduced.

Parish membership and offertory collection revenue have been declining steadily for more than 20 years.

Sacred Heart Parish
Parish has 75 registered families; average attendance at the one weekend Mass is 74, a 25% decline since 1995. The parish membership continues to decline.

The parish does not have a plan for growing the membership nor does it have an evangelization outreach plan.

Financial records indicate that since 1997, the parish had an operational deficit in seven of those ten years.

Saint Luke Parish
Average Mass attendance at the one Sunday Mass averages 75-150. This represents a 50% decline since 1995.

Only 10 percent of the registered families live within the parish boundaries.

Declining registered families.

The cost of heating and lighting the facilities in the winter months is very high. The parish did not use the church building during the 2007-2008 winter due to financial constraints.

Parish budget has not been balanced for several years. The parish has used savings to cover the deficit. At current rates of expenditure and if no major repairs are needed, the savings may last 3-4 years.

Financial records indicate that since 1997, the parish had an operational deficit in three of those ten years.

At the present time, the parish does not have a plan to restore financial stability.