On March the 4th of 2009, Archbishop Wilton Gregory came to our part of the world, and blessed the ground for our new Building a Legacy of Faith construction project. Our children and teens took up shovels and turned the earth with the Archbishop. Tons of parishioners were part of that groundbreaking, and the photo of that "Vine & Branches" event is in the narthex... an image of the living stones that make up the Church (see John 15.5 and 1 Peter 2.4-5). What a joy that day, to be a part of SJN!
Yet even with that good news, the parish struggled with everyone else in 2009, with the severe downturn in the economy. When a parishioner struggles, we... the parish family... we struggle. But we sought to care for one another. A Career Ministry team was formed, as another tool for those in hard times. We continue to offer the Financial Peace University, for those dealing with personal issues of finance and indebtedness. Our friends at the St. Vincent de Paul Society continue to work non-stop, in responding to so many in crisis.
These difficult times were not experienced only in the area of jobs and finances. In August and early September, high winds and several hail storms damaged lots of our roofs, including that of the church. You saw the result of those high winds and hail with all the leaks. Then, in latter part of September, the flood waters came.
Some say it was a "one-hundred-year" flood. Others put the bench mark at a "five-hundred-year" flood; but whatever the historians call it, we experienced the damage... in our homes, in our neighborhoods and throughout the plant of SJN. Our pre-school (the Neumann Center) was ruined. The church and Lind Hall were flooded. The school was flooded. The gym was flooded. Most every activity of the parish and school ceased for those terrible two weeks.
What a year, 2009. But listen... I have good news to share with you. Though most everyone was hurting financially, those of us that are redeeming our pledges for the BLF project are right on the money. Our redemption rate is at 90%, far above the Archdiocesan average; and though our offertory and our Annual Appeal totals are down significantly, and though we need to see an upturn in both, we've been able to pay our bills. AND, just take a look outside, and see what is growing from the red clay of Lilburn, Georgia! The good people of Rogers Construction Company have "weathered" the rains and floods, and are working overtime to give us a new worship space, probably completed sometime in May of this year. The Mass of Dedication, with Archbishop Gregory presiding, is scheduled for the evening of the 3rd of June. More information about this wonderful day will be forthcoming.
We had a tough year... lots of stresses, but the parish is strong and vibrant and alive with God's love. A group at SJN is organizing food and water and medicine deliveries to Haiti. The second collection taken up just after the earthquake raised $11,290 for the relief effort in Haiti. Our children are receiving the Sacraments of Christ. Our teens are being confirmed in the mission of Christ. Children and adults are being initiated into the mystery of Christ and his Church in our catechumenates. Couples are celebrating the sacred gift of marriage. Christ's life is being lived at SJN, in and through each of us. We have survived a difficult year, and are stronger for it.
In the coming months, we will produce a beautiful brochure of the new worship space. My hope is to raise much needed additional dollars through this brochure, as many of you might want to offer a Memorial Gift, by sponsoring the art, architecture and sacred furniture in the Sanctuary (Ambo, Altar, Crucifix, etc.). Along with this brochure, I will begin to speak about the second phase of our project, our parish hall. With about 70% of the initial three year pledge completed, I will begin to discuss the various ways we might be able to complete the renovation of the current worship space, creating a beautiful parish hall, for fellowship, for plays, for ministry, for wedding receptions, for parish life. More about this second phase a bit later.
By God's grace, we are living the life. Pray with me, that we might do all things well, for the greater glory of God... and for our joy.
Msgr. David Talley
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