Finance Updates
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Canton Catholic Annual Report 2019-2020 Click on image below to view. 
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Strengthening Our Present. Securing our Future.
Father Rafferty Speaks About Stewardship.
Fall 2019
Fall 2019
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Dear Friends,
It has been four years since my appointment to St. John’s and over a year since I also became pastor of St. Gerard’s. Thank you for your warm welcome and support. I have often thought about what an exciting time it must have been in Canton sixty years ago. The town experienced rapid growth driven by new home construction and large families. A healthy sense of optimism led to planning for two new Catholic churches. St. John the Evangelist’s then 100 year old wooden structure was replaced with a new edifice and a new parish, St. Gerard Majella Parish opened. I enjoy hearing stories from parishioners who witnessed these events. We are all the beneficiaries of their vision, sacrifice and hard work. |
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Today, I would like to share a new initiative we are undertaking in our Canton Catholic Community. It is intended to build on our proud heritage, to ensure our sustainability and importantly, to make sure that we pass on a viable and enduring Catholic presence to future generations. As we, the present stewards of St. Gerard’s and St. John’s, seek to maintain and pass on the inheritance from an earlier generation to the next one, it is time to consider and implement new approaches.
All of us are all called to do the work of Christ. Stewardship is about doing the work of Christ. Homebound parishioners are visited and receive Holy Communion. The Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, altar servers and ushers we see at Mass, like the myriad volunteers who serve in other ministries, remind us that a parish community exists because of the commitment of its members. Our present and future sustainability requires a significant increase in offertory. With this in mind I ask you to review the contents of this brochure and consider how you and your family can help SGM/SJE. Across our nation the most vibrant parishes are those that utilize a Stewardship model. It encourages us to think about our relationship with the parish in practical and contemporary ways.
This is our opportunity to begin a new and exciting chapter in Canton’s Catholic history. Thank you for doing your part in Strengthening Our Present and Securing Our Future.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Thomas S. Rafferty
Pastor
All of us are all called to do the work of Christ. Stewardship is about doing the work of Christ. Homebound parishioners are visited and receive Holy Communion. The Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, altar servers and ushers we see at Mass, like the myriad volunteers who serve in other ministries, remind us that a parish community exists because of the commitment of its members. Our present and future sustainability requires a significant increase in offertory. With this in mind I ask you to review the contents of this brochure and consider how you and your family can help SGM/SJE. Across our nation the most vibrant parishes are those that utilize a Stewardship model. It encourages us to think about our relationship with the parish in practical and contemporary ways.
This is our opportunity to begin a new and exciting chapter in Canton’s Catholic history. Thank you for doing your part in Strengthening Our Present and Securing Our Future.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Thomas S. Rafferty
Pastor
