www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer prayers for my parish

My parish has reached a critical point. We have been barely hanging on financially for years now, but each year has brought an unexpected reprieve from financial disaster. Some years, it has been a bequest from a deceased parishioner, another year it was a large gift from an unexpected donor. In the next month or so our accounts will be drained and we will be unable to meet our basic financial obligations. Our minimum operating expenses are around $6000 per month, and our total income is about 1/2 of that. In addition to being our pastor, our priest works a full-time job to support his family, and helps out at a local Roman parish.

We have 18 registered families, with 10-12 being active and regularly attending. Four years ago, the average attendance at a Sunday Divine Liturgy was 12-15 people. Now, attendance averages 50 souls. Aside from the young families, our congregation is elderly. Many of our people are converts from other faiths. Half of our congregation is under 10 years old, which bodes well for the future. The families that we have are committed and generous, but we are not enough to sustain a parish.

We have all worked so hard to keep this parish afloat. I think that it is now time to cease worrying and to put this in God's hands. With that in mind, I ask for your prayers for my parish and our continued presence, that we may be a light to our community and a refuge to those seeking a closer relationship with our Lord. I also especially beg for your prayers for my priest and his family, that they are comforted and strengthened in this very difficult time.

And if you know of any generous benefactors... well, that wouldn't hurt either.

Prayers!

I am going to mention this to some people I know who love the Church and may have money to donate.

Thank you.

I truly believe this for you...


Zephaniah 3:17
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise.

Prayers for this parish's survival and growth!

Thank you, Pani Rose and Irish Melkite for your prayers.

Joshua 1:8-9

Do not let this book of the law depart from your lips. Recite it by day and by night, that you may carefully observe all that is written in it; then you will attain your goal; then you will succeed. I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go.

Apply God's word to your situation. Don't speak words looking down, look up!

Prayers.
I just saw this. I will post an edited version of your request to our parish email. I know our parishioners and clergy at OLF will want to pray for your parish.

I just wanted to post an update here as to the state of my parish. Thank you for all of your prayers, and to those of you who have sent financial assistance, thank you as well. We have had an outpouring of support from friends and strangers alike, and it looks like we will survive into the near future. The rest is in God's hands. While we appreciate the help of our benefactors, the need to be self-sustaining is ever-present. We have experienced a small amount of growth recently, and in truth the growth, while it has come in spurts and involved one step forward, two steps back at times, has been significant in the last few years. Attendance has tripled from where it was 5 years ago, but given that our attendance hovers around 50, we still have a long way to go.

Continued prayers are always appreciated.

Glory Be To Jesus Christ!

Glad to hear it!

Thank you for sharing this update. Be assured St Philip's continues in our prayers at OLF.

Prayers for the continued growth of our sister's parish community, that it thrive for the spiritual well-being of its people and the glory of God!