Management & Finance

Position Openings at the Diocese of Lafayette

Administrative Assistant for Office of Vocations and Seminarians

Assistant Case Manager for the Office of the Tribunal

The Diocese of Lafayette Central Office is currently accepting applications for the position of Administrative Assistant and another position for Assistant Case Manager for the Office of the Tribunal

Interested parties are asked to submit a completed application for employment and current resume to Jamie Prejean in the diocesan Office of Human Resources, 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette LA  70501 or via email at jprejean@diolaf.org.

Incomplete packets and/or documents will not be considered.  For a copy of the position description and application for employment, please visit the diocesan website at www.diolaf.org/employment.

Diocese of Lafayette is hiring.

St. Peter Cemetery Endowment, What Is It, And How Does It Work?

By: Ben LeBleu

As we begin the month of November, our thoughts are immediately drawn to All Saints Day and All Souls Day.  In addition to cleaning graves and placing new flowers in preparation for the blessing of the cemetery, we are asked to consider making a contribution to the St. Peter Cemetery Endowment.  Many of you graciously pay annual dues for either the graves of your loved ones, or a grave that you may have adopted.  Perhaps the question has come to mind, “How is the endowment different from the dues?  How are the funds collected from the cemetery dues used?”  Both of these are valid questions.  

The St. Peter Cemetery Endowment was formed many years ago as a result of the ardent desire of those who worked tirelessly to clean and reclaim the cemetery after it a period of less than adequate maintenance and upkeep.  The funds donated to the endowment are deposited into a dedicated, interest-bearing account with the singular purpose of providing the needed capital for the general upkeep of the cemetery in perpetuity.  The endowment differs from a savings account in that the funds of the endowment are secured and only the interest on the account may be used while the principal, or corpus of the endowment, remains unused. The interest earned by the endowment is reinvested into the endowment to assist in its growth. The donations collected from this collection are directly deposited into the endowment thus increasing the principal amount and allowing for further interest growth.  

The cemetery dues, on the other hand, that are collected each year from the annual billing are used to cover the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery as well as the utilities and insurance costs. These funds are the main source of operating revenue for the cemetery.   The dues are, at this time, able to cover most of the expenses of the year.  As we strive to maintain the cemetery and keep it as a fitting resting place, it is contingent upon our annual income from dues remaining the same or increasing slightly.  This way, we are able continue the current level of upkeep and not have to draw prematurely from the endowment.   In addition, we have been able to work with the New Iberia City Police to do regular patrols to keep the cemetery a safe place for visitors. 

We invite you to take time this month to visit our historic cemetery.  In addition to our endowment, we have several other opportunities available such as: one-time perpetual payments, sponsorships, and donor options.  It is only through your generosity that we are able to care for and preserve our historic cemetery and honor our loved ones resting there.

Message From Our Pastor

Dear Parishioners,

One of the most awkward things that a priest has to address is money, especially in terms of the weekly offertory.  However, it is the pastor’s responsibility to inform parishioners of the financial health of the parish. Two weeks ago, we published our financial disclosure for the fiscal year (July 2022-June 2023). In that report, one can see that the financial health of the parish was good as we finished the year in the black. The new fiscal year began on July 1st, 2023.  Since that time, our Sunday offertory has dropped.  It is typical that the months of June-August experience a decrease in the weekly offertory collection due to summer travel. However, this year we have not seen a steady rise in the weekly collection once September came. The collections have dropped between 15%-20% from what we count on to meet our parish budget.

I am very much aware of the sacrifices that our people make for the good of our parish. Your contribution of time, talent and treasure is always appreciated and is never taken for granted. As every contribution is helpful and significant, I would like to ask that we all consider a modest increase in our weekly contribution so that our parish can financially meet its commitment to provide ministry, programs, salaries, maintenance, etc. for the good of our parish and for our spiritual and pastoral needs.  I for my part will be increasing my weekly contribution by $5.  If we all do our part, our parish’s financial health will remain strong. 

Thank you for your prayerful consideration!

Fr. Blanda

Memorial Giving Opportunities

Our parish is always moving forward to enhance the beauty of our church and increase piety and devotion.  We are currently awaiting the arrival of some liturgical furnishings that will assist in both beautification and piety.  By popular request we have commissioned an altar rail which will be located in front of the center pews of the nave of the church.  In addition, we have commissioned the fabrication of matching sanctuary kneelers for the altar servers and a more amble cantor stand.  We have been blessed to already receive donations that just about cover the cost of the altar rail.  The list below is an account of what is still owed.  If you would like to help donate funds to any of these furnishings, please contact the parish office or simply send in a donation clearly marked that it is designated for this purpose.  These furnishings should be arriving and installed by the end of September or beginning of October.

  • Altar Rail: $445 (still owed)

  • Sanctuary Kneelers for Altar Servers: $3,125

  • Cantor’s Stand and Platform:  $2,515

Update on the 1953 Wicks Pipe Organ

Our Music Director and Organist, Ben LeBleu has given me an update concerning the repairs needed for our historic 1953 Wicks pipe organ.  I would like to take this opportunity to inform our parishioners of the current status. 

It has been determined that the organ is in need of replacing the blower motor and the winding system, as well as re-leathering the seven wind reservoirs.  Since the time of this occurrence, we have been working diligently to investigate the best way to make the needed repairs. We have received a bid of $22,000 for the replacement of the organ blower and winding system. It is estimated that the re-leathering of the reservoirs will be around $30,000.  The cost of the re-leathering cannot be exactly determined until the blower and winding system have been replaced and up and running. Once the new blower and winding system have been installed, we will better know the extent of the damage of the wind reservoirs. We are thus expecting the essential repairs of the organ to be close to $50,000. The estimated time for manufacturing, delivery, and installation of the new blower is roughly six (6) months.  

Some parishioners have already shown great interest in financially supporting this very much needed repair. We have already received $4,100 in donations designated to the repair of this noble instrument. We wish to thank those who have generously made donations. It is essential that we exercise good stewardship in caring for this historic instrument which, if completely replaced, would cost nearly two million dollars. If you would like to make a donation to the organ repair project, it would be greatly appreciated as this costly repair was not in our parish budget.  

We thank you for your patience and your understanding as we work to resolve this issue. In the meantime, we will continue to give praise to God in song by singing a capella. 

Fr. Blanda  

Pastor’s Youth Council

Dear Parishioners,

Each and every parish of our Diocese shares the same priority of concern for parish life.  When asked what areas of parish life need more attention, most people will say it is the youth.  We all agree on this as it is a challenge.  I am convinced that the formulation of a youth group in this day and age is not successful because our young people already have so many commitments with school and athletic programs.  Furthermore, if a youth group does exist, most never having more than 10-15 steady members, the activities that are offered never seem to reach the young parishioners who are not part of the youth group. I have decided to take an alternate approach here at St. Peter to reach out to the youth of our parish.  

In lieu of a youth group, I have established a Pastor’s Youth Council comprised of college students and seniors in high school. They will be working directly with me in order to create an environment here at St.  Peter Parish where there will be regular activities (spiritual, apostolic, and communal) in which all the youth of the parish are invited, not just for those who belong to an established youth group. These eight members of the Pastor’s Youth Council have already met with me to begin planning activities for the next coming months.  Stay tuned for more information as the announcement of these events unfold.

I would think that the greatest compliment concerning youth ministry here at St. Peter would be for moms and dads to say, “We love belonging to St. Peter Parish.  They offer so much for our children.”

May the Good Lord, through the intercession of St. John Bosco, intercede for us as this newly formed  Council prepares to minister to the younger parishioners of S. Peter Parish. 

Fr. Blanda

Announcement of New “St. Peter Preservation Endowment”

There is a lot of buzz about the upcoming improvements to be made here at St. Peter.  Just as important, is planning to protect what we already have and what we will have in the future.  After many months of behind-the-scenes work, an endowment has been created to help with future maintenance and repair projects.  Once a corpus is deposited, accrued interest earned on the funds can be used in the future to help with the upkeep of St. Peter.  Those who contribute to this endowment by way of a special gift, memorial or even a bequest where St. Peter Parish is left in a will, will ensure that the legacy of that special gift will live on and assist our parish in perpetuity. 

It is important that any donations to this endowment be specified for this purpose.  This endowment presents another opportunity to continue Our Legacy for Our Community for the Future.

St. Peter Preservation Endowment

Financial Report - Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022

RECEIPTS

  • Weekend Offertory Collections $723,097.37*

  • Diocesan Second Collections $12,325.56

  • Other Donations $56,372.66

  • Rental of Church & Hall $1,699.70

  • Religious Education & Youth Ministry $4,831.50

  • Interest on Endowments $28,748.10

  • Diocesan Reimbursements $23,196.71

  • Old St. Peter’s Cemetery Dues, Sales & Donations $41,348.00

  • BSA Over Goal Rebate $2,021.61

  • Candles – Sales $14,164.51

  • Profit Sharing $16,767.97

  • Centennial Campaign $4,402.74

  • Insurance Claims $8,075.00

TOTAL RECEIPTS $937,051.43

EXPENSES

  • Assessment Remitted to Diocese $119,012.19

  • Salaries & Benefits for Clergy & Lay Employees $357,819.05

  • Substitute Clergy $1,425.00

  • Contract Labor $10,826.43

  • Property/Liability Insurance $67,035.00

  • Utilities $56,286.20

  • Repairs/Maintenance $449,827.00

  • Religious and Liturgy Supplies $31,357.81

  • Office and Residential Operations $65,438.37

  • Subsidies/Contributions $30,352.53**

  • Diocesan Second Collections Remitted $12,325.56

  • Travel & Transportation $2,212.84

  • Devotional Candle Expenses $7,351.17

  • Religious Education & Youth Expenses $3,648.74

  • Advertising & Parish Ministry Expenses $26,721.30

TOTAL EXPENSES $1,241,639.19

OTHER

  • Transfer from General Savings as well as Profit Sharing and Centennial Savings for Repairs and Maintenance $348,079.77

NET RECEIPTS OVER DISBURSEMENTS $43,492.01

*Offertory collection number includes general offertory as well as all second collections that remain in the parish.

**Includes support to CHS, SES, Unexpected Pregnancy Center, and Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center.

Needed Budget Income for St. Peter Parish

Occasionally I see in some parish bulletins the reporting of the weekly collection along with the budget income figure that is needed each week. Perhaps the practice does give parishioners the visual aid to see what the weekend collection needs to be each week to make ends meet. We might in the future consider doing that here at St. Peter.

In the meantime, I though I would share with you some interesting figures. In order for our weekly offerings to reach our budget goals, the following would be the target for our weekly offertory giving and our monthly second collections:

  • General Offertory (First Collection taken each Sunday) *$11,500/week

  • Second Collection for Property and Liability Insurance **$5,500/month

  • CHS Subsidy: $2,000/bi-monthly

  • Maintenance and Repair ***$3,500/month

If we were to discontinue the second collections that stay in the parish as listed above, our general offertory collection would have to reach approximately $15,000/week.

On behalf of the Pastoral Council and our Finance Committee, we thank you for your financial commitment to St. Peter Parish.

Fr. Blanda

* This takes in to account the collections of Christmas and other Holy Days of Obligation that do not fall on Sundays.
** This would be the monthly income needed without the annual insurance appeal.
*** This is an approximate figure based on regular maintenance and repair issues. This figure does not include special projects.