FINANCIAL HEALTH GROWS MINISTRIES,
FOSTERS GIVING, continued

1. Observe the Golden Rule: One database! Maintaining one’s own “personal” list of family or member information outside of the central database is a recipe for inaccuracies and higher opera- tional costs. If someone in your office is doing this, it’s time for an intervention! ParishSOFT’s products use a single database to keep records current and consistent for everyone and to put pow- erful information behind everything you do. Good data is essen- tial for keeping connected with people. If you need to get infor- mation out of your database in a particular format, contact us, and we’ll be happy to help you.
   
   
2. Automate, automate, automate with new technology. Accept on- line registrations with the My Own Church product. Boost your income with Online Giving. Keep better financial records with in- credible new Church Accounting (made just for churches—not
   gas stations!) Designed to connect people and the church, these new ConnectNow products are true Web applications that let staff work anytime, anywhere they have Internet access. All Connect- Now products integrate with the ParishSOFT family suite, preserving the Golden Rule of one data- base.
   
   
3. Automate with products you already have. When administrative tasks get done faster, your staff can put their creative talents to work for ministries and pastoral care. Here are some critical timesavers you can put to work today (more tips are available on www.parishsoft.com/support/faqs.asp):
   
   • Religious education—Set up classes using the student names already in your database (compliant with the Golden Rule above!). Copy an entire school year of sessions and classes and change just a few details to freshen the information for the new year (“cloning”). Register an entire class in their next
   religious education class (“promote”). See www.parishsoft.com/training for video help or the Religious Education User Guide for details.
   
   • You may also use the built-in tools to help complete sacrament completion details (“bulk register”) and student milestones (“bulk complete”), but the process for these two items still requires some labor- intensive steps, which we are planning to automate. See pages 130 amd 132 of the Religious Education Users Guide for details.
   
   • Reach out to families who are not registering for this year.
   
   Ministry scheduling—If you’re using a spreadsheet for ministry schedules, stop! The Time & Talent scheduler uses member names already in your data- base (compliant with the Golden Rule above!) and lets you create schedules for liturgy and other events efficiently. Our new ConnectNow Ministry Scheduler product will soon let your ministers handle their own substitutions and exception dates over the Web, and it integrates with the desktop, giving you the ult- imate in flexible scheduling tools.
   
   
4. Promote your online resources. Your parishioners are already using the Web for online bill payment, communication with their children’s schools and, well, most everything. It just makes sense that they should connect with their parish online, too. ParishSOFT’s new Con- nectNow programs are easy for members to use, and they make giving, scheduling and record administration easier, more accurate and convenient for everybody.
   
   
5. Know your statistics and demographics: Use data to improve finances and ministries. Your database holds a wealth of information that you can use to identify needs, build programs and bring people back to the faith. Just run your standard ParishSOFT reports or use Parish IQ to get the informa- tion you need. Then connect with exactly the right group of people. Ask members who have never volunteered before to help serve coffee and donuts after Mass. Ask a parent with a child in your Reli- gious Education program to be a catechist. Begin a special steward ship appeal to your non-givers and track their pledges using a special fund in your Offering & Pledges module.
   
   
6. Market your ministries, publicize their successes. Good public relations have a place in the parish. Tell your members which min- istries your parish offers by using your website, a brochure or both. Describe the purpose of each min- istry and the commitment level and expectations for volunteers. Provide the name of a leader who can answer questions about each ministry. Share stories throughout the year about how your ministries positively impact the community. Hold a ministry fair to sign up new volunteers, and don’t be afraid to invite someone personally to serve—sometimes the one-on-one appeal is the most effective.
   
   
7. Make giving a part of your church culture. Don’t be embar- rassed to ask for money—the truth is that without funds, there is no ministry. State your stewardship goals clearly and passionately, connect stewardship with a com- pelling vision for your ministries and look for different ways to appeal to families. Consider asking for 100% response. Give fami- lies different ways to contribute, including Online Giving by bank account or credit card. This method is the easiest for your church to administer, provides the most stable income and offers the best security for family account information. Online Giving can increase your church income at least 35%. Other EFT methods require more admin- istration, but they will work, and you can import your contributions into the Offering & Pledges module from your bank’s data file. Use your software to review how you’re doing periodically throughout the year and report your findings to the parish and individual families as appropriate.
   
   
8. Protect your finances, use sound accounting practices. Families give to the organizations they trust, and churches need to use business-proven best practices to sustain parishioners’ trust and
   reduce the risk of fraud, embezzle- ment and misuse of church funds. Independent audits, regular finance council meetings and detailed reporting all promote credibility and accountability. Accounting software like Ledger & Payables provides a standard chart of accounts to provide better information in a consistent format. It also integrates with your Parish- SOFT Offering & Pledges Pro- gram, so batch postings need to be entered only once.
   
   
9. Cut printing and mailing costs. Most of your parishioners use email and other electronic methods to manage their personal busi- ness. Delivering registration forms, schedules and reminders electronically makes sense from a financial, administrative and effectiveness perspective. 10. Learn, innovate and share. Get trained on the tools you have so you can be sure you’re using them to their fullest potential. Avoid the administrative rut by committing to continuous improvement for your parish staff. Users’ groups and webinars (ParishSOFT’s webinars are free) are great resources for best practices and reliable information on new technology for churches. The dioceses of Des Moines, Atlanta, St. Petersburg and Toledo all have active users’ groups that provide training and support. If your diocese doesn’t have a users’ group, call us, and we’ll help you get one started.
   
   Finally, update your software. ParishSOFT’s current version is 3.7.11. If you’re using something older, you’re missing out on a lot of great enhancements that could save you time and money. In this economy, financial health doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. With judicious use of your existing resources, you can reduce your costs and create more time for ministry. Incorporate the new ConnectNow products, and you can increase your income and administrative efficiencies exponentially. The economic crisis holds much promise as an opportunity for parishes to reconnect with the basics of Christian community. Nothing builds a sense of belonging more than working shoulder-to-shoulder with brothers and sisters in Christ to help others.

WELCOME NEW PARISHEScontinued

Archdiocese of Baltimore
Mount de Sales Academy, Catonsville

Diocese of Belleville
Immaculate Conception Parish, Columbia
St. Mary Parish, Mount Vernon

Diocese of Birmingham
St. Francis Xavier Parish,
Crestline Heights
Diocese of St. John the Baptist, Madison

Archdiocese of Boston
Blessed Sacrament Parish, Saugus
St. Bridget Parish, Framingham
St. Joseph Parish, Boston
St. Peter Parish, Boston
St. Thomas Aquinas, Jamaica Plain

Diocese of Bridgeport
Christ the King Parish, Bridgeport
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Wilton
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Fairfield
Sacred Heart, Danbury
Sacred Heart Parish, Greenwich
Sacred Heart Parish, Georgetown
St. Andrew, Bridgeport
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Weston
St. Gregory the Great Parish, Danbury
St. Jude Parish, Monroe
St. Mary Parish, Ridgefield
St. Matthew Parish, Norwalk
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Fairfield
Catholic Charities, Diocese of, Bridgeport
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School, Stamford
St. Clement Parish, Stamford
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Ridgefield

Diocese of Bridgeport
Christ the King Parish,
Bridgeport
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Wilton
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Fairfield
Sacred Heart, Danbury
Sacred Heart Parish, Greenwich
Sacred Heart Parish,
Georgetown
St. Andrew, Bridgeport
St. Francis of Assisi Parish,
Weston
St. Gregory the Great Parish, Danbury
St. Jude Parish, Monroe
St. Mary Parish, Ridgefield
St. Matthew Parish, Norwalk
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Fairfield
Catholic Charities, Diocese of, Bridgeport
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School, Stamford
St. Clement Parish, Stamford
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Ridgefield

Diocese of Brooklyn
Holy Family – St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Brooklyn
St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis Parish, Brooklyn

Diocese of Burlington
All Saints Parish, Richford
Annunciation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary Parish, Ludlow
Assumption of the BVM Parish, Middlebury
Blessed Sacrament Parish, Stowe
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Burlington
Holy Cross Parish, Colchester
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Wilmington
Our Lady of Seven Dolors Parish, Fair Haven
St. Amadeus Parish, Alburg
St. Anthony Parish, Bethel
St. Edward Parish, Derby Line
St. James the Greater Parish,
Island Pond
St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Burlington
St. Joseph Parish, Chester
St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish, Newport
St. Pius X Parish, Essex
Junction
St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, West Rutland
Holy Name of Mary, Ludlow
Our Lady Queen of Peace, St. Johnsbury
St. Anthony & St. George Parish, Fairfield
St. Benedict Labre (West Charleston), Derby Line
St. Bernard/Norton, Island Pond
St. Francis Cabrini (West Pawlet), Fair Haven
St. Joseph Chapel (London- derry), Chester

Diocese of Camden
Assumption BVM Parish,
Wildwood Crest
Corpus Christi Parish, Carneys Point
St. Aloysius Parish, Oaklyn
St. Martin de Porres Parish, Hammonton
St. Mary Parish, Gloucester City
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Haddon Heights
Holy Name of Jesus, Mullica Hill
Holy Trinity Parish, Margarite
Mary, Queen of All Saints, Pennsauken
St. Mary Parish, Williamstown

Diocese of Cheyenne
Holy Family Catholic Church, Afton
Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, Jackson

Archdiocese of Chicago
Our Lady Mother of the Church, Chicago
St. Gertrude Parish, Franklin Park
St. Simon the Apostle Parish, Chicago

Archdiocese of Detroit
St. Cletus Parish, Warren
St. Patrick Parish, Carleton
St. Thomas A Becket Parish, Canton

Archdiocese of Dubuque
Trinity Catholic School, Protivin

Episcopal Diocese of Easton
Trinity Cathedral Episcopal, Easton

Diocese of Fall River
Good Shephard Parish, Oak Bluffs
Santo Christo Parish, Fall River
St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Taunton

Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
St. Augustine Parish, South Bend
St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Roanoke
St. John the Baptist Parish, South Bend
St. Joseph Parish, Roanoke
St. Martin de Porres Parish, Syracuse
St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish, Bristol
St. Mary Parish, Huntington
St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, New Carlisle
St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Elkhart
Holy Family Parish, South Bend
Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Warsaw
Our Lady of Hungary Parish, South Bend
St. Bavo Parish, Mishawaka

Diocese of Fresno
St. Mary Parish, Sanger

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
St. Anne Spanish Religious
Education, Tomball

Diocese of Green Bay
All Saints Parish, Denmark
Good Shephard Parish, Chilton
Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Green Bay
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, De Pere
St. John Parish, Gillett
St. John the Baptist Parish, Seymour
St. Joseph Parish, Kellnersville
St. Lawrence Parish, Navarino
St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Green Bay
St. Mary Parish, Peshtigo
St. Michael Parish, Suring
St. Nicholas Parish, Freedom
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Bear Creek
Sacred Heart Parish, Appleton
St. Anne Parish, Coleman
St. James Parish, Cooperstown
St. Katharine Drexel Parish –
St. Francis Site, Kaukauna
St. Mary Parish, Bear Creek
St. Maximiliam Kolbe Parish, Sobieski
Stella Maris Parish, Egg Harbor

Diocese of Helena
Holy Cross Parish, Townsend
Holy Family Parish, Three Forks
Valley of Flowers Mission,
Belgrade

Diocese of Honolulu
St. Augustine By The Sea Parish, Honolulu

Diocese of Jefferson City
Sacred Heart Parish, Columbia

Diocese of Joliet
St. John the Baptist Parish, Winfield
St. Joseph, Manteno

Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Nativity of the BVM Parish,
Independence

Diocese of La Crosse
St. Paul, Bloomer

Diocese of Lincoln
Presentation Parish, Bellwood

Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Presentation of the BVM Parish, Los Angeles
St. Dorothy Parish, Glendora
St. Kevin Parish, Los Angeles
Luke the Evangelist Parish, Temple City
St. Mary Parish, Los Angeles
St. Sebastian Parish, West Los Angeles
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Ojai
Our Lady of the Assumption School, Claremont

Diocese of Madison
St. Joseph Parish, Markesan
St. Mary, Kingston
Diocese of Manchester
St. Patrick Parish, Milford

Archdiocese of Mobile
Prince of Peace Parish, Mobile

Diocese of Monterey
Nativity of Our Lady Parish, San Luis Obispo
St. William Parish, Atascadero

Archdiocese of Nassau
Sacred Heart, Nassau
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Nassau

Archdiocese of New Orleans
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Saint Bernard
St. Bernard Church, Saint Bernard
St. David Parish, New Orleans

Archdiocese of New York
St. Paul Parish, Bullville

Archdiocese of Newark
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Oakland
Sacred Heart Parish, Haworth
St. Mary Parish, Nutley
St. Philip the Apostle, Saddle Brook

Diocese of Norwich
St. John Parish, Old Saybrook

Diocese of Oakland
St. Partick Parish, Oakland

Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Oklahoma City

Archdiocese of Omaha
St. Francis Borgia Parish, Blair
St. Gerald Parish, Ralston
St. Mary Parish, Bellevue

Diocese of Owensboro
St. Mary & St. James Parish, Guthrie
St. Susan Parish, Elkton

Diocese of Paterson
St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, Morristown

Diocese of Peoria
St. John the Evangelist, Walnut

Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Sacred Heart Parish, Royersford

Diocese of Sacramento
Holy Family Parish, Portola
St. John Parish, Quincy
St. Joseph Parish, Sacramento

Diocese of Salt Lake City
J.E. Cosgriff Memorial School, Salt Lake City
Saint Paul Catholic Center, Hurricane

Archdiocese of San Antonio
St. Joseph Parish, Devine

Diocese of San Diego
St. Brigid Parish, San Diego
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Carlsbad
Our Lady of Guadalupe Reli- gious Education, Chula Vista
St. Richard Parish, Borrego Springs

Diocese of San Jose
Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, San Jose
Church of the Resurrection, Sunnyvale
Holy Cross Church, San Jose
Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Jose
Our Lady of Peace Parish & Shrine, Santa Clara
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, San Jose
St. Anthony Parish, San Jose
St. Brother Albert Chmielowski, San Jose
St. Cyprian Parish, Sunnyvale
St. Francis Cabrini Parish, San Jose
St. John the Baptist Parish, Milpitas
St. Joseph of Cupertino Parish, Cupertino
St. Justin Parish, Santa Clara
St. Mary Parish, Gilroy
St. Nicholas Parish, Los Altos
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Palo Alto
St. Thomas of Canterbury Parish, San Jose
St. Victor Parish, San Jose
St. Simon Parish, Los Altos Hills

Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe
Immaculate Conception Parish, Tome
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Los Alamos
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Villanueva
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Valle de Pojoaque, Santa Fe
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Santa Fe
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Las Vegas
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, La Joya
Sacred Heart Parish, Albu- querque
San Francisco de Asis Parish, Ranchos de Taos
San Isidro-San Jose Parish, Santa Fe
Santa Maria De La Paz Parish, Santa Fe
St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Lake Sumner
St. John the Baptist Parish, San Juan Pueblo
St. Mary Parish, Vaughn
St. Patrick & St. Joseph Parish, Raton
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Abiqulu
Our Lady of Most Holy Rosary Parish, Albuquerque

Diocese of Savannah
Sacred Heart Parish, Vidalia
Nativity of our Lord, Brunswick
St. Andrew the Apostle Mission, Vidalia

Diocese of Sioux Falls
Good Shephard Parish, Center- ville
St. George Parish, Hartford
St. Teresa of Avilla Parish, Beresford
St. Mary Parish, Wilmot

Diocese of Springfield
Forty Martyrs Parish, Tuscola
St. John the Baptist Parish,
Arcola

Diocese of Stockton
St. Jude Parish, Ceres

Diocese of Trenton
Blessed Sacrament–Divine Shepherd Parish, Trenton
Our Lady of Providence Parish, Neptune
Sacred Heart Church, Trenton
St. Ann Parish, Keansburg
St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel
St. Clement Parish, Matawan
St. George Parish, Titusville
St. Gregory the Great Church, Hamilton Square
St. Issac Jogues Parish, Marlton
St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marton
St. John Parish, Lakehurst
St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Lakewood
St. Mary Parish, New Mon- mouth
St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish, Toms River
St. Pius X Parish, Forked River
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold
St. Teresa Parish, Tuckerton
Incarnation – St. James Parish, Trenton
Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown
Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly
St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell
St. Ann Parish, Browns Mills
St. Rose Parish, Belmar
St. Vincent DePaul Parish, Yardville

Diocese of Tyler
Prince of Peace Parish,
Whitehouse

Archdiocese of Washington
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Leonardtown
St. Peter Parish, Washington, D.C.

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
St. Vincent De Paul Parish, Wheeling

Diocese of Worcester
Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Leominster
St. Peter Parish, Northbridge

Diocese of Youngstown
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Niles