ATTENTION OLMC PARISHIONERS

OLMC Parishioners please read attached: A Letter from Frank Cardell to Father Benny Father Benny's reply to Frank Cardell We've have had many complaints about the heat! In addition to a substantial amount of complaints, by phone, in person and by email regarding this year's Christmas Eve Mass schedule at OLMC. Tradition and family is very important at OLMC and as Catholics and parishioners having dinner with our family and friends and attending our 10:00PM mass is a wonderful blessing. In 2016 our Christmas Eve Mass schedule was - Family Mass at 6:00PM and a 10:00PM Mass. We are questioning why the change? Contact the rectory for answers. 1-973-509-1111. Merry Christmas and God Bless! December 15, 2017 Dear Save Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Members, Recently I sent an email to Father Benny to which he responded. Below are copies of both emails. As you can see from my letter, Father Benny inherited quite a mess at Immaculate Conception Church. It was mismanaged, the property was not taken care of, and there was a great deal of mold in the rectory. Business wise, it was only right that he tackles the bigger problems first. His other problem was to tackle the financial mess that was created at IC which was totally mismanaged. Unfortunately, being new at Saint Teresa of Calcutta he is still learning and is trying to correct the problems he inherited. In time he will learn that not only can you use the assets of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Church’s cash, revenue from rectory, CCD building, parking lot and other changes at OLMC but you have to make similar changes at IC also. One of the most difficult changes should be making changes to the lay management at IC. Although the previous pastor at IC was the biggest problem, the lay management also should bear some of the responsibility for the mismanagement there as well. Although I don’t know all the details, it’s difficult to explain having a Music Director and an Assistant Music Director and spending thousands of dollars for singers at Christmas Masses in a financially strapped Church. At OLMC we were more prudent and learned not to spend what we didn’t have. I know Father Benny is overwhelmed with his current problems and it is only right that we give him time since it’s only been approximately 6 months since he assumed these responsibilities. We must be patient as I am sure he will eventually get around to letting us help him build Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish. We all must do whatever we can to help him. Remember the only people that can save OLMC Church is us. Our responsibility is to come to Church along with everyone we can bring and be counted. We must use our envelopes and support all of our fundraisers. We must continue this rally and not let up. Through all our previous efforts, we are still a viable Church and we must continue with our efforts to save our Church. As we approach the new year, let’s continue to go forward in support of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish. My best wishes to all the parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year. Sincerely Frank Cardell Emails: Father Benny I would like to commend you on the job you are doing at Saint Teresa of Calcutta. I can’t imagine you thought this was going to be easy, but we see you inherited a financial disaster IC was severely mismanaged both financially and property management wise. I hear you have been very very busy. I see from your budget you have made some changes mostly at OLMC cutting masses, eliminating the maintenance person, cutting the cost of music at masses to $100 per mass. Renting out the Rectory and CCD building, increasing the parking fees and more. I assume now that that is completed you will begin to concentrate on reducing expenses at IC. Looking at you budget it looks like payroll would be your first step. Good business management would suggest you have to change the business culture, you have to get more work from everyone, I also see your music costs are high, I don’t expect it to be $100 per mass like OLMC but a music director and an assistant, do you expect to sing your way out of these problems. This is what many people from OLMC believe you will be doing soon. Many believe whatever they give to Saint Teresa Of Calcutta Parish is going just to IC, but I understand that what you are doing is correct for now but image is important. I see you spent $6,000 to replace valve in heating system just as an aside Michael had our plumber look at valve and he said we only needed a motor for the valve at a cost of $1,500. From my experience at OLMC: you are not using the Saint Teresa of Calcutta parishioners from OLMC Church to their fullest. We could never make it from the collection basket and I don’t think that will change. We were financially sound because we went out and did fund raising to cover our costs, bingo, raffles, and many more. I don’t know if you have all the licenses to do these but if you like I can help you in this area all you have to do is ask. I can also help organize these parishioners to get these programs started. Again I think you’re doing a great job and Myself, Raffaele and all the parishioners would like to help. Sincerely Frank Cardell frankc.olmc@verizon.net Dear Frank - Thanks for your encouraging words. You are correct, I am very, very busy examining every possible angle to cut costs and raise revenue all while enhancing our parish mission. It’s not easy given all the moving parts. Be assured, working collaboratively with my staff, good financial and legal coaches, and the support of some great parishioners, I am confident in our ultimate success. All the best. Fr Benny.