Since I only have ten more editions of Scott’s Corner to compose, I figured this would be a great opportunity to pitch a few of my favorite entities here at Saint John the Evangelist.
The Memorial Garden has been near and dear to my heart since taking over its management in 2009. Although I never wanted to be involved with the Memorial Garden, it has turned out to be a blessing. Sitting down with parish families to arrange the purchase of their final resting place has given me the opportunity to really learn in detail about our very diverse parish family. As a matter of fact, I have recruited a fair share of volunteers for numerous ministries through these meetings.
I have stressed the fact that waiting to purchase your plot in the garden may ultimately
cost you in the long run. There are two reasons for that statement. The first is that the cost is most likely going to increase after the first of the year and the second is that the sale of space in our garden will most likely terminate in the near future. I know I have alluded to this before but it will happen and it will most likely be sooner than later. For $1,500.00 you are securing a space in a truly spiritual environment. In addition, the garden is in perpetuity and the ground is consecrated which is recommended by the Catholic Church. The price tag for our garden is literally a fraction of what you would pay at a cemetery. With the help of our buildings and grounds committee, I can now say that our garden rivals any that I have seen in Southwest Florida for its beauty. As a matter of fact, I have had two calls in the last month from parishes in North Carolina and Northern Florida inquiring about our garden. They have heard about how well maintained and managed our garden is here at Saint John the Evangelist. JP will be taking over management of the garden after my departure. If you are interested in taking advantage of a great opportunity, please contact me and JP and I will gladly meet with you to discuss.
The Veterans’ Memorial is the focal point of our campus with the “Lest we Forget” statue located immediately in front of the church. Upon completion of the memorial, we had an influx of parishioners wishing to purchase oversized brick pavers to honor or memorialize their loved ones. Since that time, I have not really solicited the sale of pavers. There are still many prime spaces available in front of the statue and for those who have visited the memorial, the pavers are very attractive and are able to accommodate up to four lines of text with an emblem of the particular branch of military in which your loved one served. As you will see by reading the pavers, you need not be affiliated with an individual who served in the armed forces to purchase a brick paver. This is a great opportunity for you to leave your mark on Saint John the Evangelist for a rock bottom price. The cost to purchase a brick paver is only $150.00. The turn-around time for fabrication and installation is generally three weeks or less. JP will also be taking over the paver program for the Veterans’ Memorial so if you are interested in purchasing one, please give me a call and we will arrange a time to meet.
St. Vincent de Paul is one of my favorite ministries here at Saint John the Evangelist. I think we are all aware of the great work done by this amazing organization. It is this time of year when many in our area find it difficult to meet their financial obligations. Why, you ask? Many of these people are employed in the service sector of our local economy. They may work at a restaurant or hotel and recognize a significant decrease in their income during the late summer months. Late August and September are especially difficult because school is back in session and the tourism industry locally is nearly at a standstill. Much of the reserves these employees may have stashed away have evaporated and this is where St. Vincent de Paul will step in and provide assistance in the form of rent, utilities, fuel, clothing and food. The funds used by St. Vincent de Paul to provide assistance are generously donated by you, our parishioners. I would ask that you think of my comments on your way into or out of Mass and consider dropping a donation in the poor box. Your donation may be cash or check. These funds are non-assessable and 100% of your donation will be used to assist those in our local community who may be struggling to make ends meet. As I have mentioned before, the individual you may be helping could be sitting right next to you at Mass. Thanks for your consideration.
Thank you to all of our parishioners for your strong showing the first Sunday of “Undy Sunday.” The bags were overflowing by the end of the weekend and as a result, many deserving children in Collier County will have appropriate undergarments as they head back to school this week. There were also numerous donations brought directly to the parish office. Donations at Saint John the Evangelist are up over last year. Let’s finish strong this final week of “Undy Sunday.”
In His work together,
Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager