Three Spiritual Considerations to Guide Your Generous Pledge

Gratitude Be motivated by gratitude to God, making a generous return to the Lord for all the blessings in your life.

“And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.” (Col 3:15)

Joy

Give freely rather than from a sense of obligation, knowing that God loves a cheerful giver and that true generosity leads to joy.

“Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Cor 9:7)

Love

Allow Jesus to fill your heart with His spirit of trust and selfless love for all those served by the Church’s ministry and mission.

“If I give away everything I own, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1Cor 13:3)

Decisions of Faith Guide

Good Shepherd Parish B I D D E F O R D, B I D D E F O R D P O O L, L Y M A N,

O L D O R C H A R D B E A C H, & S A C O, M A I N E

Our Faith Community

Today under the leadership of Msgr. René Mathieu,

our parish has over 5,300 families; making our faith

community one of the largest parishes in our diocese.

Good Shepherd Parish offers the unique worship

experience of our four church sites, along with the

idyllic seasonal chapel in Biddeford Pool. Saint James

Catholic School, though founded just over 25 years

ago, is rooted to Catholic education in our parish

dating back to at least 1882. The school currently

serves over 150 children in grades pre-K through 8

and provides an accredited academic and spiritual

education. Furthermore, parishioners have access

to many ministry programs, vibrant liturgies and a

variety of faith enriching formation programs for

children, youth and adults.

Good Shepherd Parish u 271 Main Street u Saco, ME 04072

Good Shepherd Parish

Like any home, the House of the Lord also needs upkeep and maintenance from time to time. Therefore, we are proposing to complete the following projects at our churches, school and cemeteries:

Determined through consultation with our three parish committees, as well as, many conversations with parishioners, the projects have been prioritized based on the immediacy of the need.

Tier One: Highest Priority Parish Projects to begin when funds become available

St. Joseph Church, Biddeford Restoration & Repair of the Stained Glass Windows and Sills: $550,000

St. Margaret Church, Old Orchard Beach Replace Church Siding & Trim: $200,000 Replace Church Windows: $100,000 Architectural Work on Tower: $20,000

Most Holy Trinity Church, Saco Regrade, Install Basin & Resurface Parking Lot: $50,000 Clergy Garage: $50,000

St. Philip Church, Lyman Resurface & Stripe Parking Lot: $50,000

St. James School, Biddeford Resurface & Improve School Yard: $45,000 Replace Yard Fencing & Gates with Panic Bars: $30,000 Upgrade Surveillance and Access System: $25,000

Good Shepherd Cemeteries Expand Columbarium: $90,000 Maintenance Office & Garage: $75,000

“Good Shepherd Parish became the largest parish in New England after boldly merging seven parishes. We now have the opportunity to confidently face the future with a clear expression of our faith in Jesus Christ during challenging times. I believe we can meet these challenges with the same fortitude our ancestors exhibited when planting the Catholic faith in this region of Maine. We can thus honor the past while safeguarding the future.”

~ Rev. Msgr. René Mathieu

Shepherds of Hope Campaign PARISH GOAL: $2,000,000 CHALLENGE GOAL: $2,250,000

Members of the Catholic Church have celebrated and lived their faith in what we now call Good Shepherd Parish for at least 200 years. Through the efforts of generations of faith-filled parishioners and with the support of many priests, the parish in our Catholic communities has experienced triumph and heart break, while always hope-filled. It is now the current generation’s obligation to ensure a financially viable Catholic community for the future.

Over the years, pastors with the advice of pastoral & finance councils have worked diligently to ensure that the Church had the properties it needed and could reasonably maintain. In 2019, it is clear to parish leaders that capital improvements are needed for all of our properties. Based on this need Good Shepherd Parish is conducting for the first time in its 11-year existence, a Capital Campaign to be used 100% for the benefit our parish properties.

Tier 1 Parish Projects

Tier Two: Parish Projects to follow Tier 1 St. Joseph Church, Biddeford Slate Roof Repairs: $10,000 Repointing & Resealing Exterior Brick: $20,000

St. Philip Church, Lyman Repaint Exterior Siding: $10,000

Most Holy Trinity Church, Saco Redo Rectory Foundation Brickwork, Phase I: $50,000

St. James School, Biddeford Roof Repair: $10,000

Tier Three: Parish Projects to be completed following Tier 1 & 2 St. Philips Church, Lyman Replace Church Windows: $45,000

Most Holy Trinity Church, Saco Redo Rectory Foundation Bricks, Phase II: $30,000 Replace Hall Windows, Doors & Insulation: $40,000

Parish Maintenance Reserve Fund: $500,000 With a portion designated for each parish property

Challenge Goal Projects: If we are able to reach our challenge goal of $2,250,000 the parish will be able to complete the following projects: (listed in no particular order)

St. Joseph Church, Biddeford Boiler Room Improvements & Electrical Upgrades

St. Margaret Church, Old Orchard Beach Replace Hall Roof Replace Hall Siding & Windows

Most Holy Trinity Church, Saco Rectory Siding

St. James School, Biddeford Hall Improvements

Tier 2, 3 & Challenge Goal Parish Projects