Saint Agnes Church

Dear Parishioner or Friend of St. Agnes
 
            Christmas is coming, and this year it will be unusual with all the restrictions and limitations on family gatherings and ways of worshiping Our Lord. Crazy as this year has been for all of us, I need to ask the faithful who know the Church of St. Agnes to come together and help the parish. We would need one million dollars, to sustain the church for the next few years, which is not much considering the history of St. Agnes and all the good the parish has been done since 1873.
 
            My sister and brother-in-law invited me to their home on Lake George this past summer, and the idea may have started when I saw the southernmost beach, it is called “Million Dollar Beach. The Beach was constructed in 1951 for a million dollars and continues to be an outstanding place to enjoy the lake to this day, and will continue to do so for decades to come.
 
            With the COVID-19 crisis and the reduction in economic support along with the fact that St. Agnes has been operating at a deficit for years; one million dollars is not much and can help us get through the next few years. Supporting the Church of St. Agnes is not just about getting through a tough time. It is also for the decades ahead in bringing the Catholic Faith to the public square of New York City.
 
            Financial support can come through pledges over the next three to five years, putting St. Agnes in your Will, giving St. Agnes stock that has increased in value, setting up an Equity Fund. Of course, if it is possible, writing a check is the easiest way. Some of the faithful at St. Agnes could offer the parish a significant amount of money, and some can only offer a smaller amount. Either way, everyone who lives in the neighborhood and for the vast number who are commuters who work—or used to work—in Midtown Manhattan will all benefit from being generous with a great parish where people can find and stay close to God. This year your charitable donations are 100% tax-deductible.
 
            Fr. Bob and I are giving $70,000 to St. Agnes from the money we each received from our mothers' legacies. It shows that we are committed to helping in any way we can. I invite all of you to think about ways to help St. Agnes overcome our economic struggle. If nothing else, Fr. Bob and I will sleep better and feel good about investing our family’s legacies in the faith that meant so much to them. God willing, our gifts will help St. Agnes not only to continue to serve the people now but prosper for future generations.
 
God bless! Have a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
 
Let us continue to pray for St. Agnes and each other.
 
Fr. Michael J. Barrett
Pastor

143 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017   -   church@stagneschurchnyc.org