Christmas Mass Schedule

Christmas Eve

Tuesday, December 24
Mass at 6:00 p.m.

Christmas Day

Wednesday December 25

8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Consult the Parish bulletin or
this website in upcoming weeks

for the Mass times at the other parishes in our “Saints among 

the Saints” Family of Parishes,

and for Penance services information and other

holiday activities.

IT’S TIME TO MAKE AN ACCOUNTING, PART 1…
It’s time for our annual report to the Archdiocese of Detroit as an independent “corporate sole” which was activated about two years ago. Each parish is now considered an independent legal entity, so these reports are mandatory. I am the “President” of the Board of Directors, which consists of our Regional Bishop Robert Fisher; Fr. Jeff Day, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, and the Head of the Office of Finance and Administration of the AOD. This week will be the first half of the report; next week will be the other half.

St. Martin de Porres Parish, Warren, Michigan
President’s Report 2024 Annual Parish Corporation
Board of Directors Meeting, December 10, 2024
Items regarding our parish finance and administration:

The staff at St. Martin de Porres is the proper size for the needs of the parish. Each staff member excels at managing their individual responsibilities in a timely and efficient manner. Moreover, we work together as a team on parish-wide programs extremely well. This has not always been so. We are blessed now with the best staff in my ten years here!

Unfortunately, recent, unexpected large capital expenditures and tight budgeting has not allowed merit or cost of living adjustments in recent years. This situation will change as soon as financial circumstances permit. We anticipate giving out bonuses at Christmas and Easter rather than make the commitment of increased wages. All of this depends on how much we improve the cash flow. We successfully spend less than we budget.

The Parish Finance Council:
St. Martin de Porres has an active and committed Parish Finance Council. There is a good mix of skills and interests among the members as well as a genuine dedication to the parish community.

Parish Bookkeeper Problems:
The parish did experience two bookkeeper changes over the course of several months that caused some unforeseen problems. Due to some challenges they both faced (one of the bookkeepers came from the AOD office of Finance and Administration!) the Finance Council did not always receive the necessary financial documents required to review and adequately plan. Bills went unpaid or were past due.

At this time, with a qualified Bookkeeper now in place, the financial records are updated, reviewed, and distributed in a timely manner. Bills are being paid on time. The Finance Council has returned to a regular meeting schedule. There is an excellent flow of communication between the parish staff, the Parish Finance Council and the parishioners through meetings, periodic reports and emails, and via our parish bulletin. 

Sunday Mass attendance:
Although Sunday Mass attendance has not returned to pre-COVID 19 numbers (650 per weekend), we are slowly climbing up, with an average of 100 at the Saturday 5: 00 PM Mass, 100 at the Sunday 8:30 AM Mass, and from 150 to 200 at the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass. We initiated a “Back in the Pew” letter campaign to improve Mass attendance. The people of St. Martin de Porres Parish continue to be very generous in their financial support and in sustaining the parish budget.

​Fr. Nick

​