Updating our Parishes’ Census

Updating our Parishes’ Census
 I want to Thank Ginny Hans, our Director of Communications, and our Administrative Assistants for undertaking the massive and most important effort to update our parishes’ Census data.  

Good phone numbers are a key to my ministry as a pastor, because one of the most important roles I have is to invite parishioners into different dimensions of ministry.  For example, when leadership roles are open to be filled, I ask pastoral council members and parishioners to give me the names of people who will make great parish leaders.  However, if I don’t have a good phone number the effort is stymied. 

As well, as five parishes work together, one factor in determining how shared expenses are divided is the number of active/giving parishioners.   Having up-to-date parish data will help us be more just. 

Thanks to parishioners who complete the data collection form, being especially careful to print phone numbers and emails address legibly!

Offering Opportunities and Encouragement
 Excellent parishes offer lots of opportunities for growth in faith and gently but persistently encourage parishioners to engage in lifelong-faith-formation.  As I say often, if we cannot point to changes we are making to grow in faith, some of which will be participating in new approaches to prayer, worship or new programs, it is quite probable that our faith is actually imperceptibly dying.  Nobody but the Father of Lies benefits from such a situation.

Therefore, knowing that we have excellent parishes and leaders, I am asking parishioners to be open to the opportunities offered over the next months and then again before and during the season of Lent.  As mentioned last week, leaders in offering new opportunities will be Meg Anderson, Director of Stewardship and Deacon Royce, Evangelization Director.  

 In addition to these more comprehensive programs, other staff members are working to provide great opportunities.  For example, Sister Janet, Pastoral Associate, is coordinating the powerful GreifShare program in our parishes.  Please see bulletin page 7 for more information.  

Another life-changing opportunity for the men of our parishes is offered in another semester of That Man is You, which is a most inspiring approach to growing in faith.  Thanks to the sixty or so men of our parishes who are regularly a part of or who have given That Man is You a test drive. See bulletin page 11 for more information. 

Phishing 
Last week, as I was back on duty after vacation, I ran into a Crescent Parishioner who had been “Phished.”  They had received a text or email from someone claiming to be Fr. Pat asking them contact “me.”  

Of course, Phishing is the term for one common, modern approach for scammers or hucksters trying to make money through deception.  They know that Christians are generous and trusting, particularly when their pastor asks for help.  The scenario is usually the same:

1. They will try to establish contact and engage in an electronic conversation via email usually or perhaps texting.  Phishers will not allow for the possibility of a phone call because that will likely expose their deception.  (I’m afraid to think how scammers might use artificial intelligence to even reproduce a pastor’s voice readily available on livestream.)
2. Phishers know that the longer the electronic conversation occurs, the more trust is built and the better the chance they will have at a successful scam. 
3. Eventually the phisher will relay some pressing need that “the pastor” is trying to alleviate.  Usually, it is some person who has a sickness and needs money help for treatment.   All this sounds reasonable.
4. Once the Phisher has someone on the line who is willing to help, an ask will be made to purchase a number of $100 gift cards so that the money can be quickly given to this person in very urgent need.  
5. Once the gift cards are purchased instructions will be given with additional emails to scratch off the cover of the ID number of the card found on the reverse side of the card and take a picture of it so that it can be redeemed quickly by the “needy” person or even the pastor himself.  Promises will be made for a quick reimbursement over the next week.
6. Once those pictures are sent the cards will be redeemed by the phisher with no recourse for recovery especially since the phisher is in another country.
7. If someone falls for the scam, the same day, another request for more money will be sent.  Unfortunately, that second request is usually successful and so a generous and trusting person is out even more money. 

Phishers know to do their homework by reading parish bulletins, especially any names that might appear there, for example parish leaders and staff member who are most often targets, because there is a sense of trust already established with the pastor.  For example, at my previous assignment in Dayton, two different staff members gave nearly $2,000 to phishers thinking it was me.  To be sure, once a phisher has used a pastor’s name to successfully scam money, likely they will follow that pastor for years.

Therefore, as we have said numerous times on our parish media, no crescent staff members including a priest will never ask a parishioner to purchase and redeem gift cards to help someone in need.
 
Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat