One Heart, One Soul!

Now the whole group of those who believed
were of one heart and soul ...
Acts 4:32 
This Weekend,
​We are of One Heart and One Soul!
(February 28th announcement)
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t's Kick-Off Weekend!  The One Heart, One Soul Campaign at St. Clement is now underway.  Father Peter and our Campaign Chair, Drew Black, will be addressing the parish at all Weekend Masses.

For those who cannot join us or who'd like to read the message, it will be published on Tuesday, March 2nd.

You will soon receive a mailing that offers much more information on the parish's projects, the diocesan ministries that benefit, and how each parish will be helping other parishes in the Diocese.  Watch for the package, and if you hear from a fellow parishioner about the campaign, please welcome their call.

P.S. - If you do not receive a mailing, please be in touch with the Parish Office
and a package will be provided to you. 
Frequently-Asked Questions
Week of February 28th, 2021
  • Q.  How do you determine the pledge amounts that families are asked to consider?
  • A.  Ask amounts are based on a number of factors:  Planning study results, families' history of parish support, input from church leadership, and the understanding that for this to be successful it will require sacrificial gifts.  In other words, if the amount you are asked for is more than you anticipated, it generally means that you have been a generous supporter of the parish and/or the Diocese and is an indication of the challenge we face in reaching our goal.  Through this campaign, we are asking everyone to consider supporting the parish and the Diocese in a meaningful and sacrificial way and in a manner that works for each family.  It is not our intention to offend or embarrass anyone.  The amount requested is NOT an expectation.  It is an invitation to participate in this project at whatever level that is sacrificial and meaningful to you and your family.  We will be grateful for any support you offer.
  • Q.  Does a campaign commitment result in tax benefits?
  • A.  Gifts to the campaign are eligible for charitable tax credits that can significantly reduce the amount of tax you pay.  The specific tax credit is based on the amount of your gift and your taxable income. Donors with specific questions regarding tax benefits should contact their attorney or financial adviser.
​Our Campaign Kick-Off is Just Days Away!
(February 21st announcement)

Have you received a Campaign postcard?  Perhaps the Campaign package?
Are you excited?  Do you have questions?
Next weekend (Feb. 20th-21st), we will learn more about the campaign!

In the meantime, here follow more Frequently Asked Questions.
For the full list of FAQs and a beautiful campaign video, please visit www.oneheartonesoul.ca.​
Frequently-Asked Questions
Week of February 21st, 2021
  • Q.  Why do you emphasize making a pledge?
  • A.  Pledges allow donors to consider giving more than is possible through one-time gifts.  Parishioners are able to be more generous to their parish's campaign and the diocese through incremental giving over time.  Also, pledging is not as big a strain on household budgets.  This is important in a campaign of this magnitude.
  • Q.  How can I make a gift or pledge to the campaign?
  • A.  There will be a number of ways to make a gift or to make payments on your pledge to the campaign.  These include:
​          -   ​Setting up a pre-authorized gift (automatic withdrawal) from a chequing account.
          -   Setting up a recurring credit card payment.
          -   Paying by cash or cheque through the mail.
          -   Making a stock or securities transfer.
  • Q.  Are cash pledges the only kind of gifts?
  • A.  Because many of the needs of the campaign will require immediate funding, gifts of cash and appreciated securities are generally sought.  But trust and estate gifts are welcomed.  Donors considering a planned gift should contact the diocesan development director, Francis Doyle, at 905-528-7988 to discuss the options available.
  • Q.  Will we get reminders about our pledges during the three years of the campaign?
  • A.  Yes, regular giving updates and reminders will be sent through the Diocese.​
​Are You Ready for the Kick-Off?
(February 14th announcement)
The One Heart, One Soul campaign kick-off is just two weeks away, and St. Clement Parish is so grateful to the volunteers working on preparations.  With their help and yours, we believe the campaign will strengthen our parish in important ways.

This week, we'll again feature Frequently Asked Questions about the campaign and COVID-19. For the full list of FAQs and a beautiful campaign video, please visit www.oneheartonesoul.ca.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Week of February 14th, 2021
  • Q.  What changes are being made to the campaign process because of the current situation?
  • A.  The options for parish projects that utilize campaign funds are even wider now and can include efforts to stabilize operating budgets.  Pastors and parish leaders are encouraged to further review request amounts and their use to be sensitive to parishioners'changing situations.  Also, options have been expanded on how we communicate with prospective donors.  Face-to-face meetings have been an important piece of the campaign, but safety is paramount, and a number of alternatives, such as phone calls, will be utilized so that every parishioner's situation is handled safely, sensitively and appropriately.​​
  • Q.  Won't giving now make it harder for a lot of parishioners?
  • A.  The campaign is founded on stewardship, our belief that we give back in gratitude a portion of what we've been given by God.  Stewardship isn't just for the good times in life, when we can give easily; it's for all times including the bad.  We may adjust how much we give, or to whom we give, but we continue to give -- in gratitude for and in proportion to what we've been given.  A truly sacrificial gift demonstrates our trust that God will provide what we need, though not necessarily what we want.  Stewardship isn't what KEEPS us from getting through the tough parts of life; it's what HELPS us get through them.
  • Q.  Can a parish use the campaign funds to address operating budget problems?
  • A.  Yes.  This applies to all parishes in the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 waves that designate the funds for that purpose.  Parishes that had already completed the campaign prior to COVID can use their funds only for the projects for which the money was raised.  Those parishes' challenges are not being ignored, however.  The dioceese has created a separate fund to help parishes with significant operating budget needs created because of the shut-downs.
​The One Heart, One Soul Campaign
Comes to St. Clement, Cambridge!
(February 7th announcement)
The Diocese of Hamilton’s One Heart, One Soul Campaign has raised more than $22 million so far, with most of it benefiting parishes and the projects of their choosing.  Our parish will kick off its participation in the campaign on Feb. 27th-28th.

For the next few weeks, we’ll feature Frequently Asked Questions about the campaign, beginning with questions related to COVID-19. For the full list of FAQs and much more about the campaign, please visit ​www.oneheartonesoul.ca​.
Frequently-Asked Questions
(February 7th, 2021)
  • Q.  Why are we doing the campaign?  With the virus, shouldn’t we be focused on other priorities?
  • A.  From the beginning, this campaign has been primarily about strengthening our parishes.  Because of the pandemic, our parishes have even greater needs than when we started.  Because the campaign is in place, we are in a better position than almost any diocese in North America to help our parishes recover from the blows suffered from COVID-19.  The campaign offers parishes the opportunity to better fulfill their missions. There is no greater priority than that.  Let’s make something extraordinarily positive for our Church out of something extraordinarily challenging!
  • Q.  How can we ask for money from people who lost their job or are otherwise hurting financially because of the virus?
  • A.  We certainly are very sensitive to the struggles parishioners are facing, whether related to the virus or not.  That’s why we work with pastors and leaders at parishes to set and review request amounts.  That process will be even more important throughout the rest of the campaign.  It is not foolproof, though. Pastors do not know every parishioner’s situation.  But there is never an intention to be insensitive to a parishioner’s suffering.  Meanwhile, some parishioners are in a position to give now, and they want to help.  The campaign gives them the opportunity to help and the confidence of knowing how the money will be used. Be assured that only those who are able to give are expected to do so, and ultimately the decision is between the donor and the Lord.