Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-05
ANNUAL REPORTS READ.
Pastors of Catholic Churches Talked
 About Their Respectiye Charges

About Their Respective Charges.
 The annual report of the condition, financially, of St Thomas parish was read yesterday at all the masses by the pastor, the Rev Father Crowley. The report caused a great surprise among the parishioners. Owing to the great accumulation of property, the erection of two large buildings, a twelve room school and a convent with almost twice that number of rooms, besides all the work that has been done around the property during the past year, such as building and grading sidewalks, grading the grounds around the new buildings and the score of other things incidental thereto, many thought the debt was at least $50,0O0. Hence the delightful surprise upon being informed by the report that it was far below that fig ure. Father Crowley said the parish cound easily stand a debt of $45,O0O land scarcely feel it. That he did not go blindly into the matter of building Ithe school and convent, but on the contrary after good deal of inquiry. Two such buildings it would be impos- sible to put up now owing to the great increase in the price of building ma- terfals. He saw by the estimate for building a public school that it will cost about what the convent and school cost, so that the parish has ac tually two buildings for the money that it would cost to-day to put up one of them. He thought the school and convent will be monuments of an era in the building line that will hardly lreturn ever again to the country, judg- ing from the way the price of every thing is going up. Tn a general way the parish was getting along first class, but it could do better, the pas tor thought, and he hoped that during the present year all the parishioners will put their shoulder to the wheel land help all they can. There is more money in the parish treasury to-day than there was at the opening of last Iyear, and while there is a good deal of work to be done yet still tine heavy fand preater part of building up the parish is over. Father Crowley re- marked upon the general improve ment in the condition of the north end l since the parish was established. Prop lerty has increased in price, the moral tone of the residents has been i'm proved and the general physical con- Idition of the people has been greatly tbettered
 The women of the. parish of St Thomas will hold a meeting this even ing in the church basement for the purpose of discussing the work incl dental to the annual fair.
 Rev Father Curtin read his annual report at the last mass yesterday The parish began the year with cash bal. Iance of S37, ,247.09. The total receipts for the year were $12,54S.30, This amount, added to the cash balance, brings the total to S49, ,795.39.. The disbursements for the year were as follows: Ordinary running expenses Io of the parish, $5.219.13; land purchase on Baldwin street, $1,50O; this left surplus over expenditures of $5,S29.11 1 to be added to the treasury, thus leavs ing a cash balance on hand on the 1st of January, 1903, of $43, ,076.26. Ths number of baptisms during the year were 154; the number of marriages p; the census of the parish taken in October last showed an enrolment of l3,310. Of these 1907 were over six teen years of age and ], ,403 under that age. The number of families was I6G2.
 At the different masses at the Sa- Ecred Heart church yesterday the Rev
 Father Shelley read the annual report
 of the finances of the parish. During ] the year the receipts amounted to $S, S,703.97, while the expenses were about $85OO. The expenditures in
 cluded $2,2O0 which was paid on the
 mortgage of the church. leaving the 3church indebtedness $9,80O The ex- Epenses also included $4o0 for painting I the church and making repairs about
 it. This is a remarkably good show ing for the Sacred Heart parish and I Father Shelley expressed his thorough
 appreciation of the generosity of those parishioners who had done their duty
 during the past year. He expressed
 the hope that the church would soon
 be freed from debt.
 At the last mass at St Ann's church yesterday morning the annual report
 of the parish was read by the Rev Father Senesac. The total receipts during the year was $14,000, while tho
 expenses were $6,500, leaving balance
 of $7,5O0 in the church treasury. There is not a cent of debt on the church I property. Two and half years ago l when Rev Father SeIresac became pas tor of St Ann's, the Indebtedness or
 the church property was $12,000. Tha
 sum has been paid and besides there
 is ST 500 in the church treasury. A re
 markable showing. indeed. The Rev I Father Senesac intends to have q new
 church erected and plans for the edifict
 are being prepared, but work on the
 church will not be commenced thi:
 year.
 Rev Father Slocum of the Immacu- late Conception parish read his annua
 report yesterday. It showed very
 successful year.
 PIKE TO BE LAUNCHED.
 San Francisco, Jan 5.-The Pike, sec
 ond of the Holland submarine boats t' be built on this coast for the govern
 ment. will be launched from the Uniol