2012 PRESS RELEASE
125 years ago, God revealed to
Father Lestanc, OMI that he must build a shrine to honor St. Anne,
grandmother of Jesus. The Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage Company
Board continues the legacy and thus manages and oversees the annual
Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage in a prudent, effective and efficient manner
for dedicated Catholic pilgrims.
To the faithful Pilgrims of the Lac
Ste. Anne Pilgrimage:
The Pilgrimage will be hosted on
July 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th, 2012, with the focus on the Feast of
Ste. Anne and the Blessed Kateri Tekawitha, the first North American
Native to be declared a Saint.
As a result of the current
financial situation of the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage Company, the LSAP
Board of Directors has taken some crucial and necessary measures to
reduce our financial debt and ongoing expenses in order to continue
planning and hosting the pilgrimage every year.
Each year, the Lac Ste. Anne
Pilgrimage has become more expensive to operate, and the revenues do
not match the expenses, leaving LSAP in dire financial straits.
Therefore, the new management Board developed a Business Plan in
order to reduce the debt and pay the bills. With your help, support,
and prayers, we can overcome this financial challenge.
Some of the measures introduced to
lessen the debt are: a) shortening the length of the Pilgrimage to 4
days to cut operational costs; b) eliminating the Executive
Directors position and implementing an Events
Coordinator instead; c) eliminating the golf cart rentals; d)
contracting out the campground and facilities; e) tendering out all
of the concession booths and gift store; and f) eliminating the
accommodations and meals for volunteers.
The Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage
Company will engage in fundraising events and actively seek
sponsorship from various companies, communities, and organizations to
support the yearly Pilgrimage, and ask the Parishes who host a Mass
to donate an offering for their Mass. With continual cost
effective measures being undertaken and fundraising being
everyones responsibility, we are confident we can be debt free
within the next year or two. An annual financial report will be
provided to those interested in the revenues and expenses for the pilgrimage.
For the upcoming Lac Ste. Anne
Pilgrimage 2012, Camping Days will be on Saturday, July 21st, and
Sunday, July 22nd. The gates will open at 7:00 a.m. and close
at 11:00 p.m. until the pilgrimage is over.
Please keep the LSAP Board in your
prayers, and we hope to see you all at the Pilgrimage 2012.
Complete schedule of events to follow. |