I am pleased to present the Pillars Report for the year 2002-2003.

Campaign Results
The total amount received in donations from all of our donors, as at the end of June 30, 2003 for the Pillars Trust Fund campaign is $232,000. This is just slightly ahead of the results for 2002. Again, some "special, one time" donations made this total possible.

The generous response of our community, along with additional income from our endowment fund, as well as support from community foundations, has enabled Pillars to continue to support the organizations that have come to rely on us as a major source of funding for their operations. Our main focus as always is to respond in a positive and responsible way to the requests for funding in the areas of clergy development, youth projects, and religious education in the faith.

In all, $344,000 was distributed to 29 organizations and/or projects during our fiscal year July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003.

On-going English Catholic Community Needs
Pillars will continue to strive to continue to meet the funding needs of the community as they are presented to us by our beneficiary organizations and by the Office of English Pastoral Services of the Diocese. This year has seen many changes in the Diocesan process. We are entering into a period of change in our parishes and a marshalling and sharing of personnel and resources. We expect that Pillars will be called upon to support these changes in one way or another. We are committed to remaining responsive to this challenge and to becoming partners in building a restructured pastoral community.

Among the on-going needs will be the financial support for formation and education of seminarians, and for the continuing education and well-being of all the clergy through the Diocesan Priesthood Guild – a close association that has lasted more than 30 years. The Catholic Times, now in its 26^th year of publication (the longest surviving English Catholic newspaper in the Province), is a vehicle for communication for the English Catholic parishes in Quebec, and relies almost entirely on Pillars for funding support.

Commemorating Pillars Founder
In March of this year, the English Catholic Community bade farewell to Bishop Leonard J. Crowley. Bishop Crowley was the founder of the Pillars Trust Fund and was the inspiration for the development of its unique character for close to twenty-five years. He encouraged the laity to identify the needs of the community, and to initiate and implement the strategies and projects necessary to meet these needs. He will long be remembered as a man of wisdom and of vision, an engaging presence, and a well-respected leader of the pastoral needs of the English-speaking Catholic community of Montreal. His legacy to this community is one of confidence and empowerment. May he rest in peace.

Appreciation
Pillars Trust is a community-based, volunteer organization, and the Board of Directors is an active, hands-on-Board. I am grateful to all the members of the Board for their dedication and support over these past two years. Bishop Anthony Mancini has always been available with encouragement and support. I assure him of our prayers as he continues to shoulder so many responsibilities in the Diocese. To Monsignor Sean Harty, Director of the Office for English Pastoral Affairs, I offer our appreciation for his spirit of openness as he encourages us to participate in the many aspects of renewal which will mark our next stage of pastoral growth. I am also delighted that he has agreed to serve as a Director on our Board.

I thank the members of the Board for their willingness to participate in the initiative and activities undertaken to make Pillars a viable institution in the community. I also thank all the volunteers who help us carry out our campaign, particularly all those who participate in our annual Phonathon.

To our Campaign Manager and Office Administrator, Richard Brisebois, I wish to express my deep appreciation for his dedication to all of the business of Pillars. His cheerful good humour and ready willingness to take on any and all tasks has been a great support to me.

Lastly, I wish to extend our appreciation to Samson, Belair, Deloitte and Touche whose members have served on the Board since 1972, and who provide us with great expertise and also with hospitality – especially at the time of the Phonathon and for our annual all-day meeting.

Jean Mackinnon
Past President September 2003