Meet the Staff: Mrs. Naif Allium, Parish Accountant.

Mrs. Allium, our parish accountant, can be found at lunch in the parish office knitting away furiously, creating a blanket or coat or mittens for one of her many grandchildren who live throughout the Southwest. We took a moment of her day to interview her for this website.

Naif brings to the accounting department a long history of bill paying in her own home. In a recent interview for the website, Mrs. Allium said, “It’s really been a challenge to learn to handle such big checks here at St. Palter. Why, our youth ministry department can spend over a thousand dollars at a time for a bus or some such nonsense. Those kids should learn to be more frugal. I love counting the beans. Here, have a cookie.”

Sitting with this reporter for the website while she counted pennies into those little cardboard tubes, Naif was asked about the skills it takes to manage a nearly million dollar budget. Naif reflectively responded, “Well, you know, whatever Fr. Rolean wants, I give him. I mean, we have to provide for Father’s recreation. He works so hard, being at the parish almost six hours a day. And, you know, my family had to make do on $18,000 dollars per year, so this budget really isn’t that much different. Would you like a scone? I made them myself.”

Wiping scone crumbs neatly from the table and moving on to the counting of nickels, Naif continued, “It’s such an honor to work so closely with the staff of the Holy St. Palter, especially Father. What kind of experience do I really need anyway? Do you know that I save 7.9 cents per dollar when I do this coin wrapping myself? Those rice bowl collections in Lent can bring in maybe $300 in pennies. It takes a whole day of my time, but we save maybe $20 when I spend my time to do it by hand. Now that’s a lot of counting!”

Naif can be found working away at the checks and balances nearly everyday of the week. In her spare time and sometimes during working hours, she enjoys knitting, baking and keeping track of the lives of the other staff members.

How fortunate we are in our Holy Parish that Father Rolean found this dedicated and well trained servant to handle our accounting,. Be sure to thank him the next time you see him. You're “worth it” Mrs. Allium!