Fundraising in Homily

[MB065]

Hi everyone,

I’m really disappointed – my dad is dying and we just went to his likely last mass in a Church structure. He loves reflecting on the readings and was in a ton of pain that day. They had a visiting priest who used the ENTIRE homily for fundraising and he cried and said “I’m in so much pain, I didn’t come here to hear this.” He has been reading a really beautiful book about compassion and joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu. Then we go to Catholic mass (he’s Catholic as am I) and it was just all about money. The optics and timing was so bad, but I’m grateful hes keeping his faith. It made me think – how many times is it someone’s last full mass when all they hear is a bishop’s appeal or fundraising words rather than a Holy reflection on Christ’s words and life? Can we please just stop fundraising in this sacred time and do so in the announcements? I’m really upset by this and thinking about others who likely have comparable experiences.

 

[maryjk]

I’m sure if people would give/donate to the church without the pastor having to ask, the pastor would be thrilled.

But, it doesn’t happen. Many people simply won’t give unless they are asked.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Giving to the poor, to the Church, is part of our Christian walk. It is part of our corporal works of mercy, it is a precept of the Church.

It is appropriate for homilies to address our giving. Christ did speak of our duty to give.

Prayers for your family in this difficult time.

 

[MB065]

I’m fine with asking and understand that it is necessary – but asking either after a homily or after mass in announcements seems to be much more respectful to the Sacraments, God, and people experiencing them. I give in the collection every week and what I can and having someone ask for half an hour when we should be focused on God has generally made me LESS enthusiastic about giving than a moving homily (though I realize my experience is not everyone’s).

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The last couple of weeks have been the summer mission appeal in my diocese and all the churches have had a Sunday with homilies about fundraising for the missions, along with a second collection. It’s a normal occurrence and happens every year. A visiting priest from a particular mission is usually invited to speak, and all of the donations at that church go to that priest’s mission. This year we had a Mercedarian priest who talked about his order’s activities in India and I thought it was a great reminder that whatever problems we think we have here in the USA, it’s much worse in many other parts of the world where people literally don’t have enough to eat or any sewer system, drinking water etc. and on top of that are shunned by their neighbors because of the antiquated caste system.

Even if one doesn’t find these talks interesting like I do, or if the priest preaching isn’t very good at his task, these talks are necessary in order to help raise money for the missions. Sometimes it’s also necessary to address fundraising for the local diocese or the church at the homily time. If people would give more without being asked, the talks wouldn’t be needed, but they are needed.

I’m sorry your father did not get to hear a homily that he liked. Unfortunately, we don’t always get the nice inspiring Mass we want to hear when we attend church. Sometimes the music is off, sometimes the homily is not to our liking. I went to church last Thanksgiving really wanting to hear some prayerful reflections on being thankful and on our country, and took time out of a very hectic schedule I had that day to get to church. But the homily, done by a deacon, went on too long, rambled, and was mostly about dying. My impression was the deacon had a family member or friend who was dying and thought this would be a good subject. At the time I was trying to cope with several deaths of close/ immediate family and this was not what I needed or wanted to hear, and I nearly walked out, but stayed because I wanted to receive Communion.

It is kind of “the luck of the draw” that your father’s possible last Mass in a church structure came on a fundraising day. I would hope he’s not going to abandon his faith just because one Mass out of many he has been to in his life happened to miss the mark with the homily. I’m sure, as disappointed as he might have been, he also realizes that the homily was not intended as something personally directed at him, and that like I said we don’t always get exactly what we want from homily, hymns etc when we attend Mass. But we get to receive Jesus if we’re in a state of grace, and that’s enough, and is the main reason we are there.

Hopefully a priest can visit your father when he is housebound or in hospital or wherever, and discuss with him the Mass readings. And if your father is going to be in a nursing home or hospital, hopefully there will be a Mass he can access there, with a better homily.

God bless you both.

 

[angel12]

The optics and timing was so bad, but I’m grateful hes keeping his faith. It made me think – how many times is it someone’s last full mass when all they hear is a bishop’s appeal or fundraising words rather than a Holy reflection on Christ’s words and life?

I’m so sorry. Praying for your father.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

but asking either after a homily or after mass in announcements seems to be much more respectful to the Sacraments, God, and people experiencing them

So is your question really about general “respect” for people and the Sacraments and God?
Or is it about the fact that your dying father was upset?

As a general rule, I don’t find it “disrespectful” to fundraise during the homily. I go to a lot of daily Masses and a number of them don’t even have a homily. Some do and some don’t. The homily is optional, and the number of fundraising appeals I hear at homily time during the year, I could count on one hand.

If you’re hearing such homilies every other week, I’d say yes, maybe it’s excessive, but 2 or 3 times a year interspersed with normal homilies on the Scripture is not a big deal.
I also think you’re fishing for others with “comparable experiences” to sympathize with your view point and a lot of us just don’t have a problem with a little fundraising in the homily.
I know it’s not something that bothers me. If I don’t like the homily I can read Scripture out of the missalette or I can discreetly say some private prayers until it is over.

 

[DaveBj]

I’m fine with asking and understand that it is necessary – but asking either after a homily or after mass in announcements seems to be much more respectful to the Sacraments

^^^ This. Homily time is for homilies on the readings. Period.

D

 

[DaveBj]

I know it’s not something that bothers me. If I don’t like the homily I can read Scripture out of the missalette or I can discreetly say some private prayers until it is over.

If we get “Liturgy of Announcements” during homily time, or something totally unrelated to the readings, I pull out my Kindle and go to whichever Church Father I’m reading at the time.

D

 

[MB065]

<<<“So is your question really about general “respect” for people and the Sacraments and God? Or is it about the fact that your dying father was upset?”>>>
It’s about both.

<<<“Fishing for other comparable experiences…” well, maybe?>>>
I wouldn’t use the world fishing, and not just for comparable. I’m seeking to listen to a broad range of experiences and consider their views. Ideally, there would be more objective answers to “is the homily ask vs announcement ask more effective, does it work? How and when? Who has tried alternatives?” with supporting data about the effectivness of different times that they make the ask, case stuides, and outliers. Such an article does not exist so I am just here to learn from what people think about it. Before my experience with my father it had not crossed my mind much that these masses, even if distributed, are very likely some people’s first masses, or they are thinking about reversion and come in that day, or it is their last masses and this could be poorly impacting their retention or even faith near death. My experience with my father gave me a different perspective, that is deeply moving, and broadened my thoughts about fundraising in the place of a homily. I am here to share that and hear other’s experiences. I am not convinced about the utility of doing the ask in the place of the homily rather than announcements. I’m not looking to get people rallied and take a side or for an exact answer, since the sample size to too small, but moreso, as I said, hear a handful of perspectives to further expand my view about this.

I have been a regularly practicing Catholic for nearly a decade, my family left the Church when I was a kid. This assumption that they should just be going to Church more often is a nice ideal, but often when people near end of life or have extraordinary circumstances they become more faithful. We have to meet them where they are with a personalistic approach. Spare me the snark, have charity.

Like I said, I’m fine with fundraising and understand the need, but in homily time seems inappropriate and potentially damaging. This is what I have experienced, you shared what you have experienced. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Gorgias]

Giving to the poor, to the Church, is part of our Christian walk. It is part of our corporal works of mercy

This!

The last couple of weeks have been the summer mission appeal in my diocese and all the churches have had a Sunday with homilies about fundraising for the missions, along with a second collection. It’s a normal occurrence and happens every year. A visiting priest from a particular mission is usually invited to speak, and all of the donations at that church go to that priest’s mission.

That was my first thought, too. And again, it’s not “fundraising”, but rather, “Christian charity.”

I mean, after all, St Paul himself makes exactly this kind of appeal in his letters that are in the New Testament (which, themselves, were read aloud to the congregations at Mass when he sent them!)…

I’m wondering, though, what kind of “fundraising” @MB065 heard at that Mass. Was it a mission appeal? Or maybe the bishop’s appeal for an annual fund? Or just “garden variety” fundraising, of the “hey guys, we need to keep the lights on – please consider putting more in the collection basket”…?

In any case, I’m sorry that this was your experience @MB065! I’ll be keeping you and your dad in my prayers!

 

[Bluebright]

I’m so sorry your dad is dying and was suffering at his last mass. This must be so hard for you and for him. I understand this is difficult for you and him. Remember though that what was said there at mass is God’s will. Life goes on and people need money elsewhere, perhaps suffering people who depend on us, our brothers and sisters in Christ, perhaps this is what God has to say through this priest to you and your family. I am sorry he did not get the homily he wanted. I am only trying to say God gives us what we need and not always what we want so perhaps take some time in the midst of your grief and suffering to ponder on what God did give you in that homily or the mass itself. The fact that you got to go to mass as a family that time despite the homily, not everyone gets a goodbye mass. God bless you all. I’ll pray for you.

 

[Beryllos]

They had a visiting priest who used the ENTIRE homily for fundraising

I wasn’t there so I don’t know what he said, but are you sure the priest didn’t also speak of the faith of the people he is serving, and of the importance of our faith-filled works of mercy, and perhaps asked for your prayers?

That’s is not to say it can’t happen exactly as you described. The most disappointing homily I can recall was one in which a layperson talked about gifts for sale after Mass, hand-crafted by Christians in the Holy Land. It was all about how they needed money, and not a word about the religious persecution over there, and no mention of prayers. I probably wasn’t the only one who talked to the pastor about it, and it never happened again.

I am praying for your father and you and your family.

 

[Pitcairn17]

The OP specified “visiting priest.” This has nothing to do with parish support. As another poster pointed out, this is “mission appeal” season, when clergy from mission orders, with the approval and coordination of the diocese, visit parishes and describe both their work and their needs. A skillful speaker should be able to link his appeal to the day’s Scripture, but perhaps not always. Unfortunate that the appeal took place on this gentleman ‘s possible last Mass. Perhaps an understanding pastor might arrange a home Mass for this gentleman.

 

[DaveBj]

I understood that it was a visiting priest; we have those, as well, along with visiting religious sisters. There are some that I already support, so I don’t need to listen to their spiels, and in any case, they are lay people, so they are after-Mass speakers. It’s when someone who is supposed to be talking about the reading is doing something totally different that I pull out my device and go see what St. Athanasius was saying.

D

 

[signit]

MB065:

I’m fine with asking and understand that it is necessary – but asking either after a homily or after mass in announcements seems to be much more respectful to the Sacraments

^^^ This. Homily time is for homilies on the readings. Period.

D

I tend to agree with that a little.

If the homily is the priest introducing Sister Mary to raise funds for the missions, I feel like I’m not getting a homily in the sense of a reflection of the reading(s) for this particular time and place, which is one of the reasons I attend Mass.

I don’t deny asking for money (for the Church or the missions) is important.

And I don’t see it as an “either-or.” Maybe the homily could be for reflection(s) on the readings, and as suggested the priest or other speaker could do the fund-raising at the end during the announcements.

 

[Pitcairn17]

DaveBj:

MB065:

I’m fine with asking and understand that it is necessary – but asking either after a homily or after mass in announcements seems to be much more respectful to the Sacraments

^^^ This. Homily time is for homilies on the readings. Period.

D

I tend to agree with that a little.

If the homily is the priest introducing Sister Mary to raise funds for the missions, I feel like I’m not getting a homily in the sense of a reflection of the reading(s) for this particular time and place, which is one of the reasons I attend Mass.

I don’t deny asking for money (for the Church or the missions) is important.

And I don’t see it as an “either-or.” Maybe the homily could be for reflection(s) on the readings, and as suggested the priest or other speaker could do the fund-raising at the end during the announcements.

Except that people’s ears get tired. Shunting a missionary priest off to the end does not serve his need well - to say nothing of the folks who would take a “second homily” as an excuse to leave early. The bishop of a diocese is its chief liturgist, and if he has approved a mission appeal by an ordained clergyman at the time of the homily, it is within his authority to do so. The program is called the “Mission Co-operative” and I believe most bishops of the U.S. participate. It would never occur to me to sit in judgment on what my bishop has approved for me to hear at Mass, nor to bring a Kindle as some kind of alternate reality.

 

[IdaCatholic]

Our parish brings in a visiting priest a couple times a year for various causes. One priest brings props. I, and most of the parish, tune out. I suppose it is well meaning but yeah, not exactly engaging.

I am sorry this was timed with your dad’s situation. But I have an idea. I dont think any rules were broken and no wrong was done, but what about approaching the pastor, telling him exactly what your dad would like to hear about on a theological level and requesting he visit your father for a blessing and a talk. Most pastors I know would definitely do this as it is part of their vocation.
Approaching him without complaining and just explaining what would bring peace to a dying man would go a long way.

 

[DIERM]

I’m really disappointed – my dad is dying and we just went to his likely last mass in a Church structure. He loves reflecting on the readings and was in a ton of pain that day. They had a visiting priest who used the ENTIRE homily for fundraising and he cried and said “I’m in so much pain, I didn’t come here to hear this.”

I’m praying for your beloved father.

But, his words, “I’m in so much pain, I didn’t come here to hear this,” were not so far removed from the words of our Lord in the garden before his trial, scourging, and crucifixion. So, the humanity of your father’s words are understandable.

The other thing is, the Mass is made up of many elements besides the Homily, so if we don’t like the message of the homily, we don’t throw out the glory of the entire mass.

Again, I pray for your father, and hope he finds both peace in the end, and finds himself in the loving arms of God in his new beginning.

Rejoice in the Lord always!

 

[tafan2]

There are several things at play here. Having been very involved in parish finances in the past, I can tell you there is simply no other time to make financial appeals except during the homily. That is unfortunate, but it is a fact. After communion, during announcements, people do not want to sit through more than a few sentences. We tried before mass, and the simple fact is half the church fills up the last couple of minutes before Church starts, so you miss a lot of people.
I can further tell you that every priest I have ever met, hates to do it, does it reluctantly, and as rarely as possible. In this particular case, if it was a visiting priest, I assume he was travelling to various parishes to specifically raise funds for his apostolate, and the pastor allowed him to do so.
Now, a few words about the Gospel and readings should be given, a short homoly if you will, prior to the fundraising appeal, IMO.
OTOH, I can certainly make the argument there is nothing wrong with financial appeals during the homily. Material support of the Church, based on each of our ability, is precept of the Church. Not following a precept of the Church is a objectively a mortal sin. So it does not hurt any of us to be occasionally reminded that what we are obligated to do. On top of that, every good Catholic should realize that the homily is by no means the focal point of the mass, indeed it is quite low on the priority list. So low, it can be omitted. So lets keep things in perspective, we need to be reminded of our obligations. And we don’t go to mass to hear a great homily.

To the OP: I am truly sorry about your dad’s suffering and you expected loss.