Has anyone ever heard of the Bread of Life Program?

[Lovemyfaith]

We have a new program at our parish, the Bread of Life Program where the Host and Wine for the month are given in gratitude and thanksgiving to Our Lord Jesus Christ by any person/family willing to pay the $11/day, $75/week, or $250/month for any occasion/anniversary or special intention they wish. We are a pretty well off parish. We already have all of the Mass Intentions bought for this year and are well into 2008.
I just don’t know what to think of this.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I have heard of:

• Pew rent (Seats up front and in the middle aisle by the year; other sections semi-annually or quarterly; then a dime to sit in the “cheap seats” in back). It went the way of the dinosaur.
• Memorial candles, the ones in the Sanctuary Candle, by the week.
• Mass intentions.

This is a new one on me. To be fair, if they are out of Mass intentions spots, maybe they thought this was another opportunity for people to remember their families and for special occasions.

 

[Lovemyfaith]

Well, we do have envelopes for remembering loved ones on Mother’s day, Father’s day, Christmas and Easter flowers, All Souls, All Saints and just about every other holiday. We have the Missals available for remembering loved ones as well. I know a lot of pastor’s who won’t have the special envelopes because they feel it isn’t fair for priests in poor parishes who don’t have that opportunity.
I am not naive to think running a parish isn’t running a business. I do contribute weekly, but now it is just one more thing my contribution is left out of.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

The “extra envelopes” are never mandatory. I don’t think, from what you described, this is mandatory either. I pitch the “extras” most months. Why? Because we are already giving a certain percentage of our income faithfully, and the rest of it, unless we want to make the extra sacrifice, is just that, an extra sacrifice- not a mandate, no matter how pretty the envelope.

To be honest with you, I wish that people would just decide on an amount or percentage to give and give it faithfully. The extra stuff is nice for a wedding or as a memorial. But giving regularly in a set amount for those who can is a great blessing back to the parish.