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Mary_Ellen
Guest
I contribute only a small amount of money weekly to our church but do contribute about 5-8 hours per week in liturgical and formation ministries.
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Dorothy
Guest
That is a lot! God bless you.
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Contra_Mundum_1
Guest
For those of you who give larger sums of money: how do you do that? Do you just put the cash in the collection box during mass, or pay into a bank account, or give it to the parish priest?
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Jvrlns
Guest
I used to make a money transfer to an account of my country’s episcopal conference but I stopped doing that, now I just give the money at mass.
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HillbillyHermit
Guest
NOYB. :hey_bud:
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zab
Guest
What you say is true but many, particularly those who subscribe to the prosperity gospel preaching, seem to donate for the wrong reasons. That is, they give because they believe that they will get back even more. I don’t like to describe it that way. When we tithe to our parish and to our charities, we do not think of how much God is going to bless us in return. We tithe (5% of our income to our parish and approximately $4% to various other charites) because it is our duty and it is a sign of our thanksgiving to give back to God a portion of what we have already received. Our family has never suffered as a result of our tithing even during difficult times and of course we had to reduce our giving during those times. But I felt that it was important no matter how humiliating it seemed at the time to give such a small donation because it was our duty to return something to God for all that we had. And God took care of us even through those difficult times through the generosity of others.
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Santi2
Guest
I, as a donor, expect the donee to use my donation for the specific object and beneficiary it was intended i.e. the Parish.
Substituting “excuses” for valid reasons and why I have ceased to follow “pray, pay and obey”.
Over 20% of our Parish Offertory collection is set aside for the Diocesan Development Fund. That is exclusive of additional and mandatory Parish contribution towards Needs of the Diocese, Archbishop’s Administration Fund, Bishops Fund, Clergy Support, insurance, safeguarding and Diocesan secondary collections for various Catholic agencies and causes e.g. Catholic Education Services and assistance with maintenance and upkeep of St George’s Cathedral. When all have been sent to the Diocese, the Parish is left to scrape to pay for Church consumables, heating costs and maintenance of Parish clergy, as well as brick and mortar (Presbytery, Church and Church grounds). When my Parish Priest appeals for a new sound system, albs, and help with the cost of purchasing new Missals, hymn books and organ fund, many in the Parish are appalled that very little of what they have been giving actually benefits Parish.
I will not have a problem if it were the case that funds were used for the Glory of God. It is the case that my diocese mandates a collection for Cabrini which is not a Catholic agency. And then, of course, one can enquire as to where widow’s mite actually goes with regards CAFOD.
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zab
Guest
I have never heard of a parish setting aside money to give to the Diocesan Development Fund. Every parish that we have been a member of had an annual appeal (in our Archdiocese it is called the Annual Catholic Appeal) in which individual parishioners or families pledge a certain amount (a helpful guide based on a family’s yearly income is given to assist people to make a decision on what they choose to contribute). The diocese usually sets a goal for each individual parish. And the parishes try to meet their goals by encouraging participation from their parishioners. In our Archdiocese, any amount that the parish exceeds over their goal is returned to that parish. This has been a great source for money for needed projects in the parish. And there have been times when the Archdiocese did not set a goal for our parish for the Annual Catholic Appeal such as when we had a church restoration project going and many of our parish families had pledged greatly to support that project.
I don’t know what is happening in your parish. It just doesn’t make sense to me that a pastor would set aside money to give to the Diocese that is needed to run his parish. But the cost of new missals, sound system, new organ are things above and beyond the cost of running a parish and these things often are purchased through appeals. (In our parish, some of these things can be funded from refunds on the Annual Catholic Appeal).
What it really comes down to is a person’s understanding of their duty to give to the support of the Church. If necessary they could designate where they want their money to go even towards specific projects so that they know that the money will be spent in their parish. While I think it is sometimes good to be concerned of how your contributions are being used and whether or not there is too much waste of money, and not conserving energy and so on, I won’t let that deter us from doing our duty.
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Santi2
Guest
Now you know. There’s always a first time for everything, Zab.
Excepting those who give an undertaking for a fixed amount by way of bank transfer to the Parish account, our Parish offertory collections are given free will. Regardless of form, each Parish in the Diocese will be invoiced for DDF on the basis of offertory receipts at year end. If our PP does not budget for accounts payable to the Diocese, we’d have monies owing alongside the following year’s DDF. Over here, Parishes support the Diocese and not the reverse. Should the Parish fail to have a reserve fund for future works, then the Parish borrows from the Diocese or the PP makes an appeal in the Parish for specific projects.
A shared sentiment, Zab.
But for various mandated Diocesan collections, our Parish can easily afford the costs of all of the above without appealing further for the widow’s mite.
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zab
Guest
Now you know. There’s always a first time for everything, Zab.
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leanuss
Guest
Well said. Yes, donating should not be on expectation. Our parish priest insists that, when you offer / donate, just say thanks for His blessings while putting your offerings and if you are not thankful and you donate for some other purpose, your benefits are reaped in this world and not carried on to Heaven…
OFFERING IS OUR WAY OF THANKING GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND BLESSINGS.
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johnthebaptist2
Guest
I think that we shouldn,t worry about the percent one gives, but what one gives from the heart. Agreed.
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Brendan_64
Guest
“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7
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YADA
Guest
… yes - I have heard this before … “Father is always talking about money; what I give is between me and God” …I agree … what a person gives should be directly proportionate to their love for God and an acknowledgement that all we have comes from His grace …
However - as a member of my parish administrative council - I can tell you that parish support pledges are very important … not to judge your gift - but for planning purposes. In 2009 - our parish had to lay off parish staff, parish school staff and cut the hours of remaining parish staff through closing the parish office - all due to the down turn in the economy … hard decisions … because donations were less then pledges … we understand reality … but you can’t plan a 2000 plus family parish one month at a time using the previous months giving as a guide … nor the small rural parish either
Trust me - Father knows when you make an annual pledge that your financial circumstances may change - we understand. But we need to set a parish budget that pays for salary, insurance, payroll taxes, maintenance & supplies training, utility costs, etc … we need to make decisions on staffing levels, programs to offer, etc
Your NOYB does not pay the water bill so the toilets flush at the church or purchase the toilet paper used there … it does not purchase the sacramental wine and hosts, or the salary of the Director of Religious Education, nor put gas in Father’s car so he can get to the hospital to administer an Annointing of the Sick nor does it assist us in how we plan to provide for all those functions.
One small parish I attend regularly has had to make an appeal during a second collection for donations to cover payroll … and the only paid staff there has been reduced from full time to less then 15 hours per week …
IMHO - As good stewards of Christ’s sacrificial gift to us - in acknowledgement of Blessings - we need to give of our Time, our Talents and our Financial means … whether that is 10 percent or the widows mite … it should not purely come from our excess but from our need … Is not that the message of Christ when he discussed the rich men and the widows gift?
Consider this … Jesus felt His free gift to us on the Cross … Can you ‘feel’ your gift in all of your charitable giving each year [and I mean total - not just what you do to support the church; but all charities]?
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johnthebaptist2
Guest
You must remember that older people have it hard,some live on very little,from what that get,so they have to give what they can.Than theirs people that make money and only put in a dollar in the Basket,or don,t put anything as it is goes pass them.Times are getting harder,and people will put food on their table first,before giving 10% to the church.
I agree … what a person gives should be directly proportionate to their love for God and an acknowledgement that all we have comes from His grace …
However - as a member of my parish administrative council - I can tell you that parish support pledges are very important … not to judge your gift - but for planning purposes. In 2009 - our parish had to lay off parish staff, parish school staff and cut the hours of remaining parish staff through closing the parish office - all due to the down turn in the economy … hard decisions … because donations were less then pledges … we understand reality … but you can’t plan a 2000 plus family parish one month at a time using the previous months giving as a guide … nor the small rural parish either
Trust me - Father knows when you make an annual pledge that your financial circumstances may change - we understand. But we need to set a parish budget that pays for salary, insurance, payroll taxes, maintenance & supplies training, utility costs, etc … we need to make decisions on staffing levels, programs to offer, etc
Your NOYB does not pay the water bill so the toilets flush at the church or purchase the toilet paper used there … it does not purchase the sacramental wine and hosts, or the salary of the Director of Religious Education, nor put gas in Father’s car so he can get to the hospital to administer an Annointing of the Sick nor does it assist us in how we plan to provide for all those functions.
One small parish I attend regularly has had to make an appeal during a second collection for donations to cover payroll … and the only paid staff there has been reduced from full time to less then 15 hours per week …
IMHO - As good stewards of Christ’s sacrificial gift to us - in acknowledgement of Blessings - we need to give of our Time, our Talents and our Financial means … whether that is 10 percent or the widows mite … it should not purely come from our excess but from our need … Is not that the message of Christ when he discussed the rich men and the widows gift?
Consider this … Jesus felt His free gift to us on the Cross … Can you ‘feel’ your gift in all of your charitable giving each year [and I mean total - not just what you do to support the church; but all charities]?
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zab
Guest
And likewise, one should remember that just because there are people who make money that don’t put anything in the basket as it goes past them, does not mean that they are not tithing to the Church. In this modern day, many of the rich and the not so rich use the automatic bank transfers to pay their tithe
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zab
Guest
Tithing 10% of one’s income (5% to your parish, and 5% to other charities) is the ideal that we should aim for. It can be difficult for many people, the rich included, to suddenly start tithing 10%. Even people with money and lots of material possessions have to pay bills to keep up their lifestyle. It would be good to start out giving whatever for feel you can give monthy then every year re-evaluate or take a step towards reaching the goal of !0%. And yes there are those who would find it difficult or even impossible to tithe 10% when they are barely getting by on just the necessities. No one is arguing that that is not between God and them what they can afford to give. We are just saying that it is our duty to give back to God a portion of what we have been given.
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johnthebaptist2
Guest
Were do you get the Idea, that you should use the word Duty,it,s like saying we should give,because we belong to that church,I, v know were people they said,the priest would say how much each family should give by what they make.The priest is there to bring us closer to God,and he should be praying to God for help,and God that hears all prays will help him get threw his problem of running the Parish.
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zab
Guest
I “got the idea” while attending Catholic grade school in the 50’s and 60’s and having to memorize the precepts or laws of the Church in catechism class.
Precepts (or laws) of the Church
*]To assist at Mass on all Sundays and holydays of obligation.
*]To fast and to abstain on the days appointed.
*]To confess our sins at least once a year.
*]To receive Holy Communion during the Easter time.
*]To contribute to the support of the Church.
*]To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.
[
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a3.htm
The fifth precept (“You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church”) means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.86
The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his own abilities.87
](http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a3.htm)
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zab
Guest
There are guides to help people have an idea of what percentage of their income they should give to the church. Some of us appreciate these guides because we want to know that the amount that we give is an appropriate or an ideal amount based on the income we have. Sometimes I am relieved to see that our giving falls in the range of 5%and it is not necessary to increase our giving. Other times, we may need to re-evaluate. These guidelines are not dictates. They are simply aides to help us to decide what our giving amount should be. Each family decides for themselves what their ability to give is.
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