My parish is asking for more money

[snowflakes]

Hi,

I got a letter in the mail asking for more money. I just want to know is this common? When the letter came I told my husband it must be that they want money and I was right. Anytime I get a letter from them, it’s about money. Here are some quotes from the letter:

I humbly ask you to prayerfully consider the following important offertory practices:

1. Make a consistent weekly orffering - every week - wrapping your gift to god’s church in a parish envelope
2. If you are currently making cash contributions, please use envelopes and if possible increase your weekly offering by $5 - $10
3. If you are not contributing to the parish offertory, please do so. Many parish working class families contribute $10 - $20 per week.

I just found it odd but maybe it’s common. The letter is a genertic letter that they sent to the entire parish community. Edited to add: I don’t find it odd about asking for financial support, I just found it odd that they are asking for an increase amount of money and that they gave a specific dollar value.

 

[puzzleannie]

It would be odd if the parish did not ask for financial support from parishioners. I find the $10 or $20 suggestion ludicrous since that is the amount we gave 40 years ago as young college students starting a family on two part-time incomes.

 

[snowflakes]

It would be odd if the parish did not ask for financial support from parishioners. I find the $10 or $20 suggestion ludicrous since that is the amount we gave 40 years ago as young college students starting a family on two part-time incomes.

I don’t find it odd about asking for financial support, I just found it odd that they are asking for an increase amount of money and that they gave a specific dollar value.

(I just added that to my original post, sorry for the confusion!)

 

[PatriceA]

I don’t find it odd about asking for financial support, I just found it odd that they are asking for an increase amount of money and that they gave a specific dollar value.

I don’t find it odd. You wouldn’t believe the number of times the parish office gets asked just how much someone should be contributing and what they want families to increase their weekly contributions by. Its probably a question that the priest or financial committee is tired of answering so they cut to the chase and gave a ballpark figure.

 

[snowflakes]

I don’t find it odd. You wouldn’t believe the number of times the parish office gets asked just how much someone should be contributing and what they want families to increase their weekly contributions by. Its probably a question that the priest or financial committee is tired of answering so they cut to the chase and gave a ballpark figure.

hmm ok. I can see that but I don’t think this is the case with this letter. Why do they need to know how much we will increase? I don’t have a problem with this, I am just curious as to why they need to know how much we will increase.

This is in the letter also: Please complete the enclosed red offertory response envelope and * indicate your new weekly giving level * and place it in this weekend’s collection basket. If you do not receive envelopes, please check the box on the enclosed envelope and we will send you ttemporary envelopes as soon as possible. If you are away from home and unable to attend mass at ********* please make up this offering when you return.

 

[Corki]

hmm ok. I can see that but I don’t think this is the case with this letter. Why do they need to know how much we will increase? I don’t have a problem with this, I am just curious as to why they need to know how much we will increase.

This is in the letter also: Please complete the enclosed red offertory response envelope and * indicate your new weekly giving level * and place it in this weekend’s collection basket. If you do not receive envelopes, please check the box on the enclosed envelope and we will send you ttemporary envelopes as soon as possible. If you are away from home and unable to attend mass at ********* please make up this offering when you return.

Don’t you need to know how much income to expect in a given time period? At this time of year, many parishes are doing their budgets. It sounds like they are just trying to get an estimate of how much might be coming in to fund their expenses and projects.

 

[snowflakes]

Don’t you need to know how much income to expect in a given time period?

No, I don’t have an income. I said goodbye to the word “income” when I became a stay at home mom. And when I did have an income, I had no bills since dh took care of all the bills. But I know what you mean.

At this time of year, many parishes are doing their budgets. It sounds like they are just trying to get an estimate of how much might be coming in to fund their expenses and projects.

This is understandable, that’s all I wanted to know.

 

[challam2010]

Soon after my husband died and my personal finances were uncertain, I received an INVOICE from the diocesan office for $1500 to aid in the restoration of a Cathedral 25 miles away. The accompanying letter was written more in terms of a demand note, not a request, and wasn’t even particularly polite. Since I had just moved to this area I felt absolutely no obligation to pay this “invoice.”

Parishes certainly require support, and it’s our Catholic obligation to provide that support according to our own finances and conscience. Sounds like your parish is just acting a little more aggressively and businesslike than we’ve been used to – and their revenue is no doubt diminished in light of the recession.

 

[puzzleannie]

hmm ok. I can see that but I don’t think this is the case with this letter. Why do they need to know how much we will increase? I don’t have a problem with this, I am just curious as to why they need to know how much we will increase.

.

you did not quote the whole letter, but I don’t see anything where the pastor is requiring a pledge of a specific dollar amount or percentage of income. Even if he did, why is not entitled to ask parishioners to make such a pledge? and who has a better right to know if not the pastor? he is asking people to use the envelopes provided, which saves hours and hours of bookkeeping time each week, and enables the parish to properly account for donations to the diocese and the IRS>

 

[PatriceA]

hmm ok. I can see that but I don’t think this is the case with this letter. Why do they need to know how much we will increase? I don’t have a problem with this, I am just curious as to why they need to know how much we will increase.

This is in the letter also: Please complete the enclosed red offertory response envelope and * indicate your new weekly giving level * and place it in this weekend’s collection basket. If you do not receive envelopes, please check the box on the enclosed envelope and we will send you ttemporary envelopes as soon as possible. If you are away from home and unable to attend mass at ********* please make up this offering when you return.

Because they have expenses they have to meet NOW and need to know if they will be able to meet those expenses NOW, not wait and see if families registered within the parish actually increase their contributions. Programs are on the cutting block, financial committees are in a bind. Really asking for an additional $5 to $10 dollars from each family is not that unreasonable when the utilities to run parishes have dramatically increased within the past few years. CCD programs and other minitries provided by parishes are certainly on the verge of disappearing, I don’t think a lot of people sitting in the pews realize that.

You got a very standard letter that most parishes that are around me have also sent out to their congregation. There are one or two parishes within my area that are just this oh so close to being closed if they can not meet their financial obligations. Churches, parishes need our help, they don’t run by themselves.

 

[snowflakes]

Even if he did, why is not entitled to ask parishioners to make such a pledge? and who has a better right to know if not the pastor?

Well, if you want to know the answer, you need to make another thread. My thread was asking why the increase so I understood the reasoning, I never asked nor said that he isn’t entitled to ask.

This reminds me of the telephone game. Where the entire story changes, lol

 

[snowflakes]

Because they have expenses they have to meet NOW and need to know if they will be able to meet those expenses NOW, not wait and see if families registered within the parish actually increase their contributions. Programs are on the cutting block, financial committees are in a bind. Really asking for an additional $5 to $10 dollars from each family is not that unreasonable when the utilities to run parishes have dramatically increased within the past few years. CCD programs and other minitries provided by parishes are certainly on the verge of disappearing, I don’t think a lot of people sitting in the pews realize that.

You got a very standard letter that most parishes that are around me have also sent out to their congregation. There are one or two parishes within my area that are just this oh so close to being closed if they can not meet their financial obligations. Churches, parishes need our help, they don’t run by themselves.

Are you being rude or is it just the way you wrote it out makes it sound rude? Because, seriously, do you think I wouldn’t of understood what you said if you didn’t capitalize the word NOW? That was totally unnecessary. I think as a fellow catholic, you wouldn’t want to sound rude so I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt, especially since it’s the internet, things read differently than how they would sound being said. That being said, I apologize if I am wrong (not apologizing if I am right) but I have a family member that is dying so I am getting very upset over things and I can’t help myself. My heart is full of sadness.

 

[PatriceA]

Are you being rude or is it just the way you wrote it out makes it sound rude? Because, seriously, do you think I wouldn’t of understood what you said if you didn’t capitalize the word NOW? That was totally unnecessary. I think as a fellow catholic, you wouldn’t want to sound rude so I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt, especially since it’s the internet, things read differently than how they would sound being said. That being said, I apologize if I am wrong (not apologizing if I am right) but I have a family member that is dying so I am getting very upset over things and I can’t help myself. My heart is full of sadness.

It was not meant as rude, just as emphasis. Sorry for your family member, you are in my prayers.

 

[mcrow]

Are you being rude or is it just the way you wrote it out makes it sound rude? Because, seriously, do you think I wouldn’t of understood what you said if you didn’t capitalize the word NOW? That was totally unnecessary. I think as a fellow catholic, you wouldn’t want to sound rude so I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt, especially since it’s the internet, things read differently than how they would sound being said. That being said, I apologize if I am wrong (not apologizing if I am right) but I have a family member that is dying so I am getting very upset over things and I can’t help myself. My heart is full of sadness.

I don’t see it as being rude. On internet forums people often captialize select words that they feel are particularly important in what they are saying. It’s an attempt to replace voice inflection that we have in face to face conversations.

As for the letter, it seems SOP to me. I’m not offended when we get them because I understand that the costs for the church are constantly going up. Health insurance for employees alone can increase by 10-20% in a single year. Utilities go up every year. Maintenance costs go up every year. Costs of conducting ministries and charitable programs increase every year.

Some parishes are more aggresive about asking than others. Ours for instance rarely outright asks for more. Instead, they give us a finacial statement each year and let us decide to if we want to give more. I know our school operates at a close to $500k loss every year, but the Church considers it one of their ministries so it’s acceptible.

The only time we get letters when there is an urgent need for repairs or if there is a plan to remodel or expand the Church building.

 

[snowflakes]

It was not meant as rude, just as emphasis. Sorry for your family member, you are in my prayers.

Thank you so much, I am so sorry for my post, I wish I didn’t write that reply I feel horrible! I seem to be snapping at everyone lately.

 

[PatriceA]

Thank you so much, I am so sorry for my post, I wish I didn’t write that reply I feel horrible! I seem to be snapping at everyone lately.

I’ve been there, having a relative in the active process of dying and feeling helpless is really rough. I get it, and you are not alone. If you need more prayers or just to vent, we’re all here for you.

 

[PJM]

=snowflakes;7180545]Hi,

I got a letter in the mail asking for more money. I just want to know is this common? When the letter came I told my husband it must be that they want money and I was right. Anytime I get a letter from them, it’s about money. Here are some quotes from the letter:

I humbly ask you to prayerfully consider the following important offertory practices:

1. Make a consistent weekly orffering - every week - wrapping your gift to god’s church in a parish envelope

1. If you are currently making cash contributions, please use envelopes and if possible increase your weekly offering by $5 - $10

1. If you are not contributing to the parish offertory, please do so. Many parish working class families contribute $10 - $20 per week.

I just found it odd but maybe it’s common. The letter is a genertic letter that they sent to the entire parish community. Edited to add: I don’t find it odd about asking for financial support, I just found it odd that they are asking for an increase amount of money and that they gave a specific dollar value.

***Our obligation to support our Parsih Church is biblically founded. Read Saint Pauls letters. It is also a REQUIREMENT of our faith and Canon Law.

Needs are real, and times are really dificult. Do WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO with loving spirit and a gererous heart nd GOD WILL REPAY YOU!***

 

[zab]

Sometimes we forget what it was like when we first started getting the yearly letter from the parish regarding tithing. It is nothing to worry about. It is just something that everyone should be considering whether or not they are contributing to the support of the church and whether or not they can “take a step” toward giving at least 5% of their yearly income to their parish. I just received our yearly letter yesterday. I won’t be increaing our giving this year. We are still giving above the 5% of my husbands earnings to the parish and that is what is being asked of us to consider. It is just a letter for our consideration- nothing to fret over.