My problem with Parish collection in aid of the Asian disaster

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Fergal

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My friends,

I have a problem that I need you advice on.

This morning we were told (at long last) that the Parish would be taking up a collection next weekend at all Masses to aid the South East Asia disaster fund. I was delighted.

To my surprise it was clarified at the end of Mass on how it was going to be done. Here’s the wisdom:

In our Parish we have two collections at each Mass. One for the Offertory and the other is called Parish Development collection. What the Priests have decided to do is hold both collections as normal and anything above and beyond the normal in the second collection will be sent away to the fund. Well my heart sank as did my wife’s. It was a real case of we will take care of ourselves first then the extra which we won’t miss will be sent away.

This to me goes completely against the whole meaning of charity. Yes people will of course give more but the Parish is giving none of its stash. It hoard. I use these words because we are the richest Parish in the Diocese. I am involved in the Finance of the Parish and I know that at this present moment we have more money that we know what to do with. We have no debts and have a very hefty + balance.

On a weekly basis €7,000 is collected from the baskets. Not to mention the candle shrines, the car park charges, the standing orders, the rental of Parish facilities etc. It brings in a very big sum indeed.

My question is this. Does it seem charitable in light of the above to treat a world wide catastrophe in such a manner where we look after ourselves first and then give the extra which won’t be missed away? I thought the idea about genuine charity was that in extreme cases when hundreds of thousands of God’s children cry out for help that we should give until it hurts so that when we feel the pinch we can truly say we have shared in their sufferings even if it be in this manner.

I am so disappointed at this half hearted gesture and I am considering a letter to the Parish priest asking that he consider releasing all the finances from the second collection to the disaster fund.

What do you think?
 
Consider getting into contact with the current financial committee, too. You’re a good person to bring this up, as you can’t be dismissed as someone who is naive of the parish’s financial condition.
 
I think it would be great if your parish can give their “extra” money for disaster relief. Rather than writing a letter, I’d probably prefer to talk with your parish priest or administrator, or the head of the finance council and just ask about the possibility of sending money the parish already has to disaster relief. Maybe they have some reason you’re not aware of for keeping the money; maybe not. If they don’t have an immediate need for it, you could gently challenge them on the Gospel truths of helping and caring for others.
 
Fergal m’lad!
Go for it! Tell ‘em the yanks in Florida here where hurricane Ivan just creamed us took up a second collection this mornin’ and the whole thing goes to the tsunami relief. This is from a combined parish where one church on Pensacola Beach can’t even reopen w/o $2 million and about half million dollars to put my own parish back to rights. Might remind 'em of the widow’s mite if they feel so impoverished.

God be good to ya!
Your friend

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The Parish own a very substantial car park (along with a very small one for Church use) in the centre of the town. A coin barrier has been installed charging each car €2 entry for any amount of time. It is simply €2 entry irrespective of time. It was free up to oh… 2 years ago. Now the other small Church car park is locked all the time on weekdays due to abuse by those who work in the town. The idea is that the Church car park should be free for weddings and funerals during the week. Select individuals have access by remote control. Can park there Sundays but not for daily Mass. Must use a pay-for-park place. 😦

Have to say it pulls in a mini fortune. Every Pastors dream!!!
 
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Fergal:
Have to say it pulls in a mini fortune. Every Pastors dream!!!
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Do you know that I have actually heard a pastor say that someone who was tithing should only give 5% of their tithe to the parish and should put the rest somewhere else? He said, “We have to be responsible with what we do with the money you give us. Although we have debts now, there’s actually a limit to what we want stewardship of. There are others doing good work who need your support, too.”

I was at another parish, and they donated 5% of every collection on to another charity. The charities changed each week, but usually supported the poor or the missions. That parish had debts, too.

What do you think about that!?
 
At our parish we had the collection as usual and at the end of Mass people stood at the doors and collected money for Caritas Australia to be used for relief for the victims of the tsunami. The same will be done next week.
 
Well, it sounds like the problem here is that there are two collections for parish use every week. A third would be an obnoxious interruption to mass. So the powers at be seem to have come up with this as a solution.

A better one would be to have envelopes for weekly contribution, and seperate envelopes of a different color (or is it colour) for the development fund. BOTH of these go in the FIRST passing of the baskets. When special needs come up like this disaster, there is an opportunity to add a special second collection.

I’d suggest that as a way to address all the needs.
 
I think that week you should put no money at all in the collection and mail the money instead to Catholic charities with a note that it is for the people hit by the Tsunami.
 
I agree with sending your donation through Catholic Relief Services. They have a great reputation.

I would send a letter to your priest. Tell him that you sent your both your parish donation and your donation to for the tsunami victims to the tsunami victims. Tell your priest that you have requested they send back any surplus money that they do not need to save lives in Indonesia to help him with his parking lot fund.

Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com
 
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Fergal:
I am so disappointed at this half hearted gesture and I am considering a letter to the Parish priest asking that he consider releasing all the finances from the second collection to the disaster fund.
Click to expand...
It appears that you have two separate issues going on - one is that monies donated to a parish for an explicit purpose are "restricted donations’: - that is the people donating understand the purpose for which the money is going to be used and thus the parish can’t change horses in midstream to use it for something else.

It does seem that the smarter plan would be to forego one of those regular collections on a given Sunday and announce that instead the second collection for that day only will be used for Tsunami Relief.

And reardless of th all the emotion involved for the tremendous loss of life, the bills and expenses at your local parish keep going on just as they do in any household. There ought to be a surplus contingency fund for financial emergencies - plus the parish must send iin so much of their collection to the chancery offices - this is an assessment which is assigned to them and they have to meet it plus take care of their regular expenses.

So it may not be as cold as you think it is - OTOH the best judgment PR wise of how to handle the tsnumi relief perhaps hasn’t been thought through as well as it could have.
 
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