Offertory by debit card

[NHInsider]

the diocese out here gets a lot of casino chips in the donations. so many that they have to have someone go around once a month to all the casinos to cash all the chips. because the banks won’t take them. I heard they pick whoever is free at that time because it takes all day just to cash them all in.
I also heard the lucky priest is referred to as the Chip Monk.

groan

 

[Servus_Domini_1]

Do you really play that close attention to what those around you are putting into the collection basket?

 

[jblake]

crenfro;:

Should I quit giving the $$$ by this way?

People are going to judge you, regardless of what you do, or do not do. That they shouldn’t is a different issue.

Do what works best for you.

If you have some authority/standing in the parish, either official, or unofficial (IOW, if people look up to you as an example), then prudence suggests that using envelopes would set a good example.

What some people don’t know/realize, is that some banks no longer offer the option of accepting /using checks, with their “checking accounts”. These accounts literally are paperless only. No cash, money order, paper check, or other non-electronic forms of money transfer are accepted for deposit. All withdrawals are through ATMs, or POS Systems. Paper checks will bounce as “no such account”. Cash has to be obtained through an ATM, with an appropriate service charge.
Some mega-churches have concluded that it is more cost-effective to eliminate “pass the collection plate” around during a worship service, than include it. Between an offering basket (and POS System for debit/credit cards) in the church foyer, and office software that automatically bills credit cards the frequency and amount of the member’s request, revenue is both more consistent, and higher.

jonathon

 

[EasterJoy]

Do you really play that close attention to what those around you are putting into the collection basket?

Even if you don’t notice at all, there are these two factors:

There is the problem of your kids seeing that others do, and you “don’t.” They want something to put in. Kids are very concrete in their understanding of things.

There are also the others seeing “they don’t, I don’t have to”. If your giving is totally invisible, it tempts others into believing they don’t have to give at all.

 

[ElizabethPH]

Then this gives us an opportunity to teach our children that not every one gives by putting something in the basket; that it is done by other means and ways. There is also that we give of our time and talent not just monetarily.

 

[EasterJoy]

I remember a priest who did a Q&A for a Catholic newspaper who put it something like this: “In my experience, there are only two kinds of people who want their charitable giving to be entirely anonymous: the very generous, and the very cheap.”

Giving of our time and talent is rarely invisible to everyone, and very often is obvious to everyone. I’m not saying that we should advertize how much we give. Whether that is high or low with regards to our means is no one else’s to judge. I mean* whether *we give or not. It is worthwhile to be open about doing that, while being very much private with regards to how much.

 

[Frosty]

There was a time when how much one gave in the collection basket was not private.( if one used envelopes that is). The parish that I grew up in back in the 1950’s and 60’s used to send a detailed account to every parish household at the end of January that showed exactly how much each parishoner donated the previous year. The delivery of that account statement by the mailman was awaited with great eagerness, let me tell you! The phone lines were ablaze as the news was let out and the gossips, after scouring through the statement( some people even kept those statements from year to year so they could make comparisons) had a hey day as to who was either going up in the world or going down. In their minds anyway. My parents were dead set against this practice and my Dad refused to use envelopes, just putting his cash into the basket instead. He also donated privately a great deal of money to the church during the year apart from the regular collection. This practice of his was misunderstood by not a few of the other parishoners. He believed that it was no one else’s business what he did with his money and how he gave it to the church and he really didn’t care what other people thought. Thank goodness parishes don’t do that sort of thing anymore.

 

[ElizabethPH]

I remember a priest who did a Q&A for a Catholic newspaper who put it something like this: “In my experience, there are only two kinds of people who want their charitable giving to be entirely anonymous: the very generous, and the very cheap.”

Giving of our time and talent is rarely invisible to everyone, and very often is obvious to everyone. I’m not saying that we should advertize how much we give. Whether that is high or low with regards to our means is no one else’s to judge. I mean* whether *we give or not. It is worthwhile to be open about doing that, while being very much private with regards to how much.

I don’t know if you were responding in regards to my post or not but I am compelled to say something here…I did not say that we should let folks know how much we give. I don’t think anyone is saying that in this thread. If I am not exactly fond of making a big deal out of putting something in the basket for the sole purpose of having others see that I donate. it would stand to reason I certainly wouldn’t be for ‘advertising’ as to how much I donate. As for being a good influence on children we can teach them to give; teaching them that by watching that others put something in the basket isn’t such a good way to do it. There are plenty of people who don’t do it, that is a poor sign that they do not give at all.

 

[ML561]

The electronic option is good. Personally, I prefer to put money in the basket or bring it to the parish office during the week if I was out of town on Sunday.

We need to remember, however, that there are those among us who do not have bank accounts for various reasons, poverty or not trusting banks, debit cards, etc. I know a few people who pay everything in cash. I would hate to see that option not available to them.

Perhaps if parishes could send envelopes only to those who request them, as someone mentioned, it would cut down on paperwork but still allow those who do not want an electronic transfer to be served.

I belong to a large parish in which envelopes are sent to everyone who is registered as a member. This has to cost a lot of money in mailing charges. A couple of years ago, the pastor sent letters to those who had no record of having donated, not to scold them but to see if they were still in the parish. I am sure that this mailing, too, was expensive.

Just a thought–our pastor gives us a written update at the end of each fiscal year about the state of the parish finances. He said that about 80% of registered members have not contributed anything (again, we have to discount the loose cash put into the basket), so 20% of our members are bearing the burden of keeping the parish going! He told us that if every registered member who has not been contributing would give only one dollar each Sunday, the needs of the parish would be met.

Peace be with you.

 

[Phemie]

I know that boxes of envelopes cost approximately $3 each and it would be at least another $1 to mail them. We just place the boxes at the back of the church with names on them and everyone picks up their own. Mailing to all registered families wouldn’t be cost effective since only about 50% of registered parishioners come to church and fewer donate.

Because of the cost we order only 110 boxes (400+ families) of dated, numbered envelopes and have on hand a few dozen boxes of undated & unnumbered envelopes for people who decide to start using them or for new people who move in. Since every family registered is on a numbered list, we just use that number for their envelope number.

 

[Godfollower]

We are not supposed to pay attention to who gives what at the parish. I’ve always been offended at the fact that the parish notices who gives what through the envelope system; certainly it’s no business of the parishioners in the pews.

But, if I were to notice that a “prominent” person in the parish (you know what I mean – the couple who’s in six or eight different parish organizations, the guy who’s always called on to help out in various capacities, the woman who’s always counted on when someone else is absent) not donating to the collection basket, I would just assume that the donation already took place at some other Mass. Or it’s going to take place at a later one. Or it’s being given privately. Or whatever.

That’s if I happened to think about it at all.

So I say, give or don’t give something at the collection time. Certainly it’s worthwhile to have your kids give something and for them to know that you give something (whether at the same time or electronically doesn’t matter). But, if anyone is watching whether you give, that’s that person’s problem. Not yours.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I know that boxes of envelopes cost approximately $3 each and it would be at least another $1 to mail them. We just place the boxes at the back of the church with names on them and everyone picks up their own. Mailing to all registered families wouldn’t be cost effective since only about 50% of registered parishioners come to church and fewer donate.

Because of the cost we order only 110 boxes (400+ families) of dated, numbered envelopes and have on hand a few dozen boxes of undated & unnumbered envelopes for people who decide to start using them or for new people who move in. Since every family registered is on a numbered list, we just use that number for their envelope number.

We also use the debit system. We did receive little cards when we enrolled that can be dropped in the basket. I cannot never remember the stupid things, so I don’t use them. I’m not sure what the point of them are other than to allow your fellow pew mates see you put something into the basket. They say “Mr & Mrs N. support St. N”. And of course to advertise their services since they also have the logo on them.

 

[EasterJoy]

We also use the debit system. We did receive little cards when we enrolled that can be dropped in the basket. I cannot never remember the stupid things, so I don’t use them. I’m not sure what the point of them are other than to allow your fellow pew mates see you put something into the basket. They say “Mr & Mrs N. support St. N”. And of course to advertise their services since they also have the logo on them.

We have generalized cards in the back of church, that are re-usable. I think it is mostly so the kids will have something concrete to assure them that yes, Mom and Dad do put something into the basket, too. The kids have to remember to pick them up coming in, though. I never can remember.

 

[EasterJoy]

Some branches of Judaism do not allowing carrying anything on the Sabbath, so there are no collection baskets passed at their synagogues. (They wear their house keys on chains, or attach them to their clothes.) What they have, though, are dues. You have to pay your share to support the synagogue, or you aren’t allowed in the synagogue for the one time of year you have to go: High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). The synagogue gives tickets to people who have paid (according to their ability).

One thing I know: one of the things I like best about electronic giving is not having to remember to bring the envelope every week.

 

[pnewton]

I grew up in a Church where we posted our weekly offering. There was one elderly lady that only gave once a year. Everyone knew when it fell because the offering would double that week.

I think we should have wireless in Church. That way we could sign on and transfer funds during the offetory. Of course I don’t think the priest would appreciate us posting here during the homily.

 

[Godfollower]

I grew up in a Church where we posted our weekly offering. There was one elderly lady that only gave once a year. Everyone knew when it fell because the offering would double that week.

I think we should have wireless in Church. That way we could sign on and transfer funds during the offetory. Of course I don’t think the priest would appreciate us posting here during the homily.

Parentof1: What did he just say? Blessed are the peas makers? Is he talking about mothers? It isn’t Mother’s Day.
Newdad: No, No, I think it was cheesemakers.
Parentof1: ?? I don’t get it . . . .
Dr2B: Was it pacemakers?
Newdad: Oh, that makes a lot more sense. We should bless our pacemakers.
Grad1: PEACE-MAKERS!! IT WAS PEACE-MAKERS!! DONT YOU GUYS KNOW THIS STUF???
Parentof1: No need to shout . . . .
PastorBob: Hey! I’m preaching here! Knock it off!
Parentof1: Sorry, Father.
Newdad: Sorry.
Grad1: I MEAN, WE HEAR THESE BIBLE PASSAGES ALL THE TIME. THIS IS FROM THE BEATITUDES. HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW THIS?
Grad1: Sorry, Father.

 

[EasterJoy]

Parentof1: What did he just say? Blessed are the peas makers? Is he talking about mothers? It isn’t Mother’s Day.
Newdad: No, No, I think it was cheesemakers.
Parentof1: ?? I don’t get it . . . .
Dr2B: Was it pacemakers?
Newdad: Oh, that makes a lot more sense. We should bless our pacemakers.
Grad1: PEACE-MAKERS!! IT WAS PEACE-MAKERS!! DONT YOU GUYS KNOW THIS STUF???
Parentof1: No need to shout . . . .
PastorBob: Hey! I’m preaching here! Knock it off!
Parentof1: Sorry, Father.
Newdad: Sorry.
Grad1: I MEAN, WE HEAR THESE BIBLE PASSAGES ALL THE TIME. THIS IS FROM THE BEATITUDES. HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW THIS?
Grad1: Sorry, Father.

And people wonder why priests aren’t allowed to wear sidearms during Mass…
(PastorBob: “If one more person twitters in this church, I’m going to absolve him and then send him straight to Heaven…”)

 

[crenfro]

I think we should have wireless in Church. That way we could sign on and transfer funds during the offetory. Of course I don’t think the priest would appreciate us posting here during the homily.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello.

I have money deducted electronically for my $$$ offering so when offertory comes round during Mass I always look like Scrooge.

Should I quit giving the $$$ by this way?

I doubt you look like anything because I doubt anyone is paying attention (they certainly are not at my church, they are fumbling in the hymnal). If your parish offers an alternative means of giving then ushers and parishioners know that not everyone will be dropping in an envelope, so if somebody gives you a look (esp. an usher) forgive them. Congratulations for making this commitment because it means you placed the proper priority on your giving, rather than just throwing in what you have left over at the end of the week, and it means you gave real thought to your donation.