Placement of the Collection Basket

[cargopilot]

I’m an usher, and responsible for the money.

A very observant teen, who guards the liturgy like a junkyard dog, pointed out that our placement of the collection basket on the floor, near the altar, violates the GIRM, and should be placed somewhere else. It’s refreshing to see a teen that even cares. I promised him I would look into the matter.

GIRM Paragraph 73 states:
"These are to be put in a suitable place, but away from the eucharistic table."

My question is what is ‘away’?

Where does your parish place the collection basket?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Binney]

Parishes here place the basket right next to the Eucharistic Table. This has always caused me distress but to no avail. People do what they want to do. I can’t seem to change them around here.

 

[kmktexas]

We place ours under the credence table, which is down the steps from the altar. I think that is far enough away from the Eucharistic table. It is outside the sanctuary.

It is only since I came to Texas, that I have seen the collection being presented along with the gifts brought to the altar. In other places sometimes they were brought to the front after the collection was through but this wasn’t part of the offertory ‘bringing of the gifts.’ Is this a Texas/southern thing?

 

[Exporter]

Kmktexas, Yessir ree, I am in deep south Texas, 8 miles from the Mexican Border.

I have lived her for 48 years. The collection baskets are not brought up to the Alter. They are taken to a small room in the back near the entrance. So we don’t have a problem. Yes it is wrong but thats what they do. There are other oddities in the mass, but who will listen? They built the new church with the tabernacle off to the right about 15 feet.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

cargopilot:

I’m an usher, and responsible for the money.

A very observant teen, who guards the liturgy like a junkyard dog, pointed out that our placement of the collection basket on the floor, near the altar, violates the GIRM, and should be placed somewhere else. It’s refreshing to see a teen that even cares. I promised him I would look into the matter.

GIRM Paragraph 73 states:
"These are to be put in a suitable place, but away from the eucharistic table."

My question is what is ‘away’?

Where does your parish place the collection basket?

Thanks for your help.

It would depend on the layout of your church. If possible place the basket in a safe place next to the priests chair or next to the place where the Gospel is read from. Also using a smaller basket sometimes helps, it can be placed under a table or chair in the sanctuary.