Why undesignated second collections?

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HomeschoolDad

HomeschoolDad

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I understand why there are second collections for specific purposes, such as when special envelopes are put in the basket. But why would there be a second collection when no purpose is specified?
 
Seems a little odd that there would be one without a reason. I know we have had a series of three or four in a row. The purpose was explained before and at the time it started, but not at subsequent masses.
 
It’s typically not “undesignated”. Usually the second collection purpose is stated in the bulletin, announced at Mass, or is a regular collection and everybody at that parish knows where the money goes (a church in the poor part of town, a food pantry, etc).
 
Exactly. In the parish were I work, the 4th Sunday of the month is “penny Sunday” and has been for at least 70 years.
The money had always been used to help parishioners/neighbors who find themselves in need. We pay utility bills, buy medicines, groceries, etc.
I am not sure if it is “advertised” anymore, it’s just a given.
 
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Either it’s a routine where they presume everyone’s familiar with its purpose (building fund, St. Vincent de Paul, etc), or it was announced elsewhere (before Mass, in the bulletin, last week) and not repeated at the actual time of collection.

When my kids were toddlers, we’d sometimes miss some of the pre-Mass announcements and arrive during the entrance hymn. So when they’d do a second collection, I’d often have no clue what it was for!
 
HomeschoolDad said:
I understand why there are second collections for specific purposes, such as when special envelopes are put in the basket. But why would there be a second collection when no purpose is specified?
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My bet… the parish has a “default second collection.” For example: the poor or the St Vincent de Paul Society

So when a special 2nd collection isn’t announced, the 2nd collection is always for the parish’s default charity (.i.e. the poor, St Vincent’s, etc)

When Parishes have a default 2nd collection (like my Parish did when I was a kid) the priests & staff sometimes take for granted that people know what it’s for and don’t announce the intention as often as they perhaps should.

When I was a kid and teen, I always thought the 2nd collection was for people who didn’t get their money out fast enough during the first collection because we had a weekly 2nd collection and they never announced the purpose.

It wasn’t until my 30s that I realized what the 2nd collection was all about! ☺️

God Bless
 
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Two weeks ago at the Saturday evening vigil mass an unannounced second collection took place catching me and many others off guard. I also attended the Sunday morning mass at the same parish and there was no second collection, so I have to assume that the ushers made some kind of mistake with their calendar. There was a second collection the following Saturday vigil and Sunday morning masses and I did have an extra envelope for it, so that kind of validates the looking at the wrong date on the calendar theory. Maybe sometimes it happens by accident.
 
Since it could be for the parish council’s mission to evangelize casino patrons in Las Vegas, I think I would ask.
 
In Australia (or Sydney anyway), there are always 2 collections. First is for parish, 2nd is for clergy (I think).
 
CilladeRoma said:
Exactly. In the parish were I work, the 4th Sunday of the month is “penny Sunday” and has been for at least 70 years.
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As one of the collection counters at our parish, I’m afraid I’d have to draw the line at “penny Sunday.” Good Lord, what a nightmare. 🤢
 
Tis_Bearself said:
It’s typically not “undesignated”. Usually the second collection purpose is stated in the bulletin,
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I was at a parish once that absolutely, always, without exception had a second collection every Sunday (to keep people in the habit?).

When they didn’t have a reason, they titled it, “for extra support.”

That’s also exactly when my attitude towards them changed . . .

hawk
 
Well, you don’t have to donate to it. I rarely throw anything in the collection basket because I do all my giving online. If somebody wants to think I’m a deadbeat, then it’s good for my humility.
 
I certainly don’t donate to the “nothing special, so give us extra money” collections. Ever.

Second collections are supposed to be the exception, not the rule (I don’t know if this is universal RC, or just in the US).

I have my weekly donation automated, and separate monthly checks for the poor (our only regular second collection) and for candles, and end updating the other second collections after the fact (priest’s retirement, priest’s insurance, Peter’s pence, and one or two other annuals).

hawk
 
Automatic coin counting machine. Our parish has used one for a long time:
 
TheLittleLady said:
Automatic coin counting machine. Our parish has used one for a long time:
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We are a small parish and rarely see more than $2 or $3 in our collection, so a coin counting machine would be wasted on our us. But just the idea of baskets-full of pennies gives me the vapors.
 
Our Church has way too many envelopes sent out…if they cut back on envelopes, they’d probably save enough money to support the causes for which they are trying to raise money.

Aside from the normal collection, their are envelopes for the maintenance fund, the building fund, flowers for certain holidays, a fund for the new parish center, a fund for the needy in the community, a fund for retired religious, etc. My monthly delivery of collection envelopes probably weighs five pounds.
 
I have never understood the second collection thing. Whether the money comes in separate collections or one, it could still be split as needed. In my previous Christian life, all the money was in one pot, out of which was paid mandatory expenses, with the rest being split by percentages. Money was handled as anyone would handle a budget.
 
We rarely do second collections at my parish. If there is one, it is announced in the bulletin the week prior and announced prior to the assigned Mass by the cantor. Usually it’s for St. Vincent de Paul or Little Sisters of the Poor.

Seems odd that there would not be a specific reason for one.
 
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