Excellent post Matthew! You are so right. I had someone tell me once that they didn’t contribute because they didn’t know the parish needed help. We never asked for it!

I think so many people in Church leadership are afraid to ask for help because they think they won’t get it. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. They look at the apathy in the pews, get discouraged and think there’s no point. That’s what Seth Godin calls the “Lizard Brain” in operation. We’re afraid to try something different for fear of failure. And, we think no one is really excited about the gospel so we don’t want to go out on a limb to market it. But you’re right! We have the greatest message in the whole world! Why are we afraid to share it or to ask people to use their talents and abilities to spread it?

A quick story:  I was at a Methodist church a few weekends ago listening to a good friend of mine preach for the very first time.  He did great, but then when the collection plates were passed around (literally gold plates), one of them fell on the ground with a loud clang that echoed throughout the whole building.  The head pastor got up and spoke when the collection was over and said, “I’m thankful for three things today.  One, is the opportunity to worship with all of you today.  The second is for the wonderful sermon by Clay.  The final thing I’m thankful for is that I didn’t hear any change clinking around when the collection plate fell!”  Sometimes you’ve got to just laugh.

The trouble with fundraising in our parish is that we never get an accounting of exactly where the money has gone, either for the yearly budget or for special fundraisers.  We get the general form that really says nothing and we will get a report after a fundraiser that gives an approximate amount with never a detailed follow up.  Parishioners don’t respond to this kind of treatment. The pastors have to be good stewards of our money.  If they aren’t, then the money goes to other charitable causes, of which there are plenty.

I agree - especially - with the post about asking and asking specifically.  In a local parish, the pastor needed two old (antique) stained glass windows repaired.  He asked specifically for that need - ‘we need to fix the two stained glass windows in the Adoration Chapel.  Any one interested in helping out, let me know.  The rest of you pray it happens.  Thank you, both, very much’.  Guess what, it did!  Simple asking got great results.

If the parish priestwants fund for anything,he should discuss the project with the parishioners.Once parishioners agree there may not be any problem..The only thing is they are entitled to see the accounts   The whole matter must be transparent.

One of our Sisters recently received a complaint from a fellow parishioner.  It seems that a young man donated a sizeable amount of money to his mother’s parish in her loving memory.  He specifically stipulated that the money was to be used for the upkeep and maintenance of the parish’s Mary Garden.  When the volunteers who maintain the Garden heard about it, they were thrilled.  The Pastor accepted the contribution, and told the volunteers that, if they had specific projects in mind, they should submit a request.  However, the would not be given all of the funds.  The point is, if the young man found out that the money was not going to be used as he intended, we doubt if he would have contributed the money in the first place.  And, once other parishioners find out, we are sure that they, too, will be reluctant to contribute to the parish, no matter how worthwhile the project.

Brother Robert,

You might want to inform the parishioner and maybe the priest of canon 1267, paragraph 3:

“Offerings given by the faithful for a certain purpose can be applied only for that same purpose.”

With minor adjustments, the scope of your guidance could be very profitably expanded - Don’t Run Your Diocese like a 2nd Grade.

One of the problems with announcing, or printing in the bulletin, the exact amount of money raised by fund raising, or how much was spent, at least in Trinidad, W.I., where I live is that criminals love to know these things.  It is quite possible that the parish would be the victim of a crime…..

In my parish where the collections are counted is kept secret to protect those who do the counting as well as the money!

Actually, the Church should not be engaged in “fundraising” at all.  It’s sacrificial giving.  It’s a spiritual reality, just as vital as prayer, the sacraments, works of mercy, etc.  How we use our time, talent and treasure is where our heart is.  Sadly, most parishes focus on the “need for money” and the focus should be on the connection of proper stewardship with what God has given us, and our relationship with God and a call to deeper conversion.  God does not need “our” money. It’s his money to begin with, and we are merely stewards of it.  We need to use it (return it) to grow in true love with Him and our neighbor.  That is the mission.  Deeper, fuller conversion of the heart.  If that happens, there is little need for “fundraising”.  The Gospels speak to this often, but it is rarely addressed until “fundraising campaigns” emerge.  We’re not the United Way.  The secular world has influenced us too greatly in our American culture.

That is an excellent point Steve! If every parishioner gave 10% like God calls us to do (even 5%), there would never be another worry about money in any Catholic parish. You’re absolutely right. It not supposed to be “development” in the Church, it’s supposed to be sacrificial giving, the good use of the money God is lending to us in order to live, help others and to further his Kingdom.

Steve - I definitely agree. Thanks for adding that. That is precisely what our leaders need to be talking about to be inspiring.

When people pay their 5-10% out of strict obligation, they do so with the same enthusiasm as paying taxes. And you get parishes run as effectively and efficiently as the federal government. A sad state indeed.

When people are plugged in and feel connected to what they are giving and they see it is being effective and used wisely, you get thriving parishes with inspired parishioners.

We need to foster the spirit of the latter while connecting it to the ultimate purpose of proper stewardship and deeper, fuller conversion of the heart.

Me, I am for one of the purposes of Vatican II - relieve the priest of such tasks. He is supposed to baptize us, shrive us, preach to us, say Mass, marry us, and bury us. The money for doing these things should be the responsibility of the laity, of the parishioners.

We now have much vaunted parish councils. Let them do the roofing, the plumbing, the electric work, the care of the grounds. It’s a nice division of duties: theirs are the physical problems and duties; his are the spiritual problems and duties.

I am always amused to hear people “threaten” to hold back their contributions. They are threatening the Almighty?

On the flip side - we left a parish where for a year solid all we got was week after week, badgering for money, financial reports, and more begging for money for the building fund. Oh, they were asking alright. And yet, if YOU asked for help, you got nothing. “Sorry, times are tough” - yeah, we know… it was a bit much to deal with, the constant hammering. Started to sound like Benny Hinn… I think if they had just scheduled some events, and made it fun it would have been better - or even had baskets and signs by the doors - but the constant harrassment? It just was too much. In second grade I sold cards and candles and we had spaghetti suppers. That was fun. I didn’t go harrassing people every day, basket in hand… LOL

I thought I would be able to use some of the ideas in this post for my pastor.  However, he does ALL of the above and all he gets is anonymous complaints to the Bishop.  This is a faithful priest who works very hard to keep us on the path to Heaven.  Unfortunately our small country parish has a reputation for treating their priests badly.  We have been here for over 30 years and every single one has had a hard time with some very nasty people.  The sheep keep trying to tell the Shepherd how to run things.  Our church is close to 50 years old and needs some major renovation.  Some of the ones who object have done some major renovations to their own homes, but don’t think the Lord deserves the same.  Those of us who support him and the parish, are at our wits end how to end this cycle. Pray for us

One of, if not the main problem, is the pastor.  Every pastor is different, and the tone he sets is what lasts.  You can have a pastor that all ways pushed for money, but does so in away that the parishioners feel it is for the good of the parish.  He shows that he cares for all aspects of the parish and participates in all activities.  Than there are others who shows his distain for various sectors, groups, etc. and this does not convey a loving leader, but one who has self interests.  It than becomes difficult to pull money from your members when you wonder if there is an alternative motive, or if the project is REALLY needed.

I thought I would be able to use some of the ideas in this post for my pastor.  However, he does ALL of the above and all he gets is anonymous complaints to the Bishop.  This is a faithful priest who works very hard to keep us on the path to Heaven.  Unfortunately our small country parish has a reputation for treating their priests badly.  We have been here for over 30 years and every single one has had a hard time with some very nasty people.  The sheep keep trying to tell the Shepherd how to run things.  Our church is close to 50 years old and needs some major renovation.  Some of the ones who object have done some major renovations to their own homes, but don’t think the Lord deserves the same.  Those of us who support him and the parish, are at our wits end how to end this cycle. Pray for us for more details visit http://tcbsc.com

I got an idea, why don’t you copy and past your whinge once a month, and that ought to help, ya think?

What do you do when the parish building plans include coffee shops?! and other wasteful spaces?  I hate to sound like a sheep trying to tell the shepherd what to do, but I know my husband and I would be giving a greater percentage of our tithe to the actual parish if we felt it was going to be used more wisely.  My husband just got on the finance council and found out that our parish leases a copy machine for $11,000/year!!! Yes, $11,000/year… but they have to announce at mass every week that they are in need of donations for the homeless ministry.  I’m sorry to say I don’t think our parish is in the minority.

If parishes treated their parishioners like the educated and professional adults that they are, such as informing them of the collection, parish salaries, expenditures (it IS our donation and we are called to be good stewards by making sure the church is being a good steward of it), then they would get more in the way of collections. Some parishes by us have constant ‘fundraisers’: bake sales, dinners, fairs, etc. etc. while at the same time buying new things, paying high salaries, overstaffed or not correctly staffed for their income or dwindling numbers. It is a mess. AND, curiously enough, even though they are clearly over budget, there is no discussion of finances. At the most the pastor might say once in a while, “Well, we are a little tight this month!” Lord help us: we are consistently at least 10,000 short every month! The priest says a particular donation is going for the grounds, then it is going to the kitchen, then it is going to hire more staff!!  Catholics are really tired of being treated this way and people do send their money elsewhere. Instead, be upfront, and have true transparency. Have a parish finance committee that is truly a group of professionals who are not YES men and women who are personally selected by the priest and enamored of the priest. Get the parish staff out of the finance and parish council meetings (they have agendas of their own and intimidate the very groups who can save the parish).