From: elendil@mintir.new-orleans.la.us (Edward J. Branley)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.catholic
Subject: Re: contributions
Keywords: money
Date: 2 Jan 93 00:12:48 GMT
Organization: Minas Tirith BBS (Public Access Usenet for New Orleans)

fr@compu.com (Fred Rump from home) writes:

> elendil@mintir.new-orleans.la.us (Edward J. Branley) writes:
>
> >Fred, my wife normally mails our check in.  I normally stick a dollar in on
> >own because that's all I've got in my wallet <g>.
>
> That happens, but the exception is not the rule. Most people are still
> donating as folks were in the 50s.

Shoot, who's got cash on them anymore?  No wonder collections are off.  Maybe
parishes ought to go to Visa or bank drafts or something...

>
>
> >I'd love to see some demographics on just who is giving the money.  In paris
> >that have schools, I'll bet you see increased donations in families as their
> >children approach school age, plateau for the eight years the kid is in scho
> >then the figure tapers off as the children leave the parish school for high
> >school.
>
> The wealthy typically don't donate as well except for special purpose project
> when they can be depended upon to help. They need to see results and don't
> like to throw money into the bottomless pit.

Sounds like an enterprising pastor and parish council could do things like
regularly publish a financial report in the weekly bulletin.  Make people
realize that the weekly collection does indeed go for concrete things.

>
> The bulk of the money really comes from people who really sacrifice. They are
> hit at again and again. It is that silent middle class that struggles against
> income and property taxes while having to support charity by government and
> the Church. The school parents have it the toughest as they are expected to
> make a reasonable donation in order to earn the low tuition that most parishe
> have.

Actually, the situation you describe doesn't happen down here.  Our property
taxes are essentially non-existent on homeowners (<$50 /year on homes less than
$150k in value).  Of course, public schools in New Orleans really suck...

>
> Donations also increase by age as more disposable income becomes available.

True.  My folks have more money now that they've rid themselves of their
dependents.

>
> Churches in Florida and other retirement communities are especially lucky to
> have access to an older population that seems to rally around the Church as a
> center of activity if it's available. Those churches that offer a sense of
> community, besides the religious aspect of becoming older and closer to the
> gates, have no real problem with funds. Communication is normally the key tha
> ties people together. The standard in most areas of the country is a faceless
> mass at mass. Some churches have learned a little about marketing and
> communications. They are full and financially secure. Sadly that is not the
> norm as computers have yet to reach any real impact in the Catholic Church.
> Those that I know of that use the tools of technology are also bubbling place
> where the doors are always open and religion is not just the Sunday mass.
>

Well, my parish makes use of computers, as do a few others.  What keeps them
full, however, is really the schools.  Parents go, if not for themselves, for
their kids.  Older folks go because they want to.  Others go because they want
to.  I s'pose we're fortunate.

Anyway, hope 1993 is good for y'all, Fred...



|Edward J. Branley         elendil@mintir.new-orleans.la.us|
|Seashell Software, Metairie, LA            +1-504-455-5087|
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