The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-04-14


of the lay trustees, yet it often falls
principally on the shoulders of the
priest, to gather in the revenues of
the parish. This is true especially in
Italian congregations, where the people
| do not seem to understand the proper
and more successful business way in
getting the needed support for the
parish. 1t often happens, in Italian
parishes more than in others, that
many want to belong to. the parish and
get the ministrations of the church
without paying anything or only very
little for it's support, although they
could pay just as well as other mem
bers of the parish. : Others again,
while willing to pay, yet wait and wait
as long as they can until they forget
all about it. Now it is the duty of the
trustees and the pastor to admonish
such people of their duty, For the
priest one of the best occasions or OPP
portunities of doing so is when such
people come to receive the sacraments,
or in case of marriage or funeral,
or when they bring their children for
| baptism or first communion or holy
confirmation. In such case the priest
has a perfect right not only to expect
little gift for himself, but also to
demand of these parties to pay some
contribution to the parish, in compli-
ance with their duties. When the
priest does this he is not doing any,
thing wrong, though he may some
times be misunderstood by some people
as demanding all that money for him
self personally, when in fact it is to
go into the treasury of the church,
or perhaps, according to the methods
followed in some parishes, to pay
the pastors salary.
Rules for Societies.
b-Regarding Catholic societies that
wish to have the honors and privileges
of the church, the nd-book of the
diocese gives clear rules on page 81
and following in harmony with the
rules laid down in the American Coun-
ellis of Baltimore. Thus the Third Pie
nary Council of Baltimore expressly
states that these Catholic societies
should be formed under the auspices
and patronage of the bishop; that they
should follow the advise and direction
of the clergy, although their immediate
object may be of a temporal and ma
terial nature; that though looking for
temporal benefits, they should over
look the cultivation of Christian piety,
The fact tina society consists Of
Catholic men does not make the socie-
! ty itself Catholic Such it will be only
if true and loyal Catholic spirit fills
those men and through them the whole
society. This Catholic spirit is as
suredly lacking where members are
admitted or retained who only neglect
their religious duties, give public scan
dial, neglect their families, and in pub
lie places criticize and condemn laws
and rules made by their ecclesiastical
superiors. The statutes and bylaws
should be approved by ecclesiastical
authorities. In all religious and &C.
clesiastical affairs the society must be
absolutely subject to the bishop of the
diocese and in everything observe the
diocesan rules, especially all those re-
garding public dances, fairs, excur-
sions, the Sunday observance and SINH
lar matters. Only practical Catholics
can be admitted as members. The So
ciety must insist on the faithful per-
Torrance by it's members of all their
religious and ecclesiastical duties. 1t
ought to show interest in all that con-
Germs the welfare of the parish. 1t
may not fill its own treasury at the
expense of the parish. The meetings
of Catholic society should always be
open to the priest, whether he be a
member of the society or not. Only
societies approved by the ecclesiastical
authority may appear in church or at
religious functions in body and with
their regalia 1t is the duty of the
pastor to watch over the societies
of his parish. He must be their guide
and advisor.
The Parish Hall.
| cit belongs to the pastor, not the