Financing Your Church

For most people in the Diocese of Cork and Ross who support the work of the Church financially, the collection at Masses on weekends and holy days is very familiar. But how is the money spent?

The normal collection at Masses in parishes is lodged to the parish bank account and is then used primarily for:

• Altar supplies (special altar breads, wine, candles, etc)
• Altar linens and vestments (replacement and maintenance)
• Church heating
• Cleaning materials for church
• Diocesan Benevolent Fund (6% contributed to this fund which provides a stipend for retired and infirm priests in the diocese)
• Diocesan Fund (Parishes contribute 8% of income to a fund which finances the central administration and agencies of the diocese)
• Electricity for the churches
• Insurance
• Post, telephone, stationery
• Purchase and repairs of equipment
• Repairs and maintenance of church buildings and presbyteries
• Schools (the portion of the cost of buildings and capitation carried by parishes
• Service Charges
• Wages for sacristan, secretary, parish sister, organist, cleaners, etc (In many parishes these services are provided by volunteers)

The collections on Christmas Day and easter Sunday go to the parish clergy as part of their income. These are the only two church collections which go to the parish clergy.

(Religous Orders and Missionary Societies have particular arrangements which may vary from above.)

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