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Zosan
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| Joined: | Mon Dec 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Biloxi, Mississippi USA |
| Posts: | 55 |
| First Name: | Norm | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Roman Catholic - Worldwide Church of God - Assemblies of ... |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 12:52 pm |
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I returned to the Church in 2000 after leaving in 1968. I noticed the significant changes in the mass, but recently a few friends have been voicing their option about announcements and fund raising pleas from the Ambo right after the Litergy of the Word. At times the pastor would not even do a homily so the other folks can state their cases about fund raising for the Church. Is this practice allowed by canon law? Do other Parishes allow announcements after the first litergy followed by personal pleas for fund raising events? Even to the point of pre-empting the homily?
Your thoughts please.
Norm
aka Zosan
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Ali
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 660 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 01:25 pm |
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Wow, no. Any time Father mentions donations, like helping hands Sunday, or VBS fund raisers, etc., it's always right before dismissal. They only time money is mentioned during the homily is during the Bishops appeal, or for retired religious on whatever Sunday that is. And Father is never pushy about it or guilts us, I really appreciate that.
Ali
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5080 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 05:17 pm |
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In my experience, there are three times a year that "pitches" are given from the ambo at the time of the homily.
1. On Stewardship Sunday. The pastor will invariably announce how he hates talking about money but that he has to do it once a year and he would be neglecting the full gospel message if he didn't. He will stress the need to give back to God in the form of time, talent, and treasure, to the church as well as to other worthwhile organizations.
2. When a missionary comes to visit, which usually happens once a year, and speaks on the work they are doing in their missions, and of course how they need financial assistance. Again, this is actually part of the gospel message so I don't think it's inappropriate, even if it doesn't always match that Sunday's scripture passage.
3. For the annual diocesan appeal (which we call the Bishop's Stewardship Appeal) at which a recorded message from the bishop is played in place of the homily. Again, support of the Church is part of the message of scripture, even if it doesn't always fit that Sunday's liturgy.
Occasionally when there are second collections for specific purposes the pastor will mention the need after communion, just when the collection is about to be taken. It would have been previously explained in the bulletin. Our announcements also take place after communion.
And finally, on extremely rare occasions, a special collection is taken up for a specific need, such as to help a family pay for the burial of a loved one or to provide clothing for a family who lost their home in a fire, etc. Our parish is always extremely generous on such occasions.
One thing our parish has started doing is keeping a running tab of collections in the bulletin each week and the shortage/overage to pay the bills that month. Knowing how far behind we are each month has actually helped to raise the collections at the end of the month.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Zosan
Member
| Joined: | Mon Dec 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Biloxi, Mississippi USA |
| Posts: | 55 |
| First Name: | Norm | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Roman Catholic - Worldwide Church of God - Assemblies of ... |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 08:44 pm |
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Thank you Ali. Our Pastor reads a email joke of the week just before dismissal each Sunday. It is so popular that someone compiled a book of weekly jokes that sells for $10 a copy.
Announments always follow the prayers for the faithful and two collections are taken up during the announcements. The children are encourage to bring up money to be placed in a pickle jar by the alter to help the poor. At the 11:30 a.m. mass you'll see a whole flock of children flooding altar as the Pator receives the gifts of bread and wine.
Collections are noted in each weekly bulletin. This week for instance the numbers are:
Offertory - $20,648.10
Tuition Assistance Tust Fund - $2,278.78
Mass Count: Saturday - 5 PM - 381, Sunday - 8:30 a.m. 268,
10:00 a.m. - 492 - 11:30 a.m. 415 - 5 P.M. 302
Monday - 275 (Spanish) Wednesday - 82 (Tagolog)
I've never heard of us being behind on any bills since I started attending in 2000. The numbers reflected in this weeks bulletin are typical while they do tend to drop during the summer.
Some folks are getting a belly full with all the fund raising that is mentioned week after week.
Norm
aka Zosan
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Zosan
Member
| Joined: | Mon Dec 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Biloxi, Mississippi USA |
| Posts: | 55 |
| First Name: | Norm | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Roman Catholic - Worldwide Church of God - Assemblies of ... |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 08:46 pm |
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Rick...Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this as well...I wonder how many other Parishes do such extensive fund raising week by week?
Norm
aka Zosan
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5080 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 09:10 pm |
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Zosan wrote: Rick...Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this as well...I wonder how many other Parishes do such extensive fund raising week by week?
If you're referring to the special collections for fire victims, etc., it happens maybe once a year at most, but when it does happen, the response is overwhelming, often doubling or tripling our average weekly collection.
Also, the recipients are often not members of our congregation or even Catholic, but the funds are dispensed through Catholic Social Services (our version of Catholic Charities) or the St. Vincent de Paul Society so we know they are being used properly.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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