What is the Family Offering Collection for?

 

The Family Offering Fund is the most important source of funding for the parish.  It pays for the

ongoing expenses for light and heat, repairs, maintenance and improvements to the church, candles, bread, wine, missalettes, books, and many other expenses.

 

We give generously to the collections at Mass.  Where do the Sunday Collections go?

 

The First Collection at Mass along with the Christmas and Easter Dues are lodged with the Diocese for the common fund. This money is for the remuneration of priests and the support of sick and retired priests.

 

The Second Collection at Mass is usually for SHARE. This is used to pay for the personnel employed at diocesan level e.g. the staff of the different offices in Archbishop's house e.g. Finance, H.R., Parish Pastoral Workers, Education, Liturgy and several other departments.  It is also used to support poorer parishes. However, sometimes, the second collection is a special collection. 

 

None of the money contributed at Mass goes to the running of the parish!

 

How can we contribute to the Family Offering Collection?

 

There are three ways to contribute: 1. Standing Order   2. Envelope     3. Yearly/Half-Yearly contribution

 

1. Standing Order

If it's possible, we sincerely ask you to contribute by way of Standing Order.  Standing Order gives the Parish Finance Committee the ability to plan the expenditure of the parish.  Knowing the income that will come in every month helps us to make sound financial decisions. 

Standing Order is also good for the contributor, who only has to fill out one form to begin making contributions.  You will not need to remember to bring an envelope to Mass on Sunday or wait for a collector to call to the door.

Remember, with Standing Orders, you are in complete control.  You can stop the payment at any time, with a letter or phone call to your bank or to the Parish Office.  Standing Order is our preferred way to receive contributions to the Parish Family Offering Fund.

 

Click here to download Standing Order Form

 

2. Envelope 

Alternatively, contributions may be made by envelope.  On request, the Parish Office will supply you with a set of envelopes with a unique identifying number.  Simply return your regular contribution to the church in this envelope every week/month/year etc.  

 

3. Yearly/half-yearly contribution

We also greatly value a direct payment to the Family Offering fund on an annual or half-yearly basis.

 

How much should we give?

That, of course, is up to you.  However, if it is possible for you to give €250 or more, the parish may benefit from the Charity Tax Refund Scheme.  See next section for details.

 

The Charity Tax Refund Scheme: A benefit to the parish at no extra cost to you.

 

Minimum Contribution: €250 per annum or €21 per month

 

Family Offering DONATIONS MADE FROM 1 JANUARY 2013 ONWARDS

From 1 January 2013, all donations from individuals (both PAYE workers and Self-Assessed) are treated the same and tax relief in all cases is repaid to the charity at a blended marginal rate of 31%.The minimum threshold of €250 for cumulative annual donations remains.

Parishioners will still need to provide the Parish with their PPS number but a new option to complete an "enduring declaration" certificate which is valid for up to five years will help reduce the administrative burden of having to complete annual forms; however, the option to make an annual declaration is still available if preferred.

 

The following is an example of how the tax reclaim works; Mary contributes €1,000 to the Parish in the tax year 2013. Under the tax relief scheme the Parish is deemed to have received a donation of €1,449.27 (i.e. €1,000 grossed up at 31%) less tax deducted of €449.27. On the assumption that Mary has paid income tax for 2013 of at least €449.27, the Parish can obtain a refund of that amount from Revenue after the end of the tax year 2013.

 

And if more than €250 is contributed by the PAYE taxpayer, the parish can claim even more because of the Tax Refund Scheme.  You can see that the Charity Tax Refund Scheme can be a substantial benefit to the parish while costing the contributor nothing extra.

If you are eligible for the scheme, the Parish Office will send you a form to be completed and signed.  We thank all those who already participate in this scheme.  It makes a huge difference to the Parish.