Together in Christ
for the Greater Glory of God
for the Greater Glory of God
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(Matthew 6:19-21)
Stewarding the gift of our Treasure
Giving is often viewed in relationship to needs: the needs of charities, the needs of the Parish to operate financially, the needs of the Archdiocese, those of the whole Church, and the needs of the poor. However fundamentally, the issue is the need of parishioners to live out the Lordship of Jesus Christ in their lives. Generosity with our money goes to the essence of our values; Jesus cut to the chase about this: ''Bring the whole tithe (to pay or give a tenth part of, i.e. 10%) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."
Prayerfully consider having each household wage earner give to the Parish's regular weekly collection, "one hour for God"; i.e. that if one's hourly rate of pay equals $10, then each week return $10 (one hour) to God; if the rate equals $15, return $15 to God; a $35 rate: give $35 weekly; and so on. Then plan some additional hours for second collections, the Archdiocese and the poor. In this way, you will be surely putting God first.
Similarly if retired, consider giving to the Parish weekly part of each household member's Social Security Check by rounding and then dropping the last two numbers to arrive at a weekly amount. For example if one's monthly Social Security check equated to the U.S. average in 2010 of $1,171.60, one would round to 1,172 drop the 7 and the 2 leaving 11 for a weekly donation of $11. If one's amount equals $893.27, then one's donation would be $8 per week. Thus by using the first numbers, retirees would also be giving first to God.
It is worth noting that in deciding how much to give, one should keep in mind the following:
We share a common belief that we should return to the Lord a generous portion of what God has given to us and plan to do so:
Giving is often viewed in relationship to needs: the needs of charities, the needs of the Parish to operate financially, the needs of the Archdiocese, those of the whole Church, and the needs of the poor. However fundamentally, the issue is the need of parishioners to live out the Lordship of Jesus Christ in their lives. Generosity with our money goes to the essence of our values; Jesus cut to the chase about this: ''Bring the whole tithe (to pay or give a tenth part of, i.e. 10%) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."
(Malachi 3:10)
Being a good steward of TreasurePrayerfully consider having each household wage earner give to the Parish's regular weekly collection, "one hour for God"; i.e. that if one's hourly rate of pay equals $10, then each week return $10 (one hour) to God; if the rate equals $15, return $15 to God; a $35 rate: give $35 weekly; and so on. Then plan some additional hours for second collections, the Archdiocese and the poor. In this way, you will be surely putting God first.
Similarly if retired, consider giving to the Parish weekly part of each household member's Social Security Check by rounding and then dropping the last two numbers to arrive at a weekly amount. For example if one's monthly Social Security check equated to the U.S. average in 2010 of $1,171.60, one would round to 1,172 drop the 7 and the 2 leaving 11 for a weekly donation of $11. If one's amount equals $893.27, then one's donation would be $8 per week. Thus by using the first numbers, retirees would also be giving first to God.
It is worth noting that in deciding how much to give, one should keep in mind the following:
- It should be prayerful. Pray about it. Reflect on what the Lord has blessed you with and discern how much of these resources you can share with others in a spirit of thanksgiving for what the Lord has given you.
- It should be planned. Your giving should be deliberate. You must set aside and prepare the amount that you have decided to give or offer on a weekly or monthly basis.
- It should be proportionate. In prayer, determine what amounts of your resources will be shared in Stewardship with your Parish, your Archdiocese, and charity.
- It should be sacrificial. Your giving must hurt. The amount of money that you give away is something that you must feel. Giving to this level develops trust in God's provisions and generosity and likewise lessens your attachment to material riches.
We share a common belief that we should return to the Lord a generous portion of what God has given to us and plan to do so:
Monthly Parish Maintenance Offering
A second collection is taken up monthly, generally on the second weekend of the month. Funds collected are used for significant building repairs and maintenance projects.
Parish Grand Annual Collection
The Parish Grand Annual Collection takes place in mid-November. A mailing goes to all parishioners; included therein is a special Grand Annual envelope. Funds are used to assist with fuel to heat church buildings for winter and to complete needed building repairs.
Parish Special Project Drives
From time to time, special projects arise that provide the necessity to generate funds for the parish in response to a specific need. An example would be major repair to the Main Church's stained glass windows.
Parish Fundraisers
Throughout the year special events are held to raise funds for for various Parish needs. Examples include the annual Holiday Fair and the Annual Parish Dinner and Auction. Supported by the efforts and dollars of many parishioners, they include good food and lots of fun.
Parish Memorial/Honoring Gifts
One can make a gift in memory of a deceased loved one at any time. Memorial/Honoring gifts are a way to support the mission of Holy Family Parish, and to celebrate the fact that faith was/is an important part of the life of a beloved friend or family member. A beautiful card will be sent at your request to whomever you name.
- Holy Mass can be scheduled and offered for the repose of the soul of the deceased. - Suggested Offering: $10. or more
- The Sanctuary Candle can be lit for a month. - Requested Offering: $40.
- Bread (Hosts) and wine can be supplied for a month. - Requested Offering: $100.
- Project Specific Gifts can be directed to support Parish Projects. - Freewill Offering
- Engraved Paver Bricks or Lampposts can be be memorialized in the Parish's Outdoor Reflective Area. - Required Offering Pavers $100; Lampposts $500.
- Christmas and Easter Flowers can beautify the church in festive color and fragrance. - Freewill Offering
- Mass, Candle or Bread and Wine Memorials
- Outdoor Reflective Area Memorials
- Special envelopes are provided parishioners for Flower Requests pre-season.
The Catholic Appeal is to the Archdiocese what the weekly collections are to the Parish. The Archdiocese of Boston provides a diverse array of support, training and services for its parishes, schools and other agencies. In addition, over 60 shared, central ministries serve thousands of individuals across the Archdiocese's 144 cities and towns. The Catholic Appeal provides 84% of the philanthropic funding for these critical services and ministries. This funding comes from the generosity and stewardship commitment of parishioners throughout the Archdiocese. Without the Catholic Appeal, the responsibility to provide these educational and enrichment ministries would return to the local parish level. By nourishing the ministries and mission of the Archdiocese, a community of faith reaches beyond the boundaries of any one parish; we share our faith with others.
Making a gift is easy and all funds raised through the Catholic Appeal are used exclusively to support the shared ministries of the Archdiocese that benefit thousands and are vital to our catholic community.
The Catholic Appeal takes place each Spring and reaches out for about 13 weeks.
Planned Giving to Holy Family Parish
Giving to the future of our Parish assures that the vitality of our Parish, which means so much to us today, will continue long into the twenty-first century. For guidance about how to include Holy Family in your final will and testament, advice from your financial and legal advisors is essential.
The 500 ClubA club-style, member-based monthly raffle with multiple opportunities to win is available. Contact the Parish Office for detailed information on becoming a member or simply sign-up. It's fun and helps the Parish too! Winners are announced in the Parish Bulletin.
Parish Regular Weekly/Monthly Offering
The regular weekly/monthly offering supports the Parish operating expenses and helps sustain our liturgical, educational, and outreach ministries (except Christmas and Easter when such goes to supporting the retired clergy). This is the principal source of revenue for the Parish. There are three methods for a household to regularly contribute to the weekly/monthly offering at Holy Family:
- Offering Envelopes: Registered parishioners may opt through the Parish office to receive a packet of offering envelopes. The use of offering envelopes is a "win - win" situation. It enables Parish staff to more effectively manage Parish financial resources and offers a household the benefit of an accurate record of annual giving.
- Electronic Funds Transfer: Electronic donation is a convenient way to support Holy Family Parish. Through this option, household contributions are transferred monthly, automatically from one's bank account to the Parish. The advantages for the giver are that it makes giving more convenient; eliminates the need to write checks and keep track of envelopes; allows for changes to one's contribution amount or schedule at any time; and is secure and free. The Parish benefits in saving hours of administration time processing payments (thus promoting the work of the Parish with freed-up resources); stabilizing the Parish budget with one's scheduled contributions; and reducing the expense of envelopes, postage and mailing materials. Please see the EFT Fact Sheet and fill out an EFT Authorization Form or make arrangements through the Parish office to participate in EFT.
- Electronic Checking: Set up and schedule automated bill-paying with your bank. Have electronic checks payable to Holy Family; then on a regular basis, the bank sends a bank-generated check to Holy Family and the bank pays the postage.
Archdiocesan Second Collections
Throughout the year, second collections are made on behalf of the Archdiocese and the greater Church in general. They include:
- Evangelization Sunday: Supports Catholics Come Home, a nationwide program launched to bring lapsed Catholics back to Mass and the practice of the faith.
- Peter's Pence: Supports the Holy Father's mission in providing immediate emergency and disaster relief, and emergency aid to our brothers and sisters suffering the effects of war, natural disaster, or oppression throughout the world.
- Holy Land Shrines: Supports both Holy Places and the pastoral, charitable, educational and social work which the Church provides in the Holy Land.
- Catholic Communications: Helps fund the efforts of the Church to reach out to Catholics and others through print, television, Internet, and radio.
- Military Archdiocese, Home Missions & Black and Native Americans: Provides Catholic chaplains throughout the world for American servicemen and service woman; subsidizes the evangelization and formation activities of mission diocese; and strengthens evangelization and outreach which would otherwise be in danger of disappearing among Black and Native Americans.
- Seminarians: Supports the formation and training of seminarians in the Archdiocese of Boston for service as clergy.
- Church in Africa and Church in Central & Eastern Europe: Helps the Church spread God and train Church leaders of tomorrow, help needy families materially and spiritually.
- Catholic Relief Services: Makes possible the Catholic Church's global mission to combat poverty, provide relief and development, assist refugees and immigrants, and advocate for justice and peace in situations of conflict and neglect of basic human rights.
- Church in Latin America: Supports the work of pastoral projects in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean and supports catechetical and lay programs, youth ministry, evangelization, and programs for religious, priests and deacons throughout Latin America.
- Catholic University: Supports The Catholic University of America (CUA) and its scholarship fund for needy students.
- Mission Sunday: Supports the Propagation of the Faith through the Church's missionary activity as areas devastated by war or natural disaster are rebuilt, and as other areas, long suppressed, are opening up to hear the message of Christ.
- Human Development: Supports the work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, which is committed to helping people create permanent solutions to the problem of poverty in their community throughout the US.
- Retired Religious: Supports the Retirement Fund for Religious.
- Clergy Benefit Trust: Supports the retirement, medical and financial needs of priests of the Archdiocese of Boston.
