I asked this over on the Baptist forum and am curious about small Catholic parishes. How do small parishes (ie 200 or less attendees) stay afloat financially? I know if attendance gets too low here parishes are in danger of being closed. Wealthier parishes help out struggling parishes too. How big is your church?
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Parish Size
- Thread starter Monica02
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I attend church at the Newman Center, which is right on campus. Since I attend a public school, there are not a ton of people that attend Mass, but I am happy to say that there are more than 200 parishoners.
Of course, college students aren't flowing with cash, so there is not a whole lot of money going into the church. Our pastor suggests that each student donate $5 a week, and that obviously would not cover all the costs and expenses. Fortunately, when the Newman Center was just getting started here, they bought quite a bit of extra land that they didn't need. Since it is land right next to campus, they are easily able to lease it out to several restraunts and businesses. Any other shortcoming of money comes from the arch-dioscese.
I know I didn't answer your question, but it's along the same lines.
Of course, college students aren't flowing with cash, so there is not a whole lot of money going into the church. Our pastor suggests that each student donate $5 a week, and that obviously would not cover all the costs and expenses. Fortunately, when the Newman Center was just getting started here, they bought quite a bit of extra land that they didn't need. Since it is land right next to campus, they are easily able to lease it out to several restraunts and businesses. Any other shortcoming of money comes from the arch-dioscese.
I know I didn't answer your question, but it's along the same lines.
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- Jun 16, 2004
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When we do our mailouts, we have about 1,500+ envelopes that go out. Of course some of them do come back.
For my Parish, our weekly average for a month is $4,000. Of course, we don't make it sometimes, but somehow we manage. Lot of times it takes a lot of prayer, and squeezing a little extra from those pockets that can afford a little more to give each week. And you must realize, not every Parishoner contributes.
For my Parish, our weekly average for a month is $4,000. Of course, we don't make it sometimes, but somehow we manage. Lot of times it takes a lot of prayer, and squeezing a little extra from those pockets that can afford a little more to give each week. And you must realize, not every Parishoner contributes.
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Sheeesh!! I didn't have $5/week when I was in college.DreamTheater said:Our pastor suggests that each student donate $5 a week, and that obviously would not cover all the costs and expenses. .
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Paul S
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We have about 750 families who are members of the parish, and about 300 associate members. 30 years ago, we had 125 members, and about 30 of them attended Mass on Sunday. The parish once had a $4 Sunday collection during that time.
What got people back was a return to a reverent liturgy, with the organ, incense, candles, traditional hymns, and the other "smells and bells", and more recently, perpetual Adoration and the TLM. I really think Adoration is the key to having a successful parish.
What got people back was a return to a reverent liturgy, with the organ, incense, candles, traditional hymns, and the other "smells and bells", and more recently, perpetual Adoration and the TLM. I really think Adoration is the key to having a successful parish.
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I attend a very small Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic parish, with maybe 30 - 40 families. I like it because we can know everyone and everyone knows us. It is very close knit. Big parishes seem so impersonal to me.
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we have about 1100 registered families, i believe.
there are two churches in our parish, one about 2 times the size of the other.
the smaller one gets about $2300 a week average... the larger one about $4800... the larger one is a lot of doctors and lawyers and people.
the smaller one will get about 150 people at a sunday 8 am Mass.
the larger one, 4 pm will get about 350 people, and 10:30 am about 450-500.
there are two churches in our parish, one about 2 times the size of the other.
the smaller one gets about $2300 a week average... the larger one about $4800... the larger one is a lot of doctors and lawyers and people.
the smaller one will get about 150 people at a sunday 8 am Mass.
the larger one, 4 pm will get about 350 people, and 10:30 am about 450-500.
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Tulip
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The church where I live is very small and it's not a parish church, but a mission church. On an average Sunday we're about 30 people attending Mass.
I'm not sure how we are founded and how missions are run. Maybe somebody could enlighten me?
I'm not sure how we are founded and how missions are run. Maybe somebody could enlighten me?
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- Jun 16, 2004
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It's really funny, I missed Mass for the Fieast of the Immaculate Conception last night, and my friend called me today asking where I was. She was concerned that I wa sick or something since I usually attend the evening Mass on a Feast Day.
That's how close my Parish is. We know who usually comes to which Masses, and when that person isn't there, we become concerned for their welfare.
That's how close my Parish is. We know who usually comes to which Masses, and when that person isn't there, we become concerned for their welfare.
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- Jun 16, 2004
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Mission churches are formed in a new community, with the assistance of an established nearby Parish. Sometimes these Mission churches become full fledged Parishes depending on the growth of the community. And at other times, the Mission is closed due to lack of activity within the community and is absorbed by the larger community.
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