There is something I ask you to consider that I believe will help our parish significantly. After a great deal of consultation with other parishes who found success in this plan, we offer our parishioners the ParishPay plan. It is an on-line way for you to contribute to the church. It relates not to how much you contribute, but rather, the way in which you contribute.
Let me assure you that the ParishPay company which assists us in this program does not sell or publish your name and address to any mailing list or vendor. You personal information is the property of the Parish and the Catholic Bishop of Chicago, not ParishPay company.
As you see in our weekly collection reports, during the summer months and also during bad weather, we see a dramatic drop in collections. Despite best intentions, these collections are never fully recovered and it hurts the parish. As you know, we are a break-even parish. One of the reasons the Archdiocese encourages this program and we have adopted it is to try to smooth out those collection low-points. Parishes with strong parishioner participation in ParishPay have noticed a 10% to 15% increase in annual collection income because the seasonal/weather low-times are decreased. This allows better income and subsequent bill payment projection. This is good for us – a break-even parish.
Each month, your pre-authorized amount will be transferred to the Parish from your bank, brokerage account or through a credit card. You make one giving decision a year. You don’t write any more checks. You save time. You don’t have to remember to bring the weekly envelope unless you simply want to drop something in the basket as it passes. However, if you are a school family maintaining the “participating family” status, we ask that even if you use ParishPay you continue to drop an empty envelope in the collection to note your continued participation.
You can designate a monthly or weekly donation as well as your Christmas, Easter and monthly Sharing Christ’s Gifts donation. There are second collections each month. You may designate a monthly second collection amount (excluding Sharing Christ’s Gifts) which is divided equally among all second collections each month. If you do not want to support all second collections because you favor certain causes, then you must contribute to your specific choices through the usual second collection envelope procedure.
You may enroll by going on line at the ParishPay website at www.parishpay.com. Don’t want to go online yourself? Complete the form in this weekend’s bulletin and return it next weekend in your weekly envelope or another sealed envelope.
Or mail it to the Parish Center (4412 N. Western, Chicago, 60625) and the staff person designated to ParishPay will enter your information. Have questions or want someone to work with you on this? Phone Patricia Krier, Parish Business Manager, at 773-539-7510 and she will assist you.
Please consider this option which reflects the increased and reliable use of electronics in our personal or business financial matters. Above all, thank you for all you give and do for Queen of Angels Parish in any way.
--Rev. James T. Kaczorowski
