The effects of COVID-19 have manifested in many ways in the lives of parishioners and parishes throughout our archdiocese. Not being able to attend Mass during this holy season of Lent is particularly difficult.
Parishes and parishioners are facing a variety of challenges. One of the primary challenges for our parishes is the loss of offertory funds due to the suspension of Mass. Offertory gifts support salaries of parish staff members, programs and ministries, maintenance of our buildings and grounds, and many other vital components of our parish life.
There are several ways you can continue making your offertory contribution.
You can give online through your own parish website (if your parish offers online giving), through the archdiocesan website (sfarch.org), by mailing your giving envelope to your church, or by dropping it in the mail slot at your parish office. All gifts, regardless of amount, are very beneficial and greatly appreciated.
If your parish does not have online giving, using the archdiocese link is easy – just select your (or any) parish name from the drop-down menu, enter the amount of your gift, etc.
If possible, please consider an amount that equals your regular offertory contribution. Pastors will be most appreciative, and they will be inspired to know that they can depend on receiving your continued support.
In spite of these uncertain times, there are many indications of parishioners continuing to vibrantly live our faith. Our parishes have been livestreaming Masses, virtual rosary rallies have taken place, and other celebrations of the Holy Spirit are occurring.
We will emerge from this situation even stronger as a faith community, and we pray for the day that we can again share the holy sacrifice of the Sunday Mass as a family.
The above comes from a March 29 message to Catholic San Francisco readers from Rod Linhares, director of development for the archdiocese of San Francisco.
simple, practical ways to alleviate the shortfall. Thankfully we have modern communication methods.
some Banks offer monthly payment systems that could be left in place after the crisis mitigates.
I am a retired priest who always had poorer parishes. At each one, we trimmed staff and other items as much as possible, allowing the laity and clergy to express faith in the various ministries. Dioceses need to do the same as well as the USCCB and the Vatican. My first financial donations now go directly to people in need, then to the poorer parishes, but never to bureaucracies. If I see a pastor making sacrifices, evangelizing, cutting bureacracy, I refuse any stipend and even make a donation to his parish. Our church will change with the monetary crisis from COVID-19, moving out of buildings and getting into the community to speak of Jesus and His salvation.
Latin Mass is live streamed from Sacred Heart parish in Hollister, CA (it seems daily at 8:00 or 9:00 am).
It is also streamed on Facebook at the page of the Institute of the Good Shepherd.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDdxQdbZSCjnEG-x18qsp_A
We will emerge stronger as a faith community? Based on what? That’s empty talk there. Every indication is that this is and will crush the church.
Nothing will “crush the Church”.
Jesus Christ is my guarantee of this.
I doubt that you have a more reliable source.
You are right. The crisis will crush the church as she is functioning now with all her external forms such as bureaucracies, but the church will rise again with a different emphasis to proclaim Jesus by the faithful. She will be smaller to start, and then grow guided by Jesus.
Why would anyone continue giving if they are being denied access to the Sacraments?