In response to your many requests St. Bartholomew has introduced Automatic Giving or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This is an alternative means of support of our parish instead of donations through envelopes or the weekly collection. Rather than writing a check or giving cash, this program collects monthly contributions that YOU authorize from checking, savings, or credit card account. There is be NO COST to you to participate in this program.
Why Automatic Giving? There are three reasons why we have decided to offer this method of supporting our parish.
Many parishioners have requested this option.
The second reason is for better budgeting and planning purposes. Automatic Giving will enable our offertory collections and income throughout the year to become more consistent. Right now, our collections can vary dramatically from week to week and season to season, based on factors such as weather and vacations, etc.
We are a parish that teaches and encourages Stewardship. Stewardship, sharing of our time, talent and treasure, is an obligation that arises from our Baptism. We hope that Automatic Giving will be a tool to help to embrace a holistic approach to that is the fruit of prayer and planning.
What will be the benefits to you?
It will allow you to plan your giving, in the same way you budget other financial considerations.
You will no longer have to be concerned about catching up on donations when you miss a Mass.
You will be able to easily adjust the amount of your automated contribution (up and down) at the rectory office or by using a secure website address.
You will no longer need to write a check or bring cash every week.
How will this be done?
After careful consideration and research, we have chosen a company called ParishPay to assist us in this effort to provide our community with a new and better way to support our Parish. ParishPay serves parishes throughout the country including many in the Archdiocese of Boston.
Your participation in Automatic giving is completely up to YOU. We do hope that you and your family will join us in the spiritual movement of Stewardship as you offer your time, talent and treasure back to God in thanksgiving for the many gifts He has given you.
Why ParishPay?
We were concerned about security and keeping confidential credit card and banking information on file in the parish. After careful consideration and research we chose ParishPay to assist us in this effort to provide you with the opportunity to use automated giving for your offertory donations. Their secure website, www.parishpay.com provides us with the most comprehensive and up-to-date security currently available. ParishPay serves parishes throughout the country including many within the Archdiocese of Boston. We hope, that as our parish continues to pursue the ideals of stewardship as a way of life, you will find automated giving one tool to better help you as you share your time, talents, and treasure.
What about my weekly envelopes?
Participation in the Automated Giving Program replaces the check or cash in your weekly envelope. For those who are uncomfortable not having something to drop in the collection basket there will be cards which can be picked up at the entrances of the church indicating you give by EFT. You may also give to second collections using ParishPay.
How much do I have to pay to use ParishPay?
You pay nothing! The parish pays a $1 per month fee for each enrollee in addition to 1% of each donation processed during the month if you designate your donation as a debit from your checking account. However, if you choose to use a credit card then the credit card company will charge the parish an addition fee of 2 – 3%. We have reviewed these costs and found them to be reasonable and they should be offset by the anticipated decrease in administrative costs.
How and when will the parish receive my donations?
Contributions are collected only once per month and not weekly. The transfer of funds will occur on the 5th of each month. This is done to minimize the costs to ParishPay and to the parish. Transferring money weekly is more work for the ParishPay staff which would mean higher costs for us.
Who will keep track of my donations for IRS purposes?
ParishPay keeps track of all donations made through the automated giving process and will send you a record of your donations for tax purposes. The parish will continue to track all donations that are made using the envelope system as well as any other gifts, or donations made directly through the parish office.
When can I sign up?
You can sign up anytime.
We would like to thank the parishioners who have already signed up for Electronic Giving – EFT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to give by Electronic Giving – EFT? No, this is just an option for giving that many parishioners have requested.
Will I still get envelopes? If you currently get envelopes and do not sign up for Electronic Giving – EFT you will continue to receive monthly envelopes.
If I don’t choose to sign up for Electronic Giving – EFT how do I give to the church? The same as you do now – through the offertory collection.
I signed up for Electronic Giving – EFT and there was no place to contribute to the Grand Annual. What should I do?Once the Grand Annual Campaign for 2009-2010 gets underway, you will be able to give to the campaign on the parishpay website.
Why are you encouraging people to sign up for Electronic Giving – EFT? There are many reasons.
Electronic Giving – EFT allows the parish to have a more reliable revenue stream. Currently, when people miss mass due to weather, vacations etc. we experience a critical drop in offertory. Regardless of whether you come to mass, the parish needs to be able to pay its bills. To be financial viable and continue to offer the programs and services that we do we need approximately $6,000 in offertory each week. Last week, the fourth of July weekend, our offertory was $3,476.00. This kind of revenue variation, which often happens in the summer and inclement weather, creates many challenges as we try to meet our current obligations and plan responsibly for the future.
The process of signing up for Electronic Giving – EFT forces people to look at how they support our parish. We know times are very difficult for many of you. . For our part, we are doing what most organizations are doing. Salaries have been frozen. The members of our staff are taking on more responsibilities and we are asking them to do more with less resources. What we are hoping is that you will take a serious look at how you give to the church. Is the support of our parish a budgetary item in your household? In today’s world it is all too easy to forget that the gifts and talents we use to earn our living and fund our lifestyles are not ours alone but unearned gifts of our generous God. By virtue of our Baptism, God expects us to share our time, talent and treasure to help build the Kingdom of God here on earth. This is an essential part of who we are as Catholics. It is not just an afterthought. Even if you don’t sign up Electronic Giving – EFT please look at how you support our parish mission.
Last, but not least, it’s easy and convenient. We are glad to assist you if you run into any problems signing up.
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Automated Giving at St. Bartholomew Parish
Automated Giving or EFT
In response to your many requests St. Bartholomew has introduced Automatic Giving or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This is an alternative means of support of our parish instead of donations through envelopes or the weekly collection. Rather than writing a check or giving cash, this program collects monthly contributions that YOU authorize from checking, savings, or credit card account. There is be NO COST to you to participate in this program.
Why Automatic Giving? There are three reasons why we have decided to offer this method of supporting our parish.
What will be the benefits to you?
How will this be done?
After careful consideration and research, we have chosen a company called ParishPay to assist us in this effort to provide our community with a new and better way to support our Parish. ParishPay serves parishes throughout the country including many in the Archdiocese of Boston.
Your participation in Automatic giving is completely up to YOU. We do hope that you and your family will join us in the spiritual movement of Stewardship as you offer your time, talent and treasure back to God in thanksgiving for the many gifts He has given you.
Why ParishPay?
We were concerned about security and keeping confidential credit card and banking information on file in the parish. After careful consideration and research we chose ParishPay to assist us in this effort to provide you with the opportunity to use automated giving for your offertory donations. Their secure website, www.parishpay.com provides us with the most comprehensive and up-to-date security currently available. ParishPay serves parishes throughout the country including many within the Archdiocese of Boston. We hope, that as our parish continues to pursue the ideals of stewardship as a way of life, you will find automated giving one tool to better help you as you share your time, talents, and treasure.
What about my weekly envelopes?
Participation in the Automated Giving Program replaces the check or cash in your weekly envelope. For those who are uncomfortable not having something to drop in the collection basket there will be cards which can be picked up at the entrances of the church indicating you give by EFT. You may also give to second collections using ParishPay.
How much do I have to pay to use ParishPay?
You pay nothing! The parish pays a $1 per month fee for each enrollee in addition to 1% of each donation processed during the month if you designate your donation as a debit from your checking account. However, if you choose to use a credit card then the credit card company will charge the parish an addition fee of 2 – 3%. We have reviewed these costs and found them to be reasonable and they should be offset by the anticipated decrease in administrative costs.
How and when will the parish receive my donations?
Contributions are collected only once per month and not weekly. The transfer of funds will occur on the 5th of each month. This is done to minimize the costs to ParishPay and to the parish. Transferring money weekly is more work for the ParishPay staff which would mean higher costs for us.
Who will keep track of my donations for IRS purposes?
ParishPay keeps track of all donations made through the automated giving process and will send you a record of your donations for tax purposes. The parish will continue to track all donations that are made using the envelope system as well as any other gifts, or donations made directly through the parish office.
When can I sign up?
You can sign up anytime.
We would like to thank the parishioners who have already signed up for Electronic Giving – EFT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to give by Electronic Giving – EFT? No, this is just an option for giving that many parishioners have requested.
Will I still get envelopes? If you currently get envelopes and do not sign up for Electronic Giving – EFT you will continue to receive monthly envelopes.
If I don’t choose to sign up for Electronic Giving – EFT how do I give to the church? The same as you do now – through the offertory collection.
I signed up for Electronic Giving – EFT and there was no place to contribute to the Grand Annual. What should I do?Once the Grand Annual Campaign for 2009-2010 gets underway, you will be able to give to the campaign on the parishpay website.
Why are you encouraging people to sign up for Electronic Giving – EFT? There are many reasons.