Teaching Our Children to Support the Church - Fr. Dion

Dear Parents,

            My dad had his box of parish envelopes above the kitchen sink on a little shelf, and every Sunday morning one of us was given the envelope to put into the basket when the usher passed it in our pew at the offertory time. Dad always had his envelope ready week by week. Once he retired he would still do the odd contract work for a foundry that needed his help, and when he got his cheque for the wages he made, his first trip was to his parish office where he donated  10% of the amount he had made. He told me his dad (my grampa) had always supported the Church no matter the challenges of the times, and that he learned from early on that a responsible Catholic supported his parish.

            This was long before online banking, automatic transfers, and pre-authorized payment plans! What a world of difference we’re in from a generation or so ago when financial trans-actions were done by cash exchange or pen and ink on a paper cheque. But the idea is the same: we support our local parish Church, the diocesan Church, and the Church on the national and international level, which is still facilitated by the use of parish envelopes that come in a box.

            Star of the Sea Catholic school has for several years promoted the three elements of good stewardship: Reverence, Respect, & Responsibility.  We want our children to grow into prayerful, kindly, and generous adults. And as Catholics, being supportive of the Church is an essential responsibility of our adult lives.

            Sunday Mass is the highpoint of our faith expression on a weekly basis. We come together to sing and pray, to listen and learn, to share and to support. Maybe you parents might see it a good idea to have one of the kids put your envelope in the basket at the entrance to the church, since we have stopped using ushers once the pandemic began. Or at least tell them how the pre-authorized support system works. That’s a practical conversation worth having, I think.

            Bless you for bringing your children to Sunday Mass.

Fr. Dion