Policy and Procedures for Fund-raising at Saint Mary Immaculate


There are parishioners who support certain causes or schemes, and who wish to promote these within the Parish Community and to seek money from parishioners in support of them.

In 2010 there were several of these worthy causes, some of them specifically Catholic, others not Catholic at all; some of them were on a large scale and others were very limited in their aim.  Towards the end of 2010 it became obvious that the parish could not sustain nor would tolerate being approached for monetary contributions with the frequency that would be inevitable if approval was given to all the requests to approach parishioners for donations.

The appeals and/or collections listed below are currently a regular part of tour parish’s calendar of events.  Indeed, every parish has these appeals, or something very similar. Other appeals, no matter how worthy, cannot supersede them.  

• February – April    Bishops’ Lenten Appeal – organised by Caritas (duration of Lent); Holy Places (in the Holy Land) – (Good Friday); Good Shepherd Sunday  - Seminary Appeal(4th Sunday in Easter Season) organised by the Diocese

• May            Catholic Care Foundation – organised by the Diocese

• June           Peter’s Pence – Collection to support the work of the Pope

• July            (Bible Sunday)

• August         Apostleship of the Sea (21 August)

• September   Bishop’s Appeal – organised by the Diocese

• October        Mission Sunday – organised by the National Missionz Office; “Operation Shoebox” – in support of children in Fiji

• November     Parish Planned Giving Review; Saint Vincent de Paul sells Christmas Cards; Columban Calendars on sale        

• December        
  

Inevitably, there will be emergency appeals as a result of natural disasters.  In early 2010, parishioners gave very generously in support of the Cluny Sisters following the earthquake in Haiti.  There was also an appeal following the earthquake in Canterbury.

It is accepted that the Parish’s involvement with the Cluny Sisters at Vanuakula, Fiji, is an on-going project for which money is sought throughout the year.  Albie Sands (assisted by Don Brebner) is in charge of this project.

It is also accepted that Aquinas College will be raising money for the Service Project which involves travelling to Fiji: the money raised at Church for this project goes to the actual materials required for the project, and is not used to subsidise anyone’s travel.   

The Catholic Women’s League also may solicit donations from the Parish for their Pacific Mission Station, and/or for the “At Home” appeal.

There is space in the middle part of the year for maybe four or five other organisations and/or individuals within the Parish to seek approval to fundraise for a specific cause or charity.  Because the other times of the year already have been allocated, permission will not necessarily be given to fundraise then.

It is intended that individuals or organisations (including Aquinas College sports teams and cultural groups) will apply to the Finance and Management Committee in writing (and/or by email) for approval as early as possible and not later than a month before the intended promotion of the fund-raising.   The application needs to be comprehensive outlining the cause or charity for which funds are being raised, the reason(s) why Saint Mary Immaculate parishioners might want to support it, what sort of promotion it is intended to develop, and how much money is intended to be raised.

The Parish Finance and Management Committee usually meet on the third Wednesday of the month.