CHARLOTTE — Efforts are under way to help parishes weather the COVID-19 pandemic, even as parishioners are being called to continue supporting their parish through their offertory gifts.
Weekly offertory collections provide the largest source of operating income for parishes – sometimes as much as 95 percent. Offertory collections are also a significant funding source for parishes’ community charity work, with more than $3.3 million contributed diocese-wide through parishes’ tithing in the past fiscal year.
With most public Masses canceled for at least seven weeks during the COVID-19 outbreak, if not longer, collections are expected to dwindle and put that work of the Church at risk.
Over the first three weeks of canceled Masses, offertory collections diocese-wide are down approximately 40 percent from the same time period last year, the diocese’s Finance Office reports.
“The percentage of revenue shortfall varies by parish, ranging from single digits to close to 100 percent,” said Bill Weldon, CFO and chief administrative officer for the diocese.
In response, the diocese is supporting parishes with financial advice and relief grants, as well as urging them to set up and promote online giving.
More than three-quarters of the diocese’s 92 churches and missions now offer online giving, but electronic giving has lagged even as Masses and devotions have moved online.
Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development, has been reaching out to pastors to connect them with resources, share ideas and troubleshoot any problems.
Kelley shared his expertise with 100 dioceses across the United States March 30 during a “Catholic Stewardship in Uncertain Times” webinar sponsored by the International Catholic
Stewardship Council and CCS, a strategic fundraising consulting firm. The webinar provided Kelley and three other experts in the field the opportunity to educate and encourage dioceses to help their parishes overcome the current financial challenges.
During this time of uncertainty and isolation, Kelley said, communication between pastors and parishioners is key.
“Staying connected is important,” he said. “We’re trying to get people information that focuses on holiness, the health and safety of parishioners, and also encourages parishioners to support and stay involved with their parish. We want to help people stay connected to Christ.”
Parishes engaging in communication efforts through letters, newsletters, online outreach and phone calls are seeing good results, he said.
One example is Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont: Its outreach efforts have resulted in increased online giving, and to date, parishioners are giving at about 85 percent of the regular collection amount before the pandemic hit.
Kelley emphasized that stewardship is important even if we are not able to go to Mass. “We are still called to give our time and our financial resources. We have a spiritual need to give in gratitude for all the blessings we receive.”
The diocese is also offering grants to parishes with strained finances to cover their operating costs for the duration of the pandemic. The relief funding is available to qualifying parishes that continue to pay regularly scheduled staff members (for those that have them) and do not have sufficient cash reserves to cover the revenue shortfall during the timeframe that their church remains closed.
Weldon explained the effort is designed to provide parishes with the cash needed such that they retain at least 75 percent of current reserves or enough to cover one month’s expenses, whichever is greater, after absorbing losses due to the drop in collections. The funding is by way of a parish grant, which does not have to be repaid.
So far, four parishes have applied for and received this financial relief.
Meanwhile, pastors are thanking those who are continuing to give, especially given the challenging times.
Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, emailed parishioners after Easter, “Thank you for your continued generosity and support of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish. Please continue to make your offerings, whether online, via the mail, or by dropping off your envelopes. We count on those gifts to keep doing all that we can to proclaim the Good News that Jesus really and truly is risen from the dead. Very excited for when we can celebrate that fact together in person!”
— SueAnn Howell and Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Catholic News Herald
Pictured: Parishioners bring up the offertory gifts at Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington. (File | Catholic News Herald)
CHURCH MAILING: ADDRESS: ONLINE GIVING LINK
Christ the King Church: 1505 MLK Jr. Dr., High Point, NC 27260: https://www.christthekinghp.org/
Christ the King Mission: 818 McGowan Road, Shelby NC 28150: https://www.saintmaryshelby.org/online-giving
Church of the Epiphany Mission: 163 Galax Lane, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Divine Redeemer Church: 209 Lon Ave., Boonville, NC 27011
Good Shepherd Mission: 105 Good Shepherd Dr., King, NC 27021: https://goodshepherdking.com/donations
Holy Angels Church: 1208 North Main St., Mount Airy, NC 27030-3640: https://www.mountairycatholicsha.com/
Holy Cross Church: 616 South Cherry St., Kernersville, NC 27284: https://www.osvonlinegiving.com/80
Holy Family Church: 4820 Kinnamon Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103: http://holyfamilyclemmons.com/wp/donations/
Holy Infant Church: 1042 Freeway Dr., Reidsville, NC 27320: https://www.holyinfantreidsville.org/
Holy Redeemer Church: 214 Aquone Road, Andrews, NC 28901
Holy Spirit Church: 537 N.C. 16 Business, Denver, NC 28037: https://www.holyspiritnc.org/ltergy-and-worship/on-line-giving
Holy Trinity Church: 1041 N.C. Hwy. 90 West, Taylorsville, NC 28681
Immaculate Conception Church: 1024 West Main St., Forest City, NC 28043: https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/immaculateconceforestcity
Immaculate Conception Church: 611 N. Church St., Suite 101, Hendersonville, NC 28792: https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=Dc8dzPGn4-LCajFevTkh9BaEqYLUVOb3LlsEY9QSrpTox3jUqKH-0IxYTJO_vEng96YRdATYctA1P81plnE5nLo7zqy-JU_UuLu19bUbJx2NCzcwEqaBQTTTTIwc7nn_k0PpduXvnt8gXUeZjQYbn0E_0YCg54gVrByMEjvBJtE=&ver=3
Immaculate Conception Mission: 42 Newfound St., Canton, NC 28716
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church: 4145 Johnson St., High Point, NC 27265: https://www.ihmchurch.org/giving-opportunities.html
Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission: P.O. Box 546, Murphy, NC 28906: https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=Fi1giPL8kwX_Oe1AO50jRrIK5Ja4H_39cMeZZNFtP62hjXsUKRLlmI4vCU4-rZZZ2EvVVAEjqawDomKT1pboueTWt4bV2A4fOm4FzjaDvvQ=&ver=3
Our Lady of Consolation Church: 1235 Badger Ct., Charlotte, NC 28206: https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=Dc8dzPGn4-LCajFevTkh9O60YpJumdqyFLVBaiULAXZ00WYojFGuUshYTi9PY92G3jr7IzbSk8EUYSvbt8_VdXoeL1PepmaP5QOc8ivHpMJkjzXj2I4fsh-d4-FoGwkYVvR_oHpK4VQqVtMkaSWxybPeC9LJo016kFfOXlYcmOqn4PyyvGBZEhtBzMtPSQht
Our Lady of Fatima Mission: 211 West Third St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Our Lady of Grace Church: 2203 West Market St., Greensboro, NC 27403: https://olgchurch.org/donations/donations/
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church: 6212 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, NC 28214: https://parroquiansguadalupe.com/ofrenda-en-linea/ofrenda_semanal/
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission: P.O. Box 727, Bryson City, NC, 28713: https://www.stjosephbryson.org/63
Our Lady of Lourdes Church: 725 Deese St., Monroe, NC 28112: https://charlottediocese.org/parishes/our-lady-of-lourdes/
Our Lady of Mercy Church: 1730 Link Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103: https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/6818/documents/2015/1/OLM-ElectronicGivingForm.pdf
Our Lady of the Americas Church: 298 Farmers Market Road, Biscoe, NC 27209: https://www.ourladycandor.org/63
Our Lady of the Angels Mission: 290 N. Garden St., Marion, NC 28752: https://charlottediocese.org/parishes/st-charles-borromeo/our-lady-of-the-angels/
Our Lady of the Annunciation Church: 416 N. Second St., Albemarle, NC 28001
Our Lady of the Assumption Church: 4207 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215: http://www.ourladyoftheassumptioncharlotte.org/
Our Lady of the Highways Church: 943 Ball Park Road, Thomasville, NC 27360: https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3
Our Lady of the Mountains Mission: 315 North 5th St., Highlands, NC 28741
Our Lady of the Rosary Church: 619 South Main St., Lexington, NC 27292: https://olr-nc.org/
Prince of Peace Mission: 704 Tallulah Road, Route 129 South, Robbinsville, NC 28771
Queen of the Apostles Church: 503 North Main St., Belmont, NC 28012: https://www.queenoftheapostles.org/online-giving
Sacred Heart Church: 150 Brian Berg Lane, Brevard, NC 28712: https://sacredheartbrevardnc.weshareonline.org/
Sacred Heart Church: 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury, NC 28147: https://www.salisburycatholic.org/new-church/online_donations.php
Sacred Heart Mission: 205 South Rutherford St., Wadesboro, NC 28170
Sacred Heart Mission: P.O. Box 1406, Mars Hill, NC 28754
St. Aloysius Church: 921 Second St. N.E., Hickory, NC 28601: https://staloysiushickory.org/parishioners/forms/volunteer-packet/ministries/stewardship-ministry-group/e-contributions/
St. Andrew the Apostle Church: P.O. Box 1406, Mars Hill, NC 28754: http://www.standrew-sacredheart.org/opportunities-for-giving.php
St. Ann Church: 3635 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209: https://www.stanncharlotte.org/home/giving/
St. Barnabas Church: 109 Crescent Hill Dr., Arden, NC 28704: https://www.saintbarnabasarden.org/electronic-giving
St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Church: 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte, NC 28213: http://stbasil.weebly.com/
St. Bernadette Mission: P.O. Box 1252, Linville, NC 28646: https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=Fi1giPL8kwX_Oe1AO50jRsCBf6Hh-SA_q-RuUwkK_Y_KZGZHXd8AjZTFkUI6EMdFd705NWvgkJSLtUz7gVLgpeQ6kcxYMy-Smr56dxJZXOw=&ver=3
St. Benedict Church: 109 West Smith St., Greensboro, NC 27401: https://www.stbenedictgreensboro.net/
St. Benedict the Moor Church: 1625 East 12th St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101: https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=wWsk24ZWJSTZKsGd1RMKlg0BDvsSG3VIWQCPJNNxD8upkiY7JlDavDsozUE7KG0nFx2NSo8LdUKGuGuF396vbVIwACQktRfqE7dWmCnYSzMiYnTg5dP4O6rpX5QvPEWlBhHDN59kLZFffwKfYERpQo7SVrNMoO2mhGgBi9IoOhg=&ver=3
St. Charles Borromeo Church: 728 West Union St., Morganton, NC 28655: https://www.saintcharlesborromeo.org/?page_id=4858
St. Dorothy Church: 148 Saint Dorothy’s Lane, Lincolnton, NC 28092: https://osvonlinegiving.com/4358
St. Elizabeth Church: 259 Pilgrims Way, Boone, NC 28607: https://www.saintecc.org/online
St. Eugene Church: 72 Culvern St., Asheville, NC 28804: https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=Fi1giPL8kwX_Oe1AO50jRs3Xwsc_ItvwWWKDBkdBhEjHO3iVYxvvxhHjRfLOeq662EvVVAEjqawDomKT1pboudnX_TEJdfO4nKH0Xv-Aac0=
St. Frances of Rome Mission: P.O. Box 367, Sparta, NC 28675
St. Francis of Assisi Church: 299 Maple St., Franklin, NC 28734: https://charlottediocese.org/parishes/st-francis-assisi-franklin/our-lady-of-the-mountains/
St. Francis of Assisi Church: P.O. Box 634, Jefferson, NC 28640
St. Francis of Assisi Church: 328-B Woodsway Lane NW, Lenoir, NC 28645: http://www.stfrancislenoir.com/?page_id=425
St. Francis of Assisi Church: 862 Yadkinville Road, Mocksville, NC 27028: https://www.sfamox.org/
St. Gabriel Church: 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28211: https://www.stgabrielchurch.org/online-giving
St. Helen Mission:1235 Badger Court, Charlotte, NC 28206
St. James Church: 1018 West Hamlet Ave. (U.S. Hwy. 74), Hamlet, NC 28345
St. James the Greater Church: 139 Manor Ave. S.W., Concord, NC 28025: https://www.saintjamescatholic.org/
St. Joan of Arc Church: 768 Asbury Road, Candler, NC 28715: http://stjoanofarccandler.org/Index.php
St. John Baptist de la Salle Church: 275 CC Wright School Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659: https://charlottediocese.org/parishes/st-john-baptiste-de-la-salle/
St. John Lee Korean Church: 7109 Robinson Church Road, Charlotte, NC 28215: https://www.charlottekoreancatholic.org/
St. John Neumann Church: 8451 Idlewild Road, Charlotte, NC 28227: https://www.4sjnc.org/stewardship/donations
St. John the Baptist Church: 180 Laurel Ave., Tryon, NC 28782: https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/stjohntryon
St. John the Evangelist Church: 234 Church St., Waynesville, NC 28786: https://stjohnrcc.com/online-giving/
St. Joseph Church: 720 West 13th St., Newton, NC 28658: http://www.stjosephrcc.org/
St. Joseph Church: 512 West Wainman Ave., Asheboro, NC 27203
St. Joseph Church: P.O. Box 727, Bryson City, NC 28713: https://www.stjosephbryson.org/
St. Joseph Church: 108 Saint Joseph St., Kannapolis, NC 28083: http://www.saintjosephcatholic.org/
St. Joseph of the Hills Church: 316 Boone Road, Eden, NC 27288: https://www.saintjamescatholic.org/EDEN
St. Joseph Vietnamese Church: 4929 Sandy Porter Road, Charlotte, NC 28273: https://www.giaoxuthanhgiuse.net/
St. Jude Mission: 3011 US-64, Sapphire, NC 28774
St. Lawrence Basilica: P. O. Box 1850, Asheville, NC 28802: https://www.saintlawrencebasilica.org/online-giving
St. Leo the Great Church: 335 Springdale Ave., Winston-Salem, NC 27104: https://www.osvonlinegiving.com/1864
St. Lucien Church: P.O. Box 688, Spruce Pine, NC 28777: https://charlottediocese.org/parishes/st-lucien/
St. Luke Church: 13700 Lawyers Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227: https://www.stlukechurch.net/give-plus
St. Margaret Mary Church: 102 Andrew Pl., Swannanoa, NC 28778: http://saintmargaretmarycatholic.org/donate_here.aspx
St. Margaret of Scotland Church: P.O. Box 1359, Maggie Valley, NC 28751: https://www.stmargaretofscotlandmv.org/
St. Mark Church: 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, NC 28078: https://www.stmarknc.org/online-giving
St. Mary Church: 812 Duke St., Greensboro, NC 27401: https://stmarysgreensboro.org/
St. Mary Help of Christians Church: 818 McGowan Road, Shelby, NC 28150: https://saintmaryshelby.org/online-giving
St. Mary, Mother of God Church: 22 Bartlett St., Sylva, NC 28779: https://www.stmarymotherofgod.com/
St. Matthew Church: 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte, NC 28277: https://stmatthewcatholic.org/heartfeltgiving
St. Michael the Archangel Church: 708 St Michael’s Lane Gastonia, NC 28052: https://stmccg.org/
St. Patrick Cathedral: 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, NC 28203: https://www.stpatricks.org/donate
St. Paul the Apostle Church: 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro, NC 27410: http://stpaulcc.org/giving/
St. Peter Church: 507 South Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202: https://www.stpeterscatholic.org/e-giving
St. Peter Yu Korean Church: 4112 Romaine St., Greensboro, NC 27407: http://www.stpeteryu.org/stpeteryu/index.php
St. Philip the Apostle Church: 525 Camden Dr., Statesville, NC 28677: http://www.stphilipapostle.com/donate.html
St. Pius X Church: 2210 North Elm St., Greensboro, NC 27408: https://www.stpiusxnc.com/online-giving
St. Stephen Mission: 101 Hawthorne Road, Elkin, NC 28621: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=IBshILCyjaAbaMctjgXuASSnzcNBdpuCLZh3xHnuyfaZHIVMfj1FTP0E4dATtfaW9bLkm0&country.x=US&locale.x=
St. Therese Church: 217 Brawley School Road, Mooresville, NC 28117: https://www.sainttherese.net/
St. Thomas Aquinas Church: 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte, NC 28213: https://osvonlinegiving.com/1828
St. Vincent de Paul Church: 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, NC 28210: https://www.stvincentdepaulchurch.com/online-giving
St. William Church: P.O. Box 546, Murphy, NC 28906: https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=Fi1giPL8kwX_Oe1AO50jRrIK5Ja4H_39cMeZZNFtP62hjXsUKRLlmI4vCU4-rZZZ2EvVVAEjqawDomKT1pboueTWt4bV2A4fOm4FzjaDvvQ=&ver=3