My recollection is that when the parish announced its "goal" for the appeal, it would indicate how much per family that would average with the encouragement to give more to make up for those that gave less. Checks were suggested to be made out to and turned in to the parish with "Archbishops Appeal" in the memo line, and the parish would make out the check for the appeal (no way to determine the participation rate other than the parish bookkeeper". If the parishioners fell short, the parish would be required to make up the difference. If parishioners gave more, the excess would offset the parish tax.But these comments raise, perhaps unintentionally, another point. My regular correspondent noted,Can't see how under that system, how parishioners felt about the diocese made much difference. I might be mistaken, but I think the parish goal was set by the Archdiocese at 1/2 of the parish tax so 1/3 of the total owed. One way or the other it was paid by the parish.
Quite likely, The Atonement Academy was more significant than the parish itself. Any big fundraising event was always a school fundraiser and never a parish event. While the parish was one of the smaller parishes, the school likely ranked higher in size among schools, drawing from local parishes without schools.
I do know that for the OCSP Bishop's Appeal groups are repeatedly reminded that cheques are to be sent directly from donors to Houston; they must NOT go through the parish books. Of course if there is a shortfall the parish must make it up from general revenue, but the participation rate is quite transparent, whereas in the San Antonio Archdiocese not really.I note that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles works the same way: archbishop's appeal pledge forms are sent directly to the archdiocese, pledging entities indicate their parish on the forms, and payments go to the archdiocese, not the parish. In other LA cases, I've seen parish priests instruct parishioners to made appeal payments that they put in the Sunday collection basket out to the archdiocese, putting the parish code number (e.g., "105") in the memo field. The archdiocese gets the participation rate by dividing the parishioners giving their parish membership on the check or in the pledge forms, by the total parish registration, no problemo.
The idea of having bishop's appeal payments go through the parish books seems highly unusual. I asked my visitor if it might be possible to confirm this with others from OLA who may have experienced it, but so far, there's been no other information. If anyone from OLA can confirm this -- or if visitors from other parishes and dioceses can confirm their experiences one way or another -- I will greatly appreciate it.
However, wouldn't this put a different spin on the remarkable overage from OLA in the 2016 archbishop's appeal? If Fr Phillips could find tens of thousands available in miscellaneous parish accounts and forward it to the archdiocese saying it's for the archbishop's appeal, it puts a feather in his cap -- but the overage is credited back to the parish anyhow. It would be pure gamesmanship and basically have nothing to do with participation or how the parish felt about the archdiocese one way or another.
I get a continuing impression that gamesmanship is paramount in this tiny, penny-ante world. But any other insights or information that can shed light on what's really going on here will be much appreciated, as usual!
UPDATE: The original visitor sent this information Taken from a 3/23/2015 online bulletin:
"STEWARDSHIP: Please make your 2015 Pledge if you have not done so, by using one of the pledge forms found on the table in the Narthex. Persons making pledges will receive offertory envelopes upon request. Blank envelopes are available on the table in the Narthex. Please clearly print your name if you take a box.The idea of making a donation through the parish, clearly given in the announcement, seems unusual.The Campaign for the Archbishop’s Appeal began Feb. 22nd. If you receive a letter from the Appeal’s office, and you choose to send a donation directly, please be sure and put the parish name on the envelope so we receive credit as a parish This year, our parish goal is $30,292. We can meet this goal if everyone gives their share of $100 per registered household. Let’s make this year’s campaign a success. If you wish to donate through the parish, please make your check payable to the parish, and put “Archbishop’s Appeal” in the memo line, and we will add this donation to your annual contributions. Thank you!"
