How do we keep the good works
of our active parish going?
Saint Joseph Parish is a VERY
active parish… with a busy staff and many parishioners
volunteering to provide services to our children, to adults,
to our more senior members, to the needy.
Our weekly collections help
to provide these services with financial support for wages
for our staff and for the maintenance of our “mature”
buildings.
… which is a way of saying
that we do have pressing financial needs if we want to keep
everything going.
There is a way that you can
show your regard for the mission of our parish and help
assure the continuation of its many stewardship tasks.
Naming Saint Joseph Parish in
your will is one way to help. Donors who give in this manner
do not jeopardize their retirement income, their families’
inheritance, or their own financial security. There may also
be tax advantages by making such a planned gift.
The wording in a will for
such a bequest can be fairly simple. A bequest of a specific
amount might read as follows:
“I bequeath the sum of
$_________ to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Boston, a Corporation Sole, to be used only and
exclusively for the benefit of Saint Joseph Parish, 114
High Street, Medford, Mass. 02155, said amount to be
released by the diocese immediately, net of any transfer
charges.”
Please do not use the above
language without reviewing with your own legal counsel. This
language is not being provided as legal advice. Please take
action only after you have discussed these matters with your
own legal counsel.
Identifying that the bequest
is made to the Archbishop is for legal purposes, in that
Saint Joseph Parish does not have a legal identity apart
from the Archdiocese. The “only and exclusively” focus
specifies that the money/bequest is not for the benefit of
the Archdiocese, other than for our parish.
Should you have other
questions regarding “planned giving” please contact our
business manager, Joe Feltz, or Richard Ely, the Director of
Gift Planning for the Archdiocese of Boston at 617 779-3702.
ONLINE GIVING
We as a parish have been
blessed by the Lord in so many ways. It begins with our
Eucharistic celebrations and extends to our community of
faith.
Finances are obviously very
important to support our ministry, and we appreciate the
generous support we receive from our parishioners. As
Catholics, we recognize that all we have… our time, our
talents, our resources, even our very lives… are gifts from
God. We are called to be good stewards of all these gifts,
investing them wisely and generously for the sake of God’s
Kingdom. We know that our Lord’s promise is to “Seek first
His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things
shall be yours as well.”
To make it more convenient
for you to financially support the parish, we have improved
our electronic giving program. This upgrade offers you the
opportunity to make automatic financial contributions from
your credit card or bank account to our parish totally under
your control, with a high degree of information safety.
Please prayerfully consider Online Giving. Online Giving
costs you nothing and provides many advantages to both you
and your parish:
WHY ONLINE GIVING?
Parishioner benefits
-
- Makes giving more
convenient. Eliminates need to write frequent checks.
- Allows you to change
your contribution amount or payment schedule at any
time.
- Assures that your information is more secure. There is
no need to share confidential
bank or credit card information with the parish staff. You enter it
yourself and
maintain total control.
-
- Permits you to give
even if you are unable to attend parish services.
-
- Easily provides a
giving summary if desired or required to substantiate
giving for tax
or other purposes.
- Allows the giver the option to remain anonymous if
desired.
Parish benefits
-
- Lowers expenses when
the mailing of contribution envelopes is reduced.
-
- Reduces the costs of
recording and reporting since contributions are
automatically
entered on the parishioner’s giving record.
-
- Increases regular
giving with recurring contributions.
-
- Reaches a wider
demographic of givers.
-
- Accommodates special
parish and special diocesan collections.
-
- Eliminates parish staff
concerns regarding security of sensitive banking and
credit
card data.
-
- Allows the parish staff
to focus on parish ministries and other activities
rather than
on envelope and contribution recording.
ONLINE GIVING PROGRAM -
Frequently Asked Questions
What
is an Online Giving Program?
It is an option which enables
you to financially support your parish through automated
electronic transfers from your checking, savings, or credit
card account directly to the parish.
Should I participate in the program?
Only if you choose to. There
are advantages to the parish and to the giver, but it is an
option. Use it only if you are comfortable.
What
are the advantages of Online Giving?
It makes it easy to fulfill
stewardship commitments, even when you are unable to attend
church. You never have to bring cash or checks to church.
Giving electronically also helps the church save money and
plan its budget!
What
happens to my weekly envelopes?
Those who participate in the
program have the option to no longer receive envelopes,
saving the parish postage and mailing costs. If you wish to
continue receiving envelopes for certain collections you may
do so.
When
will my contribution be deducted from my account?
Your electronic contribution
will be deducted on the date you select during the setup
process.
How
are my contributions automatically deducted from my account?
Once you complete the online
registration form, the contribution amount you specify will
automatically be transferred from your bank account to the
church’s bank account, or will be charged to your credit
card account.
How
can I keep my checkbook straight if I do not actually write
checks?
You can enter your giving
deduction on the date you select, or you can make checkbook
entries from the entries which will appear on your bank
statement. You can also print your own giving reports for
the necessary information.
Without a cancelled check, how can I prove I made my
contribution?
Your bank statement provides
an itemized list of electronic transactions as will the
available online reports.
What
does it cost to participate?
There is no cost to those who
opt to participate. There is a small charge to the parish.
Parish costs are offset, however, by reduced materials,
postage, and handling.
What
if I change my bank account or credit card information?
You can log in at any time to
update any of your giving information, such as card
expiration date.. Each checking/savings/credit card can be
added, deleted, or updated using the edit feature once you
log in. Also, the giving amount can be changed at any time.
Which
payment accounts are acceptable?
Initially any checking or
savings account may be designated. At this time any VISA or
MasterCard may be selected. Other cards may be added later.
Can
my online giving include diocesan and parish special
collections such as the Grand Annual, Easter and Christmas
flowers, etc,?
Yes, the menu of giving
options will include all special parish and diocesan
collections, and can easily be updated by the parish.
May I
use the online giving if I attend Saint Joseph Church only
“occasionally”?
Yes, the parish online giving
easily permits occasional, or “one time” contributions, and
accommodates giving “in memory of” or for other reasons as
well.
Is
Online Giving really safe?
The company your parish works
with has an excellent track record. Electronic transmissions
are safer than checks (which are safer than cash). Paper
checks include names, addresses, and account numbers.
Electronic transmissions contain far less data. Also, it
will no longer be necessary for parish staff to have any
access to bank or credit card information as was necessary
in the past.
I
feel awkward not giving to the basket when it is passed. How
can you address this concern?
We will remind parishioners
and collectors of the online approach… until a high degree
of “comfort” is reached. Until then you may pick up a card
at the rear of the church which indicates that you are an
online giver… and place that card in the collection basket.
What
if I try Online Giving and don’t like it?
You can cancel your online authorization at any time by
removing your giving information.
How
do I sign up for Online Giving?
1. Click on the Online Giving link below
2. Complete the registration form
It’s that simple!
Once you are ready
to have your envelopes discontinued, please contact the
parish office.
For additional
information or help setting up your account please contact
the parish office at (781) 396-0423.
Online Giving
(click this link)
New in 2011
We are in the process of
upgrading the Electronic Giving Program. Details will
be published in the parish bulletin when available.
The upgraded program will provide even more security since
it will offer the option of full control to the giver… if
desired.
For more information please
contact Joe Feltz by phone (781 396-0423) or by email:
jhfeltz@comcast.net
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