Parish development fund made a loss of €20,000 in ’09

ENNIS Parish made a loss of almost €20,000 in terms of its parish development fund for 2009.

The parish released details of the last year’s development fund recently, and accounts show a deficit of €19,894, with a total income of €622,043, and expenditure for the year of €641,937.
Maintenance of parish churches and buildings was the biggest expense, costing €168,395.
Parish administrator, Fr Tom Hogan, said that this figure included the restoration and pointing of the stonework at the cathedral house, which cost €44,450.
“This house was built in 1878 and it is a listed building. This was a one-off job that was needed. Because it is a listed building we had to source specialised brick-work from England as per the heritage regulations. Aesthetically it had to be done right. The work was necessary due to many years of weather erosion. The first payment for renovation works to St Joseph’s Presbytery also cost €8,528,” Fr Hogan said.
The second greatest outlay for the parish was wages and salaries at a cost of €137,9060, down over €7,000 from 2008.
The parish’s contribution to the diocese also increased by over €30,000, to €93,254.
“There was a decision at diocesan level that contributions from parishes were going to increase to 18% from 12.5%, primarily because of the collapse of diocesan investments. Traditionally in the Killaloe diocese, we relied heavily on investment income, in the form of bequests, etc. But with the downturn in the economy, investments have plummeted.
“Secondly more lay people were taken on in the form of an accountant, an administrator and two pastoral workers. The diocese pays half of their salaries. So, for those two reasons, parishes needed to contribute more,” he added.
Also in line with the economic downturn, there was a decline of 11% in contributions to the development fund and 17% in priests’ collection contributions. “The reality is that everyone is tightening their belt. A lot of families are struggling. In tough times, however, people have been extraordinarily generous in what they have contributed. The parish also benefited in previous years from tax rebates based on contributions received.
“There was an accumulation of them in recent years, which increased our income but this year we only had one year of tax rebate, so the figure was down further as a result. We keep records of all identifiable contributions, like those who use weekly envelopes, standing orders or cheques.
“While we very much appreciate the generosity of parishioners who contribute to the baskets without using envelopes, we are unable to receive tax rebates from these contributions,” Fr Hogan explained.
Parishioners contributed €225,504 towards the four priests collections in 2009. In 2008, €102,069 was forwarded to diocesan priests central fund. A similar contribution will be made for 2009, ensuring all priests of the diocese receive an equivalent annual remuneration.
He also explained that some of the parish’s expenditure this year was in relation to Ennis National School.
“There is a big focus on the development of the school now and we took money from parish savings towards the ongoing costs of the school’s development. The special projects account, created to fund the new parish pastoral centre at the cathedral, had a balance of €602,249 in 2009,” he said.
“The parish used these monies to pay half (€450,000) the cost of the road at Ashline, the site of the new Ennis National School. This will be offset against the cost of the new site when work begins on the school. The parish centre has been put on hold indefinitely, as the priority is very much on the new school, as it is the immediate need,” he stated.
Three of the significant maintenance items in 2009 were the upgrading of the fire alarm system in the Cathedral and at the Cathedral Presbytery at a cost of €29,965.
Stipends of €1500 from the multi-intentioned mass on Sundays and €3,500 from Triduum masses at Christmas, Easter and exam time were forwarded to Fr Des Hillery and Fr Anthony Casey’s Mission in Peru and Fr John Molloy’s Mission in Ecuador.
The Trocaire contributions in 2009 were €30,000, while in 2008 they were €29,067.
Fr Hogan stressed how appreciative he and all of the priests of Ennis parish are for the generosity of parishioners. He also thanked the parish accountant, Gerry Broderick, who provides his service free of charge to the parish.