Second Collections

The Second Collection Definition table has been provided for those who want use Online Giving and schedule donations in accordance with the scheduled collection.  You can give to any fund at any time you specify.

Entries marked with an asterisk (*) represent donations that remain with St. Gabriel’s Parish.

Months indicate the month that the second collection is usually taken.

St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish

 

Second Collections Schedule 2020:

Please see below the explanations for each collection!

 

Date   Collection
January 5 * Haiti
January 12   Catholic University
January 19   Utilities & Energy
January 26   Catholic Home Missions
     
February 2 * Haiti
     
March 1 * Haiti
March 8   Catholic Relief Services
March 15   Church in Latin America
     
April 5 * Haiti
April 10   Holy Land / Good Friday
April 12 * Easter
     
May 3   Haiti
May 21 * Ascension
     
June 7 * Haiti
June 14   Catholic Communications
June 28   Holy Father Peter’s Pence
     
July 5 * Haiti
July 19   Utilities and Energy
     
August 2 * Haiti
August 9   Church in Eastern Europe
August 15 * Assumption
August 23   Religious Education
     
September 6   Haiti
September 27   Fall Collection for Schools
     
October 4   Haiti
October 18   Propagation of Faith
     
November 1 * All Saints
November 2 * All Souls
November 8   Haiti
November 22   Campaign for Human Development
     
December 6   Haiti
December 8 * Immaculate Conception
December 20   Retired Religious

EXPLANATION OF OFFERINGS:

Collection / Fund Month Description
All Saints * November All Saints’ Day is a celebration of all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special feast days of their own, in the Roman Catholic church.
All Souls * November All Souls Day is a holy day set aside for honoring the dead, especially within the past year.  This is a special day for St. Gabriel’s families who have experienced the death of a loved one.
Ascension * May Ascension Day is the 40th day of Easter. It occurs 39 days after Easter Sunday. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven according to Christian belief.
Assumption * August Catholics around the world mark the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, commemorating the end of her earthly life and assumption into Heaven.
Campaign for Human Development November This campaign “helps people help themselves” to move beyond poverty.    The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by funding community programs that encourage independence. Your generous donations will give those in poverty the support they need to make lasting changes.
Catholic Communications June Contributions support the Diocesan Office of Communications which is responsible for:

  • Media Relations with secular and religious media
  • TV Ministry, including radio production
  • Internet productions and the Diocesan Website
  • Internal communications system
  • The Diocesan Dispatch
  • DVD, Video and Audio program production of key issues and special events
Catholic Home Missions January Many dioceses here in the United States face challenges due to priest shortages, lack of funds, remote geography, or impoverished parishes. The Catholic Home Missions Appeal supports these dioceses that struggle to make ends meet and to serve the many needs of their parishioners.  Forty-two percent of all dioceses in the United States are considered home missions. As a result of the generosity of parishioners like you, this appeal impacts the lives of nearly 9 million Catholics.

 

Collection / Fund Month Description
Catholic Relief Services March Do we recognize Jesus when we see the poor and vulnerable?  When we respond to those in need, we “help Jesus in disguise.” Through your generosity, you can help ease the burdens of our brothers and sisters in some of the most marginalized communities around the globe.

Through this collection we can:

  • Alleviate suffering and provide assistance to people in need through the international Catholic humanitarian agency, Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
  • Supply outreach and pastoral care to refugees, migrants, and travelers
  • Provide assistance to victims of natural disasters and other emergencies around the world through the Holy Father’s Relief Fund
  • Advocate for poor and vulnerable people and for international justice and peace
  • Actively help victims of human trafficking and refugees by providing resettlement services and public policy advocacy
Catholic University January A Pontifical Charity that goes directly to the Catholic University
Christmas Flowers * November
December
Used to decorate the church for the Easter season
Church in Eastern Europe August Collections are for the former Churches that use to reside behind the Iron Curtain
Church in Latin America March For over 50 years, the Collection for the Church in Latin America has been a sign of the solidarity of the Church in the United States with the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean. The distance in rural areas and deteriorated roads make it difficult for some communities to have Mass regularly. Language barriers and lack of resources make catechetical materials difficult to produce. We are called to share our faith with all, and this collection is a prophetic and bold way to do so.
Easter * April Easter or ResurrectionSunday is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described as having occurred on the third day of his burial after his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.
Easter Flowers * March
April
Used to decorate the church for the Easter season.
Fall Collection for Schools September Local Catholic Schools within the Diocese of Worcester provide an excellent education for 6,500 children.  Our Catholic schools provide an education that forms and prepares men and women of character and intellect, confident of their mission and ability to transform the world.
Haiti * Monthly This important monthly collection is in direct support of St Gabriel’s sister parish, St. Anne Parish, in Sucrerie Henry, Haiti.  This sister relationship helps this parish, in one of the poorest countries in the world and was started by the former Holy Angels Parish in 2001.

Within the St. Anne Parish are the central church, six chapels in surrounding villages, a school serving 500 children, and a medical clinic. Our parish supports St. Anne with monthly contributions to be used parish-wide as well as annual payments for the teachers in the school.

St Gabriel’s Haitian Ministry are charged with overseeing the twinning relationship with St. Anne, including allocating contributions, reviewing project requests, and periodically visiting the parish to assess current and future needs.

Collection / Fund Month Description
Holy Father Peter’s Pence June The purpose of the Peter’s Pence Collection is to provide the Holy Father with the financial means to respond to those who are suffering as a result of war, oppression, natural disaster, and disease.
Holy Land Good Friday April Christians living in the Holy Land not only struggle to live their faith and worship in their parishes – they are also the stewards of the sacred places as Christians arrive in pilgrimage day after day. Catholics worldwide are invited each year by the Holy Father to support our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land by making a donation to the Good Friday Collection.
Immaculate Conception * December Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation in December.  This collection is applied to the general operations and maintenance of the parish.
Initial Offering * January Contributions are used by St Gabriel’s to defray the cost of printing & distributing contribution envelopes.  If you use Online Giving you might consider no longer receiving envelopes.  (Call the church office).
Mortgage – Debt Reduction * Monthly This is a monthly collection to which donations can made at any time.  Contributions made to this fund usually go towards paying down the mortgage principal (no interest).  In unusual situations this fund may be used to supplement operating costs.
Propagation of the Faith October Through the offerings from Catholics worldwide, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith provides ongoing support for the pastoral and evangelizing programs of the Catholic Church in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands and remote regions of Latin America.
Retired Religious December The Retirement Fund for Religious Annual Collection is taken up nationally in all our parishes in the month of December to assist with the care of sick and elderly religious sisters and brothers in communities which do not have the financial resources.

On average, a donation of…

  • $61 supports senior religious for one day
  • $431 supports a senior religious for one week
  • $2,160 supports a senior religious for one month.
St. Gabriel Building Fund – Pledge Payments only * Anytime This fund is only used for the payment of pledges.  If you want to continue contributing after your pledge is paid in full, please make your contribution to the Mortgage – Debt Reduction.
St. Gabriel Religious Education * August Keeping with the teaching mission of the Catholic Church, St Gabriel’s Religious Education promotes the importance and ensures the quality of life-long religious education for everyone in the parish.
Solemnity of Mary January The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a liturgical celebration observed on January 1st.  By celebrating a solemnity dedicated to Mary’s motherhood, the Church highlights the significance of her part in the life of Jesus, and emphasizes that He is both human and divine.
Utilities & Energy * January
July
Contributions used to help defray costs of energy and utilities for the entire St Gabriel’s facility (electric, heating fuel, water, telephony and communications).