This Heavy Snow Is a Mess for People–But Just Think How Bad It Is for Churches!

Last updated on: February 28, 2015 at 9:36 pm by Kathy Schiffer

This Heavy Snow Is a Mess for People–But Just Think How Bad It Is for Churches! 2015-02-28T21:36:46-05:00 Kathy Schiffer

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The storms of 2015 are hard on parishes which are buried in snow!

You heard it directly from the bishop: On February 13, as Snowmageddon, that most fearsome of storms, approached the Northeastern U.S., Bishop Thomas J. Tobin told Catholics in the Diocese of Providence to stay home from Sunday Mass if driving conditions were dangerous.

And conditions have been so dangerous! What with the frigid temperatures, the icy roads and the piled snow, many people who attend Mass regularly have been unable to make the trip to church for the past couple of weeks.

Which really puts parishes in a tough place.

Their collections drop drastically. (My fellow blogger Father Michael Duffy told me that donations in his parish’s collection baskets dropped by $4,000 last week).
But their operating costs are higher: They need to use more energy to heat the church, offices and school against the cold winter. They need to hire a plow to clear the parking lot and the sidewalks. If they have a food pantry or program to help the needy, requests from poor and under-served people may be at higher than normal levels.

An Associated Press story today reported that

“Churches, synagogues and mosques report attendance is down at services, as poorly timed winter storms have hit on or close to days of worship. And getting the faithful to come out is challenging, with limited parking and treacherously icy sidewalks plaguing the region.

For many places of worship, that has meant donations are drying up just as costs for snow removal, heating and maintenances are soaring.”

I want to encourage you: If you are within the widespread area of the country that is snowed in, don’t forget that parish life continues–and your support is especially needed at this time. If your parish has an on-line donation program, you can continue to support your pastor and your parish. If your parish holds a second collection to make up for the shortfall, reach deeper into your pockets to help.

Find ways to contribute, as you are able: shovel the snow, offer rides for the elderly, take communion to those who can’t get out.

And remember: Spring is coming.

Charity

Churches

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