Recent economic changes, including new rules about priests’ salaries, have resulted in many questions among members of our diocese. People may particularly wonder how the Church in Finland will survive under the new circumstances. Therefore, I wish to clarify how the members of the diocese can support the Church financially. At the same time, I also want to underscore their obligation in this matter. In the Catholic Church, every parishioner is obligated to support the Church and the parish, also financially, according to his or her ability. In the Catholic Diocese of Helsinki, starting from the beginning of year 2018, this is implemented as follows:
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Every Catholic above 18 years of age has the obligation to pay 1,5% of his or her taxable income to the membership fee bank account of his or her own parish.
Obviously, one does not need to pay, at least the full amount, if under grave economic hardship. The recommended method of payment is a monthly automatic transfer to the membership fee account of the parish. Each parish regularly gives about 10% of the income it has collected to the use of the diocese. The diocese needs this income for upkeep of common functions, including, among other things, supporting those parishes which are not financially independent.
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This guideline does away with all previous directions about financial support for the Church.
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However, one may still also support the diocese directly, just as before. Also, members of the diocese are still obligated to pay the annual subscription fee for the diocesan newspaper Fides, which is sent to every Catholic home. Thank you to all those that already support the Church!
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Helsinki 8.1.2018
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+ Teemu Sippo SCJ Bishop of Helsinki
ACCOUNT OF THE PARISH
FI40 1547 3000 0005 98
NDEAFIHH ·
Reference number for
membership fee 90010
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ACCOUNT OF THE CEMETERY FUND
FI48 1547 3000 1007 52
NDEAFIHH ·
One of the two Catholic cemeteries in Finland is located in Turku. Voluntary work is the principal way to maintain the condition of the cemetery, but money is needed as well.
OFFERTORY COLLECTION – MOBILEPAY 89652
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You can now give your contribution to the mass offertory collection through the MobilePay application by using your smartphone. MobilePay is like cash. It is very convenient to use a smartphone for paying the offertory collection nowadays when cash is not used as often as before. For this, you need to download the MobilePay application from the app store of your smartphone. The most common application store for Android phones is Google Play and for Apple phones it is called the App Store.
The MobilePay number of our parish is 89652. You will see a picture of our church building and the text “Turun katolinen seurakunta”. Click on the picture and enter the sum you want to contribute with. The amount you have chosen is transferred from your own bank account to the bank account of the parish. The account statement shows the name of the sender and the amount.
