Dublin's Catholics contributed €15.9 million in collections for the support of their priests in the year ended June 2003, an increase of more than 11 per cent on the €14.6 million taken up in similar collections during the year ended June 2002.
However, the total remuneration of Dublin's priests and parochial employees in the same year was €18.8 million, up from €17.5 million the previous year. The shortfall was made up from other funding sources.
In total, the archdiocese raised €53.01 million during the year ended June 2003, a drop from the €53.8 million the previous year. However, spending rose from €49.9 million to €54.58 million.
Overall there was a shortfall of €1.57 million in expenditure over receipts for the year ended June 2003. But the closing balance was €19.8 million when carried-over funds were taken into account.
In the year to June 2003 family offerings raised €12.8 million, (up from €12.1 million); share collections raised €6.25 million (up from €5.55 million). Church collections for Peters Pence, CrossCare, education of students for the priesthood, Accord, Catholic Youth Council, the Pontifical Mission Societies and for the food crisis in Africa, together with collections on weekdays in some churches for the upkeep of parishes, raised €3.8 million, (up from €2.9 million).
Bequests, donations, etc brought in €6.18 million, up from €5.7 million. The sale of assets to June 2003 brought in €5.4 million, down from €9.85 million. Draws, sales of work, etc made €2.542 million, down from €2.97 million. Where spending was concerned, €18.7 million was used in building projects to June 2003, up from €16.9 million. Spending on repairs, maintenance and insurance (€4.5 million); heating, lighting, cleaning, phone and printing costs (€2.29 million); missalets, candles etc (€1.3 million); contribution to primary schools (€0.21 million).
Contributions to diocesan and national pastoral services/com-missions (€1.47 million); diocesan administration €1.03 million); payment to trust funds for future building/pastoral needs (€1.9 million); fundraising expenses, bank charges, and professional fees (€1.9 million).
The Dublin archdiocese has an estimated Catholic population of 1,087,285 people in 200 parishes.
Full details at: www.dublindiocese.ie /share/2004