Cathal BarryThe fundraising efforts spearheaded by newly appointed Episcopal Vicar for Financial Development Fr Andrew O’Sullivan
A major fundraising drive is being rolled out in the Dublin diocese in an attempt to ease the increasing financial woes of the Church there.
The fundraising efforts spearheaded by newly appointed Episcopal Vicar for Financial Development Fr Andrew O’Sullivan (pictured) and conducted by leading fundraising firm CCS, will involve an extensive consultation process involving priests and representatives of parish finance committees.
In a letter to the Dublin clergy, seen by The Irish Catholic, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said it is “necessary” to raise funds in order to “sustain the life and mission of the Church in the parishes of the diocese in the coming years”.
Exploratory phase
Archbishop Martin told priests his decision to embark on an “exploratory phase” regarding financial planning followed discussions with the Diocesan Finance Committee and the Council of Priests.
He said the consultative process will be central to “on-going efforts to maintain costs and increase income” in the diocese and clergy would be “kept up-to-date as this planning exercise progresses”.
The consultation is being co-ordinated by a Steering Committee, chaired by Fr O’Sullivan. This group, according to the archbishop, will seek to consult with as many relevant people as possible to “ensure that the committee sees the diverse nature and needs of the diocese”.
“They will give notice in advance of their meetings allowing time to reflect and prepare therefore enabling the most positive outcome possible. I encourage you to support this initiative as it is vital to our future and in particular, it is essential to our core task as priests to share the Good News of Jesus Christ,” the archbishop said.
A spokeswoman for the diocese told The Irish Catholic the initiative “hopes to identify new ideas on how parishes can ensure more sustainable long-term financial support for their activities”.
“The current initiative is about what parishes can do to generate the necessary income to support priests and parish activities. It is separate to efforts to manage financial support and spending for diocesan services which are under a more general review,” she said.