Diocese of Helena financial statement reviewed, explained

By Peter L. McNamee
Diocesan Finance Officer

Amounts shown in this article are for FY 2004-2005 only.

DIOCESAN OFFERTORY PROGRAM (DOP)
This supplement includes a recap of the Diocese of Helena Diocesan Offertory Program funds collected. Some of the programs also receive funds from other sources, such as from users’ fees. Total allocations from the Diocesan Offertory Program for current expenses in were $1,330,365. In addition, of the $1,353,262 collected, $22,897 was transferred to restricted reserves for future planned use such as World Youth Day.

EXTENSION SOCIETY GRANTS
The Catholic Church Extension Society of Chicago allocation for the Diocese of Helena was $200,000. Of this amount, $109,200 provided salary subsidies for the rural parishes in our diocese that could not otherwise support a full-time priest or sister, or religious education programming and personnel.

The campus ministry programs in Bozeman, Butte, Dillon and Missoula shared a grant of $56,000. The Division of Catholic Formation received $12,800 to assist the Resource Center and office operations, and $10,000 to assist the youth ministry programs. The program for lay ministry received $7,000 of which $4,860 is carried over to FY 2005-2006. The expenses related to seminarian education were partially funded by a grant of $5,000 from the Extension Society. In addition, we received supplemental funds of $16,489 from other appeals of the Extension Society.

NATIONAL INDIAN COMMISSION GRANT
The Commission for the Catholic Missions Among the Indians provided the Diocese of Helena with an operational grant of $84,000. Except for $3,290 carried over to meet needs in FY 2005-2006, this money was divided to support Native American Ministry at Little Flower, Browning; St. Ignatius Mission; St. Anne, Heart Butte; Sacred Heart Parish, Ronan; De La Salle Blackfeet School in Browning; and diocesan-wide urban areas. This funding helped support lay ministry training, religious priests’ and sisters’ ministries, Tekakwitha activities, youth programs, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and religious education.

COMMITTEE ON THE HOME MISSIONS
The Committee on the Home Missions (CHM) provided a grant of $115,000. Included in the grant was $3,000 for diocesan Urban Native American Ministry; and $112,000 for parish programs of youth ministry, religious education, and pastoral outreach. In addition, CHM granted $20,000 for a supplemental training grant and $3,125 for World Youth Day. Of the total $138,125 granted, $6,389 was carried over to meet needs in FY 2005-2006.

DEPOSIT AND LOAN FUND
In the Deposit and Loan Fund, several parishes increased their reserve deposits in anticipation of future building projects and in order to have savings to cover unforeseen maintenance and repair expenses. Much of this increase was from donors taking advantage of the Montana Tax Credit opportunity.

ANNUITY FUNDS
The diocese signed a great number of new annuity contracts with donors. Most of the new contracts were from donors taking advantage of the Montana Tax Credit opportunity. The donors receive income for life at a set rate, and the diocese, foundation, parish, or other named beneficiary receives the remainder of the gift upon the donor’s death or when the donor releases the annuity obligation.

ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP ENDOWMENTS
Several donors have added to the permanent endowments of the diocese through estate planning gifts. These endowment gifts provide perpetual income for many diocesan programs. Donors are encouraged to also donate to the endowments of the Foundation for the Diocese of Helena.

NATIONAL COLLECTIONS
This report also contains a recap of contributions by people of the diocese to national collections.

The World Mission Sunday collection benefits a number of overseas Catholic mission programs including the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. A small amount is retained by the diocese to give support to specific missions in various parts of the world that have requested funds directly from the bishop.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is an education-action program created in 1969 by the U.S. bishops to support self-help programs among the poor in the United States. Seventy-five percent (75%) of this collection goes directly to the national fund – several projects in Montana were partially funded by the national office. Twenty-five percent (25%) of this collection remains in the diocese to be used for local needs that are identified by a diocesan Catholic Campaign for Human Development committee and approved by the bishop.

The collection for Catholic Relief Services, formerly known as the American Bishops’ Overseas Appeal, is best known for its response to natural disasters, aid to refugees, commitment to reconstruction, and rehabilitation of people throughout the world. A portion of our collection was given as Aid to the Church in Eastern Europe.

Another source of funds for CRS is Operation Rice Bowl. Twenty-five percent of this collection stays in the diocese to aid needy people. In addition, special collections were received as noted.

The Peter’s Pence collection enables the Holy Father to respond with emergency financial assistance to requests to aid the most needy throughout the world – those who suffer as a result of war, oppression, and natural disasters. It likewise provides the faithful with a tangible opportunity to not only empower the weak, defenseless, and voiceless, but also to sustain those who suffer.

The Catholic Home Missions collection was launched in 1998. This appeal funds a wide range of pastoral services, including evangelization, religious education, the maintenance of mission parishes, the training of seminarians and lay ministers, and ministry with ethnic groups.

The Black and Indian Missions collection started in 1885. The funds are distributed throughout the United States, supporting and strengthening evangelization programs among the Black and Indian peoples.

The National Religious Retirement collection assists religious orders to meet the needs of their retired members who served and received minimal compensation.

A complete copy of the financial statement audit conducted by Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C., is on file in the diocesan business office. Any comments or questions can be directed in writing to the business office of the Diocese of Helena at P.O. Box 1729, Helena, MT 59624.

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 22, No. 1, January 20, 2006.