The series of assemblies of parishioners, which were held this fall in the communities of the Sainte-Famille-de-Beauce Parish, once again pointed out operating deficits of the regional factory, which makes the future more increasingly unstable in carrying out his mission.
Remember that it was in 2017 that the current structure was created, at the request of the Diocese of the Catholic Church of Quebec, which established the merger of the parishes in its territory, these going from 242 to 38 today. today.
Sainte-Famille-de-Beauce includes the communities of Beauceville (Saint-François-d’Assise Church), Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, Saint-Odilon, Frampton (Saint-Édouard Church), Saint-Alfred, Saints-Anges , Saint-Frédéric, Saint-Jules, Saint-Séverin, Saint-Victor, Tring-Jonction (Sainte-Famille Church), and Vallée-Jonction (Church of the Child Jesus).
The factory operates with a board of directors of six churchwardens from across the country. Two seats are currently vacant. This board of directors was chaired by Me Jean-Denys Rancourt, whose mandate in this role ended on December 31. He was appointed by the diocese in May 2023. For the moment, his successor is not known.
The CA allocates revenues and expenses for each community, — which are supervised by a CCOL (Consultation and Local Organization Committee), while operating deficits are assumed by the entire parish. An operation which explains the current situation.
Thus, according to documents submitted by the board of directors of the factory during assemblies of parishioners, the Sainte-Famille-de-Beauce parish had a current operating deficit reaching $559,903, as of December 31, 2023.
In terms of income, annual voluntary contributions (CVA), which were formerly called the titheamounted to $454,214, a drop of 40% over four years. Sunday collections totaled $95,983, more than half of which came from the churches of Beauceville and Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce. Funeral expenses (140 in 2023) generated receipts of nearly $40,000, and as much during ceremonial collections. Furthermore, as only 20 marriages were celebrated throughout the year (this number includes those in the neighboring parish of Sainte-Mère-de-Jésus), the income was only $3,980 for expenses and 4,800 $ in collection. In total, revenues amounted to $1,511,041.
For expenses, the largest items will have been salaries and benefits ($514,000), maintenance and repairs ($199,651) as well as heating costs ($169,291) and electricity ($33,69 ), churches, presbyteries and factory rooms. Note that the contribution to the diocese amounts to almost $85,000 and will increase by $10,000 for the next three years. The parish therefore found itself with expenses of 2,070,944, which explains the deficit of $560,000. It could reach $675,000 next year.
The two largest communities in the parish are those of Beauceville and Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, with 27% and 23% distribution respectively.
As a simple comparison, the statement of income and expenses which was presented to the assembly of parishioners of Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce (November 28) indicated a deficit, before extraordinary activities, of $33,622 while for Beauceville, which held its meeting on December 5, the document reported a surplus of $17,620, the best result in the parish. In fact, three communities are recording surpluses while the other seven are in deficit.
Relocation of the administrative center
Measures to reduce factory expenses as much as possible were taken by the board of directors, which were implemented during the summer of 2024.
Thus, all the administrative staff dispersed in the communities of the parish were repatriated to Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, in a rented space (former National Bank) because the presbytery of the place, which was the administrative center, was not could have accommodated these employees.
Indeed, the heritage building, in addition to not complying with CNESST standards, would have required interior renovation work (toilets, ventilation, heating, electrical system, exterior ramp for reduced mobility, soundproofing, etc.) which would have required investments estimated at a minimum of $200,000, expenses that the factory could not afford.
The administrators signed a rental lease of $80,000 per year, which includes service fees (heating, air conditioning, electricity, etc.), a fixed cost with no surprises for a parish that is in an unstable financial situation. In addition, a third of the bill is covered by the Sainte-Famille-de-Beauce Cemetery Corporation, which shares the work space.
The repatriation of staff means that the administrative center now assumes complete management of all registers and all masses. In communities, the services offered are limited and dependent on volunteers who want to get involved.
The center has also restricted its opening hours. The premises are accessible to the public from Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Furthermore, since last August, the priests, with two exceptions, have all been housed at the Beauceville presbytery. This also includes the abbots of the neighboring parish in Nouvelle-Beauce.
Note that only 100 priests are active in the entire diocese of Quebec. Thirty of them are 71 and younger, including 15 who are 50 and younger. For Sainte-Famille-de-Beauce, two priests are full-time and a third officiates three days/week.
Finally, as the outgoing president of the board of directors, Jean-Denys Rancourt, has already indicated. communities which are not able to produce a balance sheet which is not in deficit, could possibly have to dispose of their facilities, such as the sale of presbyteries and the transfer of churches.
The movement in this direction has already been underway for several years. It will be the subject of the 2nd article in this series which will be published tomorrow.
