Purchase of a car without a license, reconstruction of a church, purchase of a Berber tent, studies for seminarians… As worship funds are falling, the Church of Besançon innovates by organizing the “Come and see and give” evening. on November 28 to finance eight projects “in service of the church” and receive pledges of donations.
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When it comes to money, the Church wants to keep up with the times. On November 28 at 8 p.m.,“a big evening is coming” at the diocesan center of Besançon (Doubs). Don't expect to just see the wicker basket passing from hand to hand to collect money. There, you will have to go on stage to convince. The eight project leaders will have “three minutes to pitch” in other words to explain the interest in financing their stories. For this first “Come and See Donate” evening, the public will be able to make pledges to support eight local projects:
“We have lost 50% of donors in ten years” explains Philippe Tixier, the finance manager of the diocese of Besançon. For the parishes of Doubs and Haute-Saône, this corresponds to a drop from 30,000 to 15,000 donors. To complete the 2024 budget, the account is not there. For now! The diocese is relying on a new form of donation to raise the sums it lacks. In 2023, its budget was 2,350,000 euros. “We hope to do the same thing” confides Philippe Tixier who is banking on the novelty of this evening to replenish the coffers.
The younger generations no longer give out of duty like those before. The relationship with financial donation has changed. Young people give because they are touched by a cause, a witness or a project.
The check that Catholics slip once a year into the collection basket or even that they send by post has a name. It is the denier of worship. If the Sunday collection remains in the parish, the money from worship is used to pay the salaries of employees of the diocese and the “salary of priests”.
The quest has not disappeared from Sunday celebrations. Parishes that have implemented a credit card payment system have even seen their donations increase.
With a smartphone, donations are on average six euros while Catholics search in their wallets, they often give the yellow coins lying around. There “digital quest“, it's as simple as “to go buy your baguette” underlines Philippe Tixier. The financial manager hopes that the “new concept” of the evening of November 28 will appeal to those who no longer give so regularly to the Church.
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