In our continual efforts to be transparent to our faithful parishioners and donors we would like to explain how we use every dollar of your Care and Share donations. The above Pie Chart shows the dollar value and percentage of the $1.7 Million we need in Care and Share funds to successfully accomplish our mission.
Active, Retired Priests & Bishops Support – $796,848.00.
These expenses include Supplemental Medicare, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Care and Life Ins. We also maintain apartments that house 8 retired priests, along with their low monthly rental fees we use your contributions to maintain these apartments. Three of our retired priests are living in assisted living facilities and your donations are used to support those costs. All active priests that are ordained in the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings have Life Insurance coverage and Long-Term Care coverage that your contributions are used to pay 100% of those premiums. Your donations pay for wages & benefits of transitioning foreign priests, during their time of moving into a parish the chancery office covers all costs with the use of your donation dollars. You are also supporting immigration legal fees, priest retirement contributions that are paid to their order or our ordained retired priest pension plan. The continuing education costs for Cannon Law school were paid for by using your Care and Share dollars.
Seminarian Education Costs – $140,252.00.
During the time that Seminarians are transitioning into Priesthood. Your contribution covers a small wage, and all health care benefits during their education time. With the help of an endowment that is held at the Diocese we use your donation, and the endowment distribution funds for their tuition, room and board and travel expenses.
Ministries – $433,117.00
Donations cover the costs to recruit, educate and sustain permanent Deacons. Tribunal is a pastoral care ministry that assists those who are divorced. It promotes marriage preparation and support for marriages through Engaged Encounter, Marriage Encounter and Retrouvaille. Faith Formation is ongoing catechetical support for the people of God. To include, but not limited to, Sacramental Preparation, Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults (RCIA), and Youth Ministry. Safe and Sacred is the protection of our vulnerable. We continually work to ensure that our employed personnel and volunteers have been vetted through background checks and continuing education. Hospital Ministry are services we supplement Benefis Hospital with Catholic patient needs. Summer Camp at The Saint Thomas Camp and upkeep on these facilities which hold Catholic functions.
Support to Catholic Agencies – $243,538.00
Your contributions are used to support Superintendent of Catholic Schools who travels the Eastern parts of Montana assisting our catholic school administrators’. We have 10 Catholic schools in the Eastern Montana Diocese. Your donations support The Montana Catholic Conference, which serves as the public policy branch of the Catholic Church in Montana, and the liaison for Montana’s Roman Catholic bishops with state and federal government. Inspired by Scripture and Catholic social teaching, they advocate for the weak and vulnerable and act as a catalyst for the transformation of society. Funds are also used to support Catholic Social Services of Montana, which offer support and resources to help those who have found themselves with an unplanned pregnancy by helping them to make informed decisions regarding parenting or help with adoption plans.
Properties $103,190.00
Our Properties Department is the support to parishes when they have properties issues. These expenses include compensation, benefits and expenses related to working with Churches, Missions, Schools, and other property assets in our Eastern Montana Diocese held under the name of the bishop. These expenses consist of costs to travel in collaborating with pastors and administrators concerning property construction, renovating, maintenance, inspections; etc. We also advise and assist with insurance issues, permits, contracts, insurance bonding and any related city or state requirements.
As our 2021 Care and Share campaign is coming to an end, we are under our goal for this year by over $400,000.00. But – it’s not too late! We encourage you to please donate to help to fund the above to ensure that no one is left behind and no services fall short. We currently have achieved 76% of our $1.7M goal – with $1,287,812 paid pledges. With your help – we can reach our goal.
These expenses include Supplemental Medicare, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Care and Life Ins. We also maintain apartments that house 8 retired priests, along with their low monthly rental fees we use your contributions to maintain these apartments. Three of our retired priests are living in assisted living facilities and your donations are used to support those costs. All active priests that are ordained in the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings have Life Insurance coverage and Long-Term Care coverage that your contributions are used to pay 100% of those premiums. Your donations pay for wages & benefits of transitioning foreign priests, during their time of moving into a parish the chancery office covers all costs with the use of your donation dollars. You are also supporting immigration legal fees, priest retirement contributions that are paid to their order or our ordained retired priest pension plan. The continuing education costs for Cannon Law school were paid for by using your Care and Share dollars.
Seminarian Education Costs – $140,252.00.
During the time that Seminarians are transitioning into Priesthood. Your contribution covers a small wage, and all health care benefits during their education time. With the help of an endowment that is held at the Diocese we use your donation, and the endowment distribution funds for their tuition, room and board and travel expenses.
Ministries – $433,117.00
Donations cover the costs to recruit, educate and sustain permanent Deacons. Tribunal is a pastoral care ministry that assists those who are divorced. It promotes marriage preparation and support for marriages through Engaged Encounter, Marriage Encounter and Retrouvaille. Faith Formation is ongoing catechetical support for the people of God. To include, but not limited to, Sacramental Preparation, Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults (RCIA), and Youth Ministry. Safe and Sacred is the protection of our vulnerable. We continually work to ensure that our employed personnel and volunteers have been vetted through background checks and continuing education. Hospital Ministry are services we supplement Benefis Hospital with Catholic patient needs. Summer Camp at The Saint Thomas Camp and upkeep on these facilities which hold Catholic functions.
Support to Catholic Agencies – $243,538.00
Your contributions are used to support Superintendent of Catholic Schools who travels the Eastern parts of Montana assisting our catholic school administrators’. We have 10 Catholic schools in the Eastern Montana Diocese. Your donations support The Montana Catholic Conference, which serves as the public policy branch of the Catholic Church in Montana, and the liaison for Montana’s Roman Catholic bishops with state and federal government. Inspired by Scripture and Catholic social teaching, they advocate for the weak and vulnerable and act as a catalyst for the transformation of society. Funds are also used to support Catholic Social Services of Montana, which offer support and resources to help those who have found themselves with an unplanned pregnancy by helping them to make informed decisions regarding parenting or help with adoption plans.
Properties $103,190.00
Our Properties Department is the support to parishes when they have properties issues. These expenses include compensation, benefits and expenses related to working with Churches, Missions, Schools, and other property assets in our Eastern Montana Diocese held under the name of the bishop. These expenses consist of costs to travel in collaborating with pastors and administrators concerning property construction, renovating, maintenance, inspections; etc. We also advise and assist with insurance issues, permits, contracts, insurance bonding and any related city or state requirements.
As our 2021 Care and Share campaign is coming to an end, we are under our goal for this year by over $400,000.00. But – it’s not too late! We encourage you to please donate to help to fund the above to ensure that no one is left behind and no services fall short. We currently have achieved 76% of our $1.7M goal – with $1,287,812 paid pledges. With your help – we can reach our goal.
Please help us continue
