Diocese reports collections' proceeds

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PROVIDENCE —The Vicar for Planning and Financial Services, Father Raymond B. Bastia, reports the following donor contributions in support of the Church in Latin America during the weekend of January 26-27: $141,475.09.

In 2007, $147,650. was collected. Fifty percent of the funds collected remain in the diocese; $70,737,54 in 2008; $73,825 in 2007.

The Collection for the Church in Latin America supports various pastoral projects throughout Central America and the Caribbean. Projects are at the international, regional, diocesan and local levels, and include the work of evangelization, formation of laity, religious and seminarians, as well as youth ministry and catechesis. Funding is limited to programmatic expenses and excludes building construction.

Father Bastia also reports the following donor contributions in support of the Retirement Fund for Religious Collection taken up in parishes in the diocese on the weekend of Dec. 8-9, 2007: $234,157.42. In 2006, $255,172.30 was collected.

The Retirement Fund for Religious (RFR) provides restricted grants to any religious institute in the United States that is listed in the religious institute section of the Official Catholic Directory with an identifying OCD number, and that has an unfunded past service liability. The fund distributes basic, supplemental and special assistance grants from the fund to religious institutes based on a formula and criteria approved by the conference of major superiors and bishops. The annual appeal began in 1988 and is approved through 2017.