PROVIDENCE – The Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence, has approved revised policies for the Diocese of Providence relative to Mass Stipends and Offerings for Weddings and Masses of Christian Burials, effective January 1, 2008.
An ad-hoc committee of the Council of Priests reviewed existing policies and recommended the changes to Bishop Tobin. The Bishop approved these changes and they were published last year in the Providence Visitor (now the Rhode Island Catholic.)
The stipend for each Mass will be $10, and stipends for weekend Masses will not exceed $25. The celebrant will receive only the $10 stipend; the balance will be deposited into the parish account.
The Church offering for funerals will not exceed $200. A distinction between active and non-active parishioners is to be avoided. The parish is not required to retain the entire offering but may forward a part of the offering to another Catholic charitable cause within the diocese.
Music fees, which are not included in the Church offering, are to be forwarded to the parish. The parish will compensate musicians and/or soloists. It will be at the pastor’s discretion to indicate the best method to forward the Church offering and music fees to the parish. Also, in situations where a family expresses that in lieu of flowers donations may be forwarded to the parish, the pastor has the prerogative to waive the offering.
The Church offering for weddings will not exceed $300 for parishioners. The offering for non-parishioners cannot exceed $500. The offering does not include musician fees.
