Collection Counters Ministry
Ensuring Good Stewardship of Our Parish Treasure
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e all have gifts we can use to glorify our Lord. Some of us have obvious gifts to aid in the Mass, whether we have been blessed with a strong singing voice or speaking voice. Others have talents that can help behind the scenes — and our parish's Collection Counters Ministry serves as a perfect example. Five to seven volunteers gather each week to count, organize, and calculate the collections from all the Masses at St. Benedict Cathedral Parish. As we all know, it takes the gift of treasure, large or small, to keep our parish operating. Likewise, it’s an important ministry to accurately count the A Collection Counter team gathers recently to count the collection following Mass — (from left) offering. Roger Emge, Amy Samm, Susie Emge, Suzanne Seibert and Kathy Wuertz. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that also the ability to be confidential Jeff says it’s really important to our counters are working in about the collection,” Jeff says. take confidentiality seriously smaller groups. Some members There are four teams of as part of this work. have chosen to be cautious and counters, each operating a “I am all about the take a break from this ministry little differently on timing. processing," he says. "I don’t for the time being. Jeff’s group starts 30 minutes care whose name is on it. I Jeff Marx will be the first before the last Mass ends. just want to make sure it is all to admit he wouldn’t be a good Depending on the collection added correctly." fit for many ministries at St. size, they are done in about an As a member of St. Benedict Benedict Cathedral Parish, hour. Team leads all do things Cathedral his entire life, Jeff's but with his accounting a bit differently, as well. Jeff’s connection to the parish background, counting the team usually has two people extends back for generations. collection is a perfect role to counting loose change, two Jeff used to fill in as a counter take on. opening envelopes, and one when he was a teenager if his “We want to make sure running the adding machine. father’s group needed another potential members have some Historically, new counters member. He says he’s been accounting background, and have been chosen by the pastor. doing this ministry for so long, continued on back cover
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