Collections and Second Collections — Why We Have Them, and When They are Especially Good

Except for the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, there is nothing in the Roman Rite about taking up collections at Mass. Yet, it is a common practice at Sunday Mass. Some find this objectionable; however, one of the precepts of the Catholic Church is that Catholics are to take care of the needs of the Church, and giving money is an efficient way to do this. Money helps pay the Church clergy and staff, it funds the Church's outreach efforts, and it purchases materials that the Church needs for its liturgy (bread, wine, vestments, vessels, etc.) and mission (religious education materials, the cost of meeting spaces, funds for the needy, etc.). The collection is usually taken up while the altar is being prepared for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the money collected is brought to the altar in procession with the bread and wine.
       Then there are the infamous "second collections." These are (typically) appeals for special projects or causes. Some are mandated by the local bishop or the conference of bishops (e.g., a second collection is always taken up for Catholic Relief Services every March); other collections are at the direction of the pastor (e.g., a monthly second collection to pay off parish debt). Second collections are sometimes taken up right after the regular collection; more often, they are taken up between the Communion Rite and the Concluding Rites (i.e., as the announcements are read). What often works best is for the first announcement say what the collection is for so that people know what the cause is for that particular collection.
       Personally, I hope that every parish takes up a second collection this weekend for the Haiti relief effort, and I hope every Catholic in the world contributes something to it. The earthquake this week in Haiti affected over 3 million people and early estimates are that this could be the single most destructive natural disaster in world history, with hundreds of thousands of people killed as a direct or indirect result of the quake. If your parish doesn't do something, please consider donating directly through Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Internationalis, or one of the other great Catholic charities that provide international disaster relief. Haiti was such a poor country to begin with, and this week's disaster is only increasing the suffering of the people in that country. As Catholics, we have a preferential option for the poor, the vulnerable, and the suffering; the best way we can respond in this situation is to help fund the relief effort.

Identity and Mission through Baptism

A few years ago, while working at a diocesan office of worship, I received a phone call. The caller had seen an infant baptism at his parish that Sunday and he had a suggestion: he thought it would be a good idea if we said the same words after a baptism that were said after Jesus' baptism: "You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased." The more I thought about it, the more I realized that he had a point (even if I couldn't single-handedly change the Roman Rite): we need to name the newly baptized belovedness and assure them of their identity as a child of God.
       Of course, the other part of the story of Jesus' baptism was how the Holy Spirit came upon him and set him off on his mission and ministry. This, too, is something that we need to do at baptisms: we need to give the newly baptized their mission.
       In looking at the Rite of Baptism, both of those pieces are there in the prayer that is said right before anointing the child with the Sacred Chrism. The prayer is, "God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed priest, prophet, and king, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life."
       In this prayer, we receive our identity as a member of Christ's body, a member of that person to whom it was said, "You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased." Being a member of that body also means sharing in the dignity and responsibility of participating in Jesus' servant ministry of priest, prophet, and king. This is an awesome responsibility, but one that is possible because of the strength we receive by being beloved sons and daughters of God.