ARTICLES

Autodraft checking system promoted at parish

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

In what they think is a win-win situation, the administration of St. Michael parish in Richmond says there are many benefits to the auto-draft program in which parishioners can give to the Sunday collection with the money electronically drafted on a regular basis from their designated checking accounts.

“Those who like to use it say it’s one less check they have to write,” said Deacon Andrew Ferguson, Director of Administration at St. Michael’s.

“It’s automatic on the 2nd and 17th of the month and they have an instant record of the transaction.”

With close to 2,500 families at the suburban western Henrico County parish, just a few more than 10 percent of them use the autodraft system.

St. Michael’s receives close to $35,000 monthly from autodraft.

“We average about $8,500 a week in addition to our plate collection,” Deacon Ferguson said, pointing out that St. Michael’s normally receives about $18,000 in the Sunday collection.

Parishioners also have the option of designating a regular amount for the monthly debt reduction and Haiti Fund collections using autodraft.

“Some parishioners choose to use all three,” said Veronica Lowenhagen, bookkeeper.

The autodraft contribution program was initiated by Father John Leonard, St. Michael’s founding pastor, “because the dip of the collections during the summer when people went on vacation was so drastic,” Mrs. Lowenhagen said.

“With the autodraft it has evened out during the summer months.”

There is an added sense of security with the system for both parishioners and the parish administration, says Deacon Ferguson.

“The money goes directly from the parishioner’s account to the parish and it never touches human hands,” he said.

Joe McGreal, chairman of St. Michael’s parish finance council, promotes use of the autodraft system when he speaks to newly registered parisioners at the twice a month orientation sessions for newcomers.

“It allows them to be stewards of their financial treasure on a consistent basis,” Mrs. Lowenhagen said.

There is no fee to parishioners who use the system. If their personal financial picture changes, they can complete a new authorization form and mark the box indicating “a modification to an existing authorization.”

St. Michael’s, located in a growing suburban area, has a transient population with about 30 new families joining each month and an equal number who leave because of relocation. Those who have registered with the autodraft system are expected to cancel the agreement if they leave the parish.

Mrs. Lowenhagen says she does not know if any other parishes in the diocese are using the autodraft method for recording Sunday collections, but says she has received inquiries from two other Richmond area parishes.

The parish has a debt of $1.95 million, largely because of the cost of the $6.5 million Phase 2 building program of a new sanctuary and additional education wing which were dedicated in October 2002.

“Our giving has remained very strong,” Deacon Ferguson said.

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