Vestments
can be an expensive investment. They may be paid for in several ways:
memorials, fund raisers, special collections, or donations.
In
some churches it is a custom to make a memorial donation of a set of
vestments when a loved one dies. Also, some families donate a white
vestment set to be worn for their daughter’s wedding ceremony.
Organizations
such as the altar societies/guilds, K of C, Holy Name Society, etc. can
hold fund raisers to pay for vestments.
One
priest that I’ve worked with has his own approach to paying for
vestments. He goes ahead and has the vestments made but will not wear
them until they’re paid for.
When
the vestments are completed, he puts them on display along with a
donation box and a sign stating the amount of money needed to cover
their cost. After enough money is contributed and the vestments are paid
for, the priest schedules a special ceremony for blessing them before
Mass. With great pomp and circumstance he inaugurates the use of the new
vestments.
His
method seems to work, he usually collects not only enough to pay for the
vestments on display but often gets a donation to buy additional
vestments. Other priests have tried his method and found the same
results.
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