Money On The Plate

Money On The Plate

By Paul McCann 

Daddy was a family man who worked hard 5 days a week . There were five of us kids who he took for long walks up the mountains on Saturdays . 

Sundays was devoted to his work with the men’s  confraternity and every Sunday morning he would be there passing around the collection plate at church . The people always gave whatever  they could afford ,  to help the priests , who  in turn were able to assist others in need around the parish . 

There were two  collections back then , one before communion  and another before the people left the church . So Daddy who start at a certain row in the aisle then go from row to row with his  wooden collection plate . He would wait as it was  passed around from hand to hand by the congregation . 

The people all knew what to do and the plate treated reverently as it went around quickly and quietly .The collection plates were lined with this soft green  felt , to absorb the sound of the falling coins pelt , whenever they were dropped from people’s hands  .

Everyone’s eyes would check the money in the plate as it went around . There would be notes and coins in the plate .  Decent people paid  their dues and offered what they could .

When the collection was finished  Daddy would bring all the money in the plate up to a room at the back of the church and empty all the takings into a bag for the priests .

The same routine would occur for the second collection   Usually before the plate went around for the second collection there was a special time to contemplate in silence the thoughts of everyone who were sitting in the pews .  The priest would sometimes mention it’s always better to give than receive do before they passed around the plate for the final collection , it allowed just enough examination  time for the conscience of those who were better off than others . Then after the last collections final blessing was given by the priest to everyone there . When mass was finished and everyone had left the church , Daddy would go around the village collecting the envelopes from those people who had committed to  a weekly offering .  

Later on that Sunday all the money from the collection plates and the envelopes was counted up by the priests .  It’s amazing how that money benefited others in need . It was more than a fundraising effort , it connecting people together , it built respect , it brought an awareness of love and care around the district  . The wonderful memories of people who gave more that they could afford is really what’s its all about . Money on the plate was a comment from the soul of what its all about  It made me think about a plate left outside the pearly gates overspilling with cash while an empty plate would be left at the doorstep of hell with an IOU note inside .   

The End.

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