Generous parishioners pay off decades of debt

By Citra Sidhu GENEROUS PARISHIONERS of Shrewsbury diocese have cleared £2 million of diocesan debt — enabling trustees to write off thousands of pounds from parishes in the red.
Through an initiative proposed by diocesan trustees in 1996, which encouraged every parish to raise money towards a diocesan Jubilee fund, indebted parishes of the diocese have been given a fresh start for the new century.
Both poor and wealthy parishes organised fund-raising events and made donations from surplus funds allowing more than 30 parishes across the diocese to receive grants ranging from £5,000 to £206,000. All had been struggling to pay off debt from the 1960s incurred as a result of building churches and schools.
Mgr John McManus, who oversaw the campaign, was delighted with the response. In a letter to parishes, he said: "Bishop Noble has asked me to express his grateful appreciation to all those parishes who have contributed to the fund and thus made these grants possible. It is a real achievement and an example of parishes supporting one another."
Fr John Feeney, diocesan financial secretary, said: "We finally have no historic debt. This is a remarkable achievement, which has only come about through co-operation. We're lucky in that we've always had a system of helping out at a political and practical level. More parishes will need assistance in the future and now we have a fund to support them."
In response to the need to prevent parishes incurring similar debts, the Diocese of Shrewsbury is carrying out a pastoral review, which could involve the merging and closure of a number of parishes and the use of such alternatives as other denominational churches for the celebration of Mass.
But Mgr McManus is confident that the changes, over a 10-year period, will be positive. "We're trying to plan for the future by ensuring that every area is looked after, with the revenue being used in the hest possible way. When we are trying to develop the educational and pastoral needs of the diocese, we can't put it all into sustaining buildings."
Bishop Noble has been recuperating following a major operation last December for cancer of the oesophagus. Mgr McManus. spokesman for the diocese said: "Bishop Noble is progressing very well. He had a very positive report from the specialist last week. He hopes to return to the diocese in the next couple of months.