Ways to Donate

Like all missionary work, the generous financial support of the community and the congregation help to keep the many programmes of missionary work going. While all of our services and ministries are free, the operating costs of keeping a Church open, heated, and maintained certainly mount up.

Your generous offering each week is deeply appreciated.

There are many ways an offering can be made.

Donapay

Cash Envelopes

Gift Aid

You can also increase the effectiveness of your donation by Gift Aid. Which allows the Church to reclaim back tax on your donation.

What is Gift Aid and how does it work?

Gift Aid is a government scheme that lets charities and ‘Community Amateur Sports Clubs’ claim tax relief on the donations that you make to them.

Here’s the gist: when you donate to charity, it’s usually from your post-tax income. But if you agree to Gift Aid, the charity can claim back your basic-rate (20%) tax back from HM Revenue & Customs. Essentially, your donation gets a little boost!

To claim Gift Aid on your donation, the charity will need:

• Your name and address
• You to declare that you pay tax in the UK of an amount at least equal to the amount the charity will claim in Gift Aid on your donation (those who pay no tax shouldn’t use the Gift Aid scheme).
• Your signature (or a box ticked if it’s online) and the date.

Here’s how it works…

You make a donation of £100 to a charity, and agree the charity can claim Gift Aid. The charity then claims £25 from the state in tax relief, meaning your total donation now amounts to £125.

Simply print the form below (or pick one up from the Sacristy in the Church), complete the form and then place it in the collection plate any Sunday.

Please be mindful not to enter an amount greater than what you actually pay in Tax as it may result in you owing the Tax Office more!

Schedule of 2nd Collections for 2026

17th May – The education of Dioscean Students to the Priesthood	The proceeds of this collection go to the Diocesan Clerical Students Fund which meets the cost of educating seminarians and supporting diocesan priests engaged in post-graduate studies. Educating seminarians is an investment in the future of the Catholic Church and the annual collection is the primary source of funding for men studying for the priesthood and for those engaged in post-graduate studies.
7th June – Stipend	Contribution to what was traditionally called the Priest’s Pay
21st June – Peters Pence	This collection was started centuries ago to provide financial support for the Pope and has evolved as a resource to fund the Holy See’s charitable works for those in need. The Peter’s Pence Collection is used by the Pope to support special charitable projects in developing countries as well as defraying expenses of the work of the Church. ‘Peter’s Pence’ is the most characteristic expression of the participation of all the faithful in the Pope’s charitable initiatives in favour of the universal Church.
5th July – Stipend	Contribution to what was traditionally called the Priest’s Pay
19th July – Diocesan Pastoral Needs
2nd August – Stipend	Contribution to what was traditionally called the Priest’s Pay
16th August – Diocesan Cathedral Fund	The Diocesan Cathedral, St. Peters, is in the Divis Street area of the Falls Road in Belfast. The original Parish Church of St. Peter’s was built in the 1860s. It was not until 29th June 1986 that it became a Cathedral in the full sense. In its role as the Mother Church of the Diocese, and the Episcopal Seat of the Bishop of Down and Connor, it provides the sacred space for the various Diocesan liturgies and celebrations throughout the year. The Cathedral is a ‘Grade A’ listed building and, although it is presently in good order, the cost of running and maintaining such a magnificent historic Church is significant. It is not justifiable or feasible, however, that the full costs associated with the Cathedral be borne by the Parish of St. Peters which struggles financially within a very deprived area of the city. This Diocesan Collection has been established to help defray the costs relating to the usage of the Cathedral for Diocesan celebrations throughout the year for the benefit of the whole Diocese.
6th September – Stipend	Contribution to what was traditionally called the Priest’s Pay
20th September – Priests’ Autumn Voluntary Collection
4th October – Stipend	Contribution to what was traditionally called the Priest’s Pay
18th October – World Mission	World Missions Ireland is Pope Francis’ official charity for overseas mission and is part of a worldwide network of 120 offices, under the coordination of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rome. World Missions aims to share the Gospel and build the Church throughout the world. World Missions reach out to missionaries who work in some of the most inhospitable, marginalised, and disadvantaged communities in the world, offering aid to struggling communities, allowing them to grow and thrive.
1st November – Stipend	Contribution to what was traditionally called the Priest’s Pay
15th November –Bishops Commissions	This collection helps defray the contributions from the Diocese for the work of the various National Episcopal Commissions. To help it fulfil its aims more effectively, the Irish Catholic Bishop’s Conference has established various commissions, agencies, councils, and other bodies which focus on specific tasks and areas of responsibility within the mission of the Church. These are grouped into five departments as follows: Department of Catholic Education and Formation, Department of Pastoral Care, Department of Planning, Communications and Resources, Department of Social Issues and International Affairs and the Department of Worship, Pastoral Renewal and Faith Development. The Diocese is obligated to pay an amount levied by the Bishop’s Conference each year and this annual collection helps cover part of the levy.
6th December – Stipend	Contribution to what was traditionally called the Priest’s Pay