christening fee??

dave92

Hi all we're having a christening soon in knocknacarra church and i'm just wondering do i need to pay the priest and if so how much???

JonJoeDali

I'd say around €150 to €250 should do it.

fattymuatty

From talking with friends a "donation" of about €50 is about average. Maybe people payed €150/250 a few years ago but not now.

Arnold Layne

The priest in Knocknacarra was happy with €50 euro over 2 years ago.

Rumple Fugly

JonJoeDali wrote: »

I'd say around €150 to €250 should do it.

WTF :eek::eek::eek::eek:
Up to €250 for an hour work.... no wonder the country's shagged!

Unrealistic

I asked around about this before we had a christening at another Galway church late last year. The consensus was €100.

hairyfairy00

I think €100 is more than enough.

ErnieBert

hairyfairy00 wrote: »

I think €100 is more than enough.

Agreed. Place two €50 notes in 2 envelopes. Mark one envelope with the priest's name and the other envelope with "upkeep of church" written on it.

Enjoy the day.

Das Kitty

He wouldn't take our 50. We put it in the poor box.

Karen23

JonJoeDali wrote: »

I'd say around €150 to €250 should do it.

Thats madness

Our Parish Priest just asked for a donation of whatever you can afford and put it in an envelope but dont put your name on it so nobody knows what anyone else gave.

cfeeneyinterior

€100 would be sound I'd say. All depends I suppose whether you are an avid Church goer / collection plate contributor I suppose. But seems reasonable to me.

celtictiger32

there is no set amount they just ask for a donation, 50 euro is usually the amount paople put in. although i did do godfather for a friend of mines kid a while back and they were asked for 50 euro, i know its the same amount but i just thought it was a bit presumptuous of the church worker to put a figure on it

alibabba

150 !
Are ye mad.
We have 4 kids in our family, and along with the extended family, there have been a fair few christenings. Even during the so-called celtic tiger era, no more than 50 quid would be paid to the priest for a christening.

average_runner

Rumple Fugly wrote: »

WTF :eek::eek::eek::eek:
Up to €250 for an hour work.... no wonder the country's shagged!

Thats taking the piss. Most churches look for a donation between 40-50 euro and no more.

We were told even by the priest that its a donation and not necessary. He told us the average was 40-50 but times have changed so only give what you can afford.

This was in Dublin

Sizzler

JonJoeDali wrote: »

I'd say around €150 to €250 should do it.

That was a joke right? They were looking to get the child christened not put them through the priesthood!

Sponge Bob

€100 if there is no other christening that day, €50 if there are a few on back to back.

amiable

The priest wouldn't take a penny from us for my boy's christening nearly 18 months ago

spiritcrusher

JonJoeDali wrote: »

I'd say around €150 to €250 should do it.

Fr. Dali, is that you?

JonJoeDali

Sizzler wrote: »

That was a joke right? They were looking to get the child christened not put them through the priesthood!

No, if you were to hire a hotel function room for an hour you'd be expected to pay at least that. Especially when no food/drink would be sold.

I don't understand why people think Catholicism is cheap. Fair enough if you've paid your monthly dues for the last decade to hand over €50 or €100.

JonJoeDali

amiable wrote: »

The priest wouldn't take a penny from us for my boy's christening nearly 18 months ago

Must have been Foxrock parish?

amiable

JonJoeDali wrote: »

Must have been Foxrock parish?

Why must it have been Foxrock parish?
You know there are places outside Dublin that exist in Ireland

A2LUE42

Recent experience was that €50 was the norm, but also a 'tip' was required on the day for the Clerk/Sarchrastin in the church.

JonJoeDali

amiable wrote: »

Why must it have been Foxrock parish?
You know there are places outside Dublin that exist in Ireland

Oh sorry. The Pale complex. Forgot I should tip-toe around on that one for fear of getting up someone's goat.

amiable

JonJoeDali wrote: »

Oh sorry. The Pale complex. Forgot I should tip-toe around on that one for fear of getting up someone's goat.

Forget the Pale Jack.
You didn't answer the question

biko

Leave it folks and let's get back to Galway current prices.

amiable

biko wrote: »

Leave it folks and let's get back to Galway current prices.

My point exactly. It was a Galway price i posted originally:)

Rumple Fugly

JonJoeDali wrote: »

No, if you were to hire a hotel function room for an hour you'd be expected to pay at least that. Especially when no food/drink would be sold.

I don't understand why people think Catholicism is cheap. Fair enough if you've paid your monthly dues for the last decade to hand over €50 or €100.

I don't understand this, why should you have to pay the priest at all, this is they're job and they're already being paid to do it.
Although, saying that, I think it's ok to give a donation to the church if you wanted instead.

Surely you wouldnt 'tip' your doctor after they've carried out an operation on you???

nerophis

€50 and it's good form to invite him if you're going for a bite to eat afterwards- did that in December

Tedole

From my experience, it depends on the priest. Had a row with the missus over child number 3 last year, I said €50 was plenty as there were 4 other children been baptised at the same time. In what was an historic occasion, I won the argument! The two before that were €100 donations (3 different priests by the way), but given the times we are in, I would argue €50 is plenty

Unrealistic

Rumple Fugly wrote: »

I don't understand this, why should you have to pay the priest at all, this is they're job and they're already being paid to do it.

Paid how and by whom?

dave92

So I'm taking from this E50-100 is acceptable and is more than likely what ill be going with but now im confused about the ''clerk''??? I don't mean to be funny but will it not be awkward handing him/her cash or whats the protocol with that?

Arnold Layne

What does the clerk do to warrant a payment? Actually, what does a church clerk do?

My advice would be to give the priest 50 euro in a sealed envelope; its up to him to share it if he wishes.

Rumple Fugly

Unrealistic wrote: »

Paid how and by whom?

As far as i know they get a salary from the diocese.
Don't get me wrong i'm not against people donating money but it is their actual job to do these things.

A2LUE42

Arnold Layne wrote: »

What does the clerk do to warrant a payment? Actually, what does a church clerk do?

My advice would be to give the priest 50 euro in a sealed envelope; its up to him to share it if he wishes.

It was the Priest who called me to one side and said to Tip the Clerk. That is what the Priest called him, I would have thought he was the Sarchrastin.

when you are told to give a donation of a specific amount, its no longer a donation

this is one among a multitude of reasons why I wont be getting married catholic, or raising my kids catholic.....its riddled with hypocrisy and paedo's

Unrealistic

Rumple Fugly wrote: »

As far as i know they get a salary from the diocese.
Don't get me wrong i'm not against people donating money but it is their actual job to do these things.

But the diocese doesn't really have much of an independent income over what comes in from the church collections. I was under the impression that what comes in from parishioners is what provides the priest's income so that the envelope on the day of the Christening is his sole income for that work.

Fizzical

Unrealistic wrote: »

But the diocese doesn't really have much of an independent income over what comes in from the church collections. I was under the impression that what comes in from parishioners is what provides the priest's income so that the envelope on the day of the Christening is his sole income for that work.

"Go forth and baptise the nations. But don't do it unless they pay you!"

barefoot

dave92 wrote: »

So I'm taking from this E50-100 is acceptable and is more than likely what ill be going with but now im confused about the ''clerk''??? I don't mean to be funny but will it not be awkward handing him/her cash or whats the protocol with that?

If I were you I would buy a nice Thank You card and put your gift to him in it. Saying that I know our wonderful parish priest in Knocknacarra would baptise your child without any donation at all..........thats the kind of man he is.

Mrs OBumble

Unrealistic wrote: »

I was under the impression that what comes in from parishioners is what provides the priest's income so that the envelope on the day of the Christening is his sole income for that work.

Frankly, this thread and the idea of buying religious services sickens me.

If you're a member of the parish and donating regularly (according to your means), I'd expect that this to cover you for all sacramental services, with no additional fees needed.

And if you're not, then don't bother having the kid baptised: you clearly have no intention of raising it Catholic, so stop wasting everyone's time. If you wanna have a nice family party, book a room in a hotel and go for it, and leave out the hypocrisy.

Yes, I know, the Irish govt's failure to provide an education system means that many of ye feel a need to be nominal Catholics just to get your kid into school But if you ALL stopped pretending, then this problem would go away.

barefoot

JustMary wrote: »

Frankly, this thread and the idea of buying religious services sickens me.

If you're a member of the parish and donating regularly (according to your means), I'd expect that this to cover you for all sacramental services, with no additional fees needed.

And if you're not, then don't bother having the kid baptised: you clearly have no intention of raising it Catholic, so stop wasting everyone's time. If you wanna have a nice family party, book a room in a hotel and go for it, and leave out the hypocrisy.

Yes, I know, the Irish govt's failure to provide an education system means that many of ye feel a need to be nominal Catholics just to get your kid into school But if you ALL stopped pretending, then this problem would go away.

I don't post on here very often.........but this thread has identified one person ....the priest in Knocnacarra..... which I think is wrong. He would be so upset if he saw this.

Unrealistic

JustMary wrote: »

Frankly, this thread and the idea of buying religious services sickens me.

If you're a member of the parish and donating regularly (according to your means), I'd expect that this to cover you for all sacramental services, with no additional fees needed.

I am a member of a parish and contributing every Sunday but I still felt I should make a contribution above that when we had a Christening recently. It wasn't solicited, it was my own choice.

Das Kitty

barefoot wrote: »

I don't post on here very often.........but this thread has identified one person ....the priest in Knocnacarra..... which I think is wrong. He would be so upset if he saw this.

I think people are talking in general. My post was specifically about Fr Tadhg, saying he wouldn't accept money so we donated to the poor box. IMO, he's one of the best people I've ever met (not for the above but in general).

JustMary

JustMary wrote: »

Frankly, this thread and the idea of buying religious services sickens me.

If you're a member of the parish and donating regularly (according to your means), I'd expect that this to cover you for all sacramental services, with no additional fees needed.

And if you're not, then don't bother having the kid baptised: you clearly have no intention of raising it Catholic, so stop wasting everyone's time. If you wanna have a nice family party, book a room in a hotel and go for it, and leave out the hypocrisy.

Yes, I know, the Irish govt's failure to provide an education system means that many of ye feel a need to be nominal Catholics just to get your kid into school But if you ALL stopped pretending, then this problem would go away.

Come on it's just good practice/manners and a nice thing to do to give the priest a few bob for things like christenings and weddings etc. Not giving something is just mean. They earn very little anyway.

The argument that he is already paid doesn't hold imo, in plenty of situations people are handed a tip or what ever you want to call it for doing something even though they are paid already.

JonJoeDali

Deleted User wrote: »

.its riddled with hypocrisy and paedo's

You sound like a bigot.

Incidentally, have you no problem signing the marriage papers and submitting them to a State that is also culpable for a myriad of abuse over the years? Because by that standard, you're the hypocrite.

inisboffin

As both sides of conversation have said, it is not a wage or fee, it is just a tip. It is a courtesy, and if you can't afford to give it, don't worry. The 'fear of God' of not doing right by priests seems buried in the most born again atheists/agnostics/whatever among us in Ireland:o
If it's a sound priest and he does a lovely service, then of course you may want to 'tip' him if you can. 50-100 seems to be the norm. If you put it in an envelope, he can choose to keep it or put it in a charity box if he wants.
Inviting him to the meal is a nice gesture and sounds lovely IF it is a genuine invite and not out of obligation.

Mrs OBumble

Odin Long Wristwatch wrote: »

Not giving something is just mean. They earn very little anyway.

The argument that he is already paid doesn't hold imo, in plenty of situations people are handed a tip or what ever you want to call it for doing something even though they are paid already.

Really? I wasn't aware that tipping was common practice in Ireland. Can you give some examples? Do you tip your accountant, lawyer, and bank-manager? Doctor? Physiotherapist? Child's teachers?

As for they earn very little: my arse they do. The regular stipend they get may be low, but the amount some of them take from "tips" (aka bribes) to say masses for the intentions of lazy people who can't be bothered doing their own praying is unreal. Take a look at the cars some drive, and you'll see what I mean.

muffinman

It's not a 'tip'. The priest doesn't take the money (in Knocknacarra at least). It goes into a certain account which is used to pay a number of things (can't remember exactly what) but basically he doesn't put the money in his back pocket.

inisboffin

muffinman wrote: »

It's not a 'tip'. The priest doesn't take the money (in Knocknacarra at least). It goes into a certain account which is used to pay a number of things (can't remember exactly what) but basically he doesn't put the money in his back pocket.

I think you're right in that some churches take 'christening donations' and put the into a church fund, used to boost existing funds in there, BUT some priests MOST definitely take 'tips'/'donations'/'thank you's' in some parishes, and straight into the pocket it goes. And people know that, it's not like they are doing it behind anyone's back, it is given to them *for* them in some places.

Meteoric

Das Kitty wrote: »

I think people are talking in general. My post was specifically about Fr Tadhg, saying he wouldn't accept money so we donated to the poor box. IMO, he's one of the best people I've ever met (not for the above but in general).

I know from a friends of mine at their wedding that he would not accept payment and with a lot of persuasion took some money for the poor box because they insisted on handing him the money. Anyone who generalises about catholic priests should meet him he is a truly genuine man. I speak as a non-Catholic.

?Cee?view

JustMary wrote: »

As for they earn very little: my arse they do. The regular stipend they get may be low, but the amount some of them take from "tips" (aka bribes) to say masses for the intentions of lazy people who can't be bothered doing their own praying is unreal. Take a look at the cars some drive, and you'll see what I mean.

I'll probably get banned or infracted or something for saying this, but couldn't really care less...How can someone who seems to genuinely want to help others with transport solutions etc come out with such a bitter comment.

"my arse" "lazy people" "bribes" - are such insults really necessary? The OP asked a simple question which surely shouldn't warrant such invective.

OP, our little one was christened two weeks ago. I gave the sacristan 50; to me a gesture for her efforts and courtesy; the priest got no cash as he will have to endure more meals and drink in my company - he's a relative by marriage and a friend.

Focus on the day and what it means. Anyone with too much of an opinion one way or the other on the " money" issue probably isn't focussing on what the day's about.

PEACEBROTHER

Christening is as much as you can afford to spare
no more . no less ,.....

No point in arguin about the catholic church cause we will all lose