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This fall, Žeimių Švč. In the parish of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, children who lived in the town and its surroundings began to attend the sacraments of the Sacrament of Confirmation. His parents were sent a letter from the pastor asking them to donate a certain amount of money.
It cannot function without financial assistance
The letter said that without financial help, the parish would not be able to provide spiritual education to the children.
“Thank you for taking care of the spiritual education of your children by sending them to a Sunday school in our parish. <...> However, the parish institution could not carry out its preparation activities for the sacraments without the financial contribution of the parents, ”the letter said.
Financial assistance was also defined.
“Contribute with a donation starting at 5 euros a month. In a difficult situation or when visiting several children in the family, talk to the group leader about the possibility of donating,” the letter says.
The letter reached the children’s parents in an envelope, but the envelope is said to serve a purpose.
“To facilitate the collection of your donations, we have prepared an envelope for each child with this letter and the table below, where you and we who receive your donation can sign,” says the letter to parents.
The letter, signed by the pastor, also states that the sacrifice can be performed in various ways.
“The victim can be donated in several ways: donating every month, two or once. <...> We trust your benevolent understanding, “the letter says.
Parents were a bit surprised to receive such a letter.
“As far as I know, the sacrifice should not be defined as much as the victim. After all, everyone lives differently and as much as we can, as much as that contributes, ”said the children’s parents.
The envelope is for transparency
The parish priest, Rytis Gurkšnys, states that such a practice is often applied and without this sacrifice the church could not give the sacrament of confirmation to children.
“The victim is indicative. They are necessary for the maintenance of the teacher, for the maintenance of the premises. We don’t raise enough money on Sundays to support a teacher who comes from Jonava and works two lessons on the weekends. We really couldn’t teach lessons without these victims, ”said pastor R. Grukšnys.
According to the pastor, the sacrifice is optional and the table in which the parents write how much they contribute is for transparency.
“As letter and writing, sacrifice is possible. If parents cannot donate, this is optional. And the table is of transparency, so that parents can see if the children bring that money and do not keep it, ”said the pastor.
According to R. Grukšnis, this practice is applied in many places in Lithuania.
“It just came to our knowledge then. In Jonava, Kaunas, in all the other parishes, which are especially in the city, this practice applies. Some who raise enough money on Sundays probably won’t,” said the pastor.
A definite sacrifice helps people find their way
Jonava St. The pastor of St. James the Apostle Parish, Virginijus Birjotas, whose parish also includes Žeimiai parish, says he is hearing about this case for the first time.
“There may not be a definitive sacrifice, but since people do not imagine how much should be sacrificed, then it would be possible to define a sacrifice for one month. Classes are held four times a week, this is divided between 5 euros and costs 1.20 euros , and you have to pay for both the teacher and the office supplies. This is the least amount that can be allocated, “said V. Birjotas.
According to the Jonava shepherd, sacrifice is defined because people often do not focus on how much to sacrifice and ask themselves the amounts.
“People often ask how much they sacrifice, that’s why we usually say it. Be it a funeral or a baptism. This is also the case of the Episcopal Conference. A few years ago in Kaunas, it was agreed among the pastors that for the sacrament of Confirmation, which lasts eight months, it would be good to have about 50 euros, ”said the parish priest.
V. Birjotas affirms that few people know about these cases.
“It just came to our knowledge then. I myself have been a priest for 20 years and I have not found it, because when you explain to a person that this lesson costs only 1.20 euros, people have no problems because they have to pay for everything and people imagine that the church gets money from somewhere. Unfortunately, we survived the victims, “said V. Birjotas.
When asked if the victim did not become a tax in this way, the pastor said it was a manipulation of words.
“It is a manipulation, like a law or a decree, it is the same. If you say that you are a victim, you can give one euro for a year, but we are trying to create an understanding of how much the victim should be, because people don’t usually understand that, so they wonder. We must not get angry with the church, we must understand how it works, ”said the pastor.
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