Step 1

1. Establish GROSS presbytery income as detailed in Guideline 4. The Gross Income includes all monies received from Priests’ Collections on Saturdays and Sundays and Holy Days, Christmas and Easter Dues, Stole Fees (Baptisms, Funerals, Marriages) Chaplaincy Fees (Hospitals, Convents, institutions). All monies collected up to and including the last Sunday of the quarter should be banked and Bank Statement ordered.

Step 2

2. Calculate 5% of Gross Income for Cathedraticum and 25% for P.R.F. and write the cheques. If the car capital payment ($1,700) has not been electronically transferred to the "car pool", it must be paid as a separate payment. If this would make the account overdrawn, see number 6 below.

Step 3

3. Pay all accounts due on the Presbytery account up to the end of the quarter. The normal expenses on the Presbytery Account are: + Food, housekeeper, presbytery hospitality, car capital payments, reimbursement of motor vehicle running costs, + Regular supply fees to augment Sunday Masses provided by the parish priest. Premium payments for diocesan hospital insurance and ambulance subscriptions are included in the 25% contribution.

Step 4

4. If you are not operating a presbytery account "plastic card" (FlexiCard) for your petrol, make reimbursements of motor vehicle running costs to yourself and assistant(s). Motor vehicle reimbursements are NOT claimed from the P.R.F. but the amount should be noted on the return before claim(s) will be finalised.

Step 5

5. Now calculate the NETT balance in the Presbytery Account by “bringing in” all the above cheque (debits) you have just written;

- again, even if this would make the account overdrawn - if so, see number 6.

Step 6

6. NOTE WELL: Priests who find their Presbytery Account “in the red” especially in the July - September quarter should phone the Secretary (9890 2510) to seek advice in applying for subsidy for the presbytery account.

Step 7

7. If you are not overdrawn write cheque for total of Living Allowance per quarter for each priest ($5,000) - or divide the balance in the Presbytery Account into equal parts. Make a claim on Fund if there are insufficient funds remaining in the Presbytery account to meet minimum diocesan entitlements.

Step 8

8. If you do not have to claim and there is still some money remaining, divide it according to Guideline 8 (note 50/50 division) and add this amount to the "living allowance" cheque.

Step 9

9. The Presbytery Account should show zero balance (more or less) at the end of each quarter; but, you might like to leave “float” top meet the next month’s car pool direct debit. It is not advisable to leave large credit balances in the account OR for the Parish Priest (even in a one priest parish) to use the Presbytery Account Cheque Book as a personal account. {see also Charter Guideline 7(e)}