Priests’ Remuneration Fund

Each Parish must establish and maintain an account either with a bank or the Catholic Development Fund under the title “Presbytery Account”. Refer to guideline 4 for a description of the money which must be paid into the Presbytery Account.

Parishioners should be informed, and educated, the one collection, the Presbytery Collection. is exclusively:

1. for the support of the Archbishop

2. for the support of the priests of that parish; and

3. for the support and subsidy of a great number of priests throughout the Archdiocese; and

4. for the support of pastores emeriti

The traditional contributions of Christmas and Easter Dues and Stole Fees should be maintained. The amount received from dues, stole fees and funeral offerings is essential for the adequate remuneration of all priests throughout the Archdiocese.

Most importantly parishes which have a history of “claiming on the fund” should not abolish stole fees, dues or funeral offerings.

The money paid into the Presbytery Account is the property of the Parish and not the personal income of the parish priest. Disbursement may only be made in accordance with guidelines 7, 8 and 9.

The following receipts must be paid into the Presbytery Account:

1. the proceeds of a specific collection (the “Presbytery Collection”) at Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses and Masses on Holy Days of Obligation

2. Christmas and Easter dues

3. stole fees for baptisms and marriages, as well as funeral offerings

4. parochial chaplaincy fees (for hospitals, convents etc).

The financial year of the Fund is from 1 August to the 31 July.

1. Priests must prepare and give to the Fund quarterly returns (in the form prescribed from time to time) calculated as at the last day of September, December, March and June.

2. The quarterly returns must be forwarded within 14 days after the end of each quarter. They must either be accompanied by a cheque or signed to authorise a direct debit, for the contributions described in guidelines 7(a) (ii) and (iii).

3. Parish priests are asked to complete their returns in all details, even when not making a claim on behalf of the parish, as far as their own and the assistant priest(s) remuneration is concerned. This is important for the administration of the Fund and assists settling of claims in the event of transfer of priests.

4. Remuneration will only be subsidised on receipt of the payment described in 7b(ii) and (iii) and a duly completed return. Payments in respect of claims under Clause 8 (e) will be paid into the Church Account.

The following and other parish expenses are paid form the Church Account:

1. gas, electricity, telephone and other utilities

2. presbytery repair and maintenance

3. insurance premiums; municipal rates and water rates

4. supply fees during a priest’s four weeks annual holidays

5. supply fees when a priest is on approved sick leave

6. supply fees when a priest on special duties living in the presbytery is on annual holidays and thus is unable to perform weekend supplies.

7. the quarterly reimbursement of motor vehicle running expenses (up to $4,500 pa)

From total gross receipts parish into the Presbytery Account, as specified in guideline 4, excluding Mass offerings, the following contributions are to be deducted on a quarterly basis:

1. a cathedraticum tax of five (5) percent for the Archbishop which payment is collected by and forwarded to the Business Managers Office;

2. a contribution of twelve and a half (12.5) percent to the PRF

3. a contribution of twelve and a half (12.5) percent to the Priests’ Retirement Foundation

The following expenses are paid form the Presbytery Account:

1. Normal household expenses, including food, hospitality and housekeeper’s salary;

2. regular supply fees to augment Sunday Masses provided by the parish priest

3. in the case of a Diocesan Priest who uses a motor vehicle that is not owned by the diocesan car pool - a quarterly car capital payment of $1,700, either direct to the that priest or as a loan repayment benefit.

4. in the case of a Diocesan priest who uses a motor vehicle that is owned by the diocesan car pool, to the pool – a quarterly car capital payment of $1,700.

After all these payments have been allocated the diocesan minimum living allowance is paid from the Presbytery Account to the priest(s) of the parish, as either cash or exempt benefits in accordance with clause 7(e).

In general, payments to priests from the Presbytery Account should be made quarterly - and to assistants no later than 14 days after the end of the quarter. Where a claim is made by the Parish on the PRF for subsidised remuneration, the amount should be paid to or set aside for the parish priest or assistant priest as soon as possible after it is received in the Church Account.

Benefits are to be accessed in accordance with the Exempt benefits Protocol for active priests and the Protocol for retired priests entering into supply arrangement (first published in the Archbishop’s Advice to Parish Priests on Implementation of PAYG Withholding, date 15 May, 2002) and as amended from time to time.

The diocesan minimum living allowance for all priests is $20,000.00 per annum ($5,000.00 per quarter)

The diocesan minimum motor vehicle capital payment is $6,800.00 per annum ($1,700.00 per quarter).

The diocesan maximum reimbursement of motor vehicle running costs is $4,500.00 per annum.

The allocation of priestly moneys between parish priests and assistant priests must be made on the following basis:

1. the parish priest and the assistant(s) receive the minimum quarterly allowances;

2. any remaining moneys in the Presbytery Account will then be allocated equally and promptly.

3. if there is insufficient money remaining in the Presbytery Account to remunerate the priest(s) a claim for remuneration is made on behalf of the parish to the PRF.

4. all claims for remuneration are made at the discretion of the committee of the PRF according to these guidelines

Regular supply fees to augment the services provided by the parish priest shall be from the Presbytery Account.

Payment for the supply priest during a priest’s four weeks annual holidays, shall be from the Church Account.

Payment for the supply priest during approved sick leave, shall be from the Church Account.

In general priests on “special duties” are remunerated by the office to which they are appointed.  A portion of their remuneration may come from the parish if their letter of appointment specifies parish duties other than those in guideline 10 (b).

Priests on special duties living in presbyteries perform a weekend supply in return for their board and lodging.  When these priests are on their annual holidays, their supply shall be paid from the Church Account.

In the case of all transfers of parish priests or assistant priest, the Presbytery Account books must be closed after the weekend preceding the taking up of the new appointment.  The payment to the transferred priest of the appropriate amount of remuneration to that date, calculated on a weekly rate must be made immediately and before the priest takes up the new appointment

It is the policy of the Priests’ Remuneration Fund to adjust payments from the Fund in accordance with the full or part pension that a Priest might receive, or be entitled to receive. 

Priests who are eligible to apply for a pension are expected to apply for this benefit for the common good. 

Remuneration benefits payable under these guidelines will be adjusted accordingly.