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Mass Times at St. Mary's
As disciples of Jesus, we live out of a humble awareness that all we have, and all we are, has been given to us freely from God. As responsible caretakers (stewards) of these many God-given gifts, we are called to give towards the needs around us. It's through our stewardship of time, talent and treasure that we offer our lives back to God in love and gratitude.
WAYS to DONATE/GIVE at ST. MARY’S
WAYS to DONATE/GIVE at ST. MARY’S
A. STANDARD WAYS:
1) Write a cheque, which can be mailed to:
St. Mary’s Parish
10 River Heights Dr.
Cochrane, AB T4C 0N8
. . . or the cheque may be placed in an envelope and dropped in the Collection Basket at a weekend Mass. NOTE: if you had obtained DONATION ENVELOPES from the Parish Office, please indicate your Envelope # so that your contributions are included in tax receipts come Tax Time.
2) The Collection Basket is passed during each weekend Mass. Cash or cheques are most gratefully accepted.
B. DIGITAL/ELECTRONIC WAYS:
1) Donation by DIRECT DEBIT or CREDIT CARD Your gift/donation toward weekly Sunday offerings, the Building Fund, etc. can be handled by Direct Debit, MasterCard or Visa, simply, with your pre-authorization.
For the printable PRE-AUTHORIZATION FORM, go HERE fill it out, and drop it in the collection basket at Mass OR scan it and email to the Parish Office HERE.
2) Periodic donations (weekly/monthly/bi-monthly, etc.) can also be made via Direct Debit or Credit Card payment by simply completing the appropriate FORM found HERE. The form can be printed, completed, then scanned or photographed, and e-mailed or mailed, or dropped off to the Church. NOTE: You can also contact Charlene Jennings (accounting) directly by phone (403) 932-2944 to make arrangements directly.
3) Donations can be e-Transferred directly to St. Mary’s bank account using accounting@stmaryscochrane.ca as the target e-mail. Please refer to your envelope # (if you have registered for Parish Donation Envelopes) in the message section of the transaction.
4) MULTIPLY THE HOPE— Online Giving via the CALGARY DIOCESE Website is available at www.catholicyyc.ca/donatetoparish where donations directed to "Cochrane, St. Mary's" and applied to the MULTIPLY THE HOPE (MTH) CAMPAIGN will allow the Diocese to MATCH YOUR DONATION (essentially, double it). Click HERE to learn more about the MTH campaign.
More information about this exciting
campaign follows BELOW.
**Need Help/Advice/Suggestions? Contact Charlene Jennings (accounting) for assistance with your parish donations — directly by phone (403) 932-2944, ext. 228, or email at: accounting@stmaryscochrane.ca.
* St. Mary’s is a registered charity and donations are eligible for a tax-receipt.
Phase One of St. Mary's Church was completed in 2007. The mortgage was $5 million back then. We've worked hard to whittle down that principal and its interest payments. But we're not there, quite yet.
NOTE: MORE INFORMATION from the committee at St. Mary’s over-seeing the Multiply the Hope (MTH) Campaign (with information specific to our parish) will be available for parishioners in the next month or so. However, if you wish to learn for yourself more about the MTH campaign, click HERE for the Diocese’s overview of the project.
The Needs of Our Parish* and why we seek your donations . . .
The Needs of Our Parish* and why we seek your donations . . .
ST. MARY’S PARISH has significant financial obligations— first, a large mortgage balance (plus interest), which we have named the BUILDING FUND,* and second, ongoing expenses (heat, light, insurance, property taxes, yearly Diocesan assessments, administrative salaries, and so on).
In addition, our parish is not finished building.
We are lacking a proper Sanctuary, which is the goal of Phase TWO. As responsible Stewards of Treasure, we are asked to donate as we can to meet ongoing and future needs.
BUT, the Calgary Diocese has offered some help!
RECENT EXCITING INFORMATION:
Since January 1, 2025, and continuing until December 31, 2027, the Diocese of Calgary is enacting a special first-of-its-kind project called the Multiply the Hope (MTH) Campaign — where every dollar contributed to a parish’s BUILDING FUND is matched by the Diocese, up to each parish’s designated goal.** It means each donation becomes DOUBLE in size — and therefore, in impact!
TWO MORE Ways of Donating/Giving at St. Mary's—
THE FUNDRAISERS
Go HERE for more details about this very successful fundraising program!
a) Grocery Cards Fundraiser — an ongoing Parish program
As the WISE OWL says, "Whooooooo's Got Their Grocery Cards?"
We purchase our grocery gift cards in bulk at a discounted price. You buy them from us for $100 and get to spend $100 at the grocery store of your choice. The profit for St. Mary's varies depending on the store —for instance, 6% at Safeway and Save-on-Foods 8%. The program has been an excellent fundraiser and is used to help pay down St. Mary’s mortgage.
And did You Know? In 2025 (one year alone), an amazing profit of $14,829.00 was raised through the sale of grocery cards!
b) Parish Suppers — generally, once a year event
b) Parish Suppers — generally, once a year event
Ever since 2008, the Fun-Food-and-Fellowship (F-F-F) Committee has put on festive Gourmet Dinners (along with Silent Auctions) at least once a year to help the parish supplement the Building Fund. The Supper Fundraisers also include theme-related entertainment and sometimes the menu has featured ethnic celebrations like Italian, Greek, Ukrainian, and Filipino foods.
Thanks to the hard work and commitment of the F-F-F Committee and the generosity of our Parish community, a fantastic grand total of $445,000.00 has been raised over the past 15+ years!
The organizing committee always needs help. You can volunteer your time and talents with the Fun-Food-and-Fellowship Committee by checking out the SERVE page, HERE.
To find out more about the PARISH SUPPER FUNDRAISERS, click HERE.
Reflections on Stewardship:
“He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed Him.” Matthew 4:22
Just as Jesus called the first apostles, He calls each of us to follow Him, too. Not everyone is called to leave their business or family behind, but we are expected to put God first in everything — everything from our TIME in daily prayer, to our TALENT in participating in our parish community, and our TREASURE to support the financial needs of our parish mission.
The Diocese of Calgary has committments, too . . .
Together in Action
This Annual Bishop's Appeal (TIA) supports dozens of ministries and organizations throughout southern Alberta and Canada. You can learn more about the Diocesan TIA campaign HERE.
Each year St. Mary's Cochrane is assessed a portion of this endeavour. This year, 2026, our assessment is $26,170. The parish has launched its annual LENTEN CAMPAIGN for TIA with the goal of reaching our assessed amount by EASTER.
And the best news? Once we reach our goal, hopefully by Easter, any surplus will be used to pay down our mortgage.
Mission Mexico
Now officially adopted by the Diocese of Calgary, Mission Mexico originated right here at St. Mary's back in 2000 with former pastor, Fr. Fred Monk!
From working with the poorest of the poor in the villages of Tlapa in southern Mexico, building homes, and encouraging agricultural and small-businesses, and more, today the project is a Diocesan-wide initiative. December 12th, Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe, has been designated as "MISSION MEXICO DAY" when all Catholics in the diocese are invited to contribute toward this very worthwhile endeavour.
For more about the MISSION MEXICO OUTREACH, click HERE.
Besides your contributions of TREASURE, learn how you can offer your TIME and TALENTS at St. Mary's by checking out the list of opportunities in ministries on the "SERVE" page.
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