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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.
HOW to DONATE to ST. MARY'S PARISH in COCHRANE
In-Person Giving
The Collection Basket is passed during weekend Masses (cash or cheque accepted with gratitude).
Donations are also gratefully accepted at our Parish Office during regular office hours (see schedule at bottom of this page).
Periodic donations can be made in four ways:
Give by cheque - mailed in to: St. Mary’s Parish, 10 River Heights Dr., Cochrane, T4C 0N8 or dropped off at the Parish Office during office hours (or you could drop your cheque in the collection basket at Mass).
Use the appropriate printed form HERE (for Direct Debit or Credit Card payments).Completed forms can be scanned and e-mailed, mailed via regular post, or dropped off at the Church.
Initiate an e-transfer using accounting@stmaryscochrane.ca as the target email. Please refer to your envelope number (if you have one) in the message section of the transaction.
Use the online giving form available via the Calgary Diocese website HERE. Name your parish as "St. Mary's Cochrane" and designate your gift toward "Multiply the Hope" to have the Diocese double your donation.
* St. Mary’s is a registered charity and donations are eligible for a tax-receipt.
The Needs of Our Parish*
The Building Fund
Our current Parish Centre was completed in 2007. We continue to work towards becoming a debt-free community with a view of completing Phase Two of our parish complex — the Sanctuary of the church. We invite you to join us in this goal. The $5 million mortgage, signed back in 2007, came down to $2.37 million at the end of 2022. So we are more than halfway to the finish line!
Weekly/Monthly Expenses
At the same time, we have ongoing bills to pay: mortgage and interest payments, program/ministries expenses, our Diocesan Assessment, insurance, heat, light and other essentials. The challenge is to address all of these needs.
Notes on Parish Giving:
We THANK YOU in advance for any way that you can contribute.
Need Help/Advice/Suggestions? You can contact Charlene Jennings (accounting) for
assistance with your parish donations — directly by phone (403) 932-2944, ext. 228, or
email at: accounting@stmaryscochrane.ca.
Go HERE for more details about this very successful fundraising program!
Grocery Cards Fundraiser
— an ongoing Parish program
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 from 5% to 9% depending on the store. The program has been an excellent fundraiser and is used to help make St. Mary’s mortgage payments.
Did You Know? In the year 2024, a profit of $12,716.00 was raised through
the sale of grocery cards!
The organizing committee always needs help. You can volunteer your time and talents with the Fun-Food-and-Fellowship Committee on the SERVE page, HERE.
Parish Supper Fundraisers
Parish Supper Fundraisers
Ever since 2008 the Fun-Food-and-Fellowship (F-F-F) Committee has put on festive suppers (along with Silent Auctions) at least once a year to help the parish supplement the Building Fund. The list of events includes: Oktoberfests, Harvest Moon Galas, Royal Gala, Western Round Up, the 125th Anniversary Gala, and numerous ethnic celebrations such as: Italian, Greek, Ukrainian, and Filipino Suppers.
Thanks to the hard work and commitment of the FFF Committee and the generosity of our Parish community, an amazing grand total of $445,000.00 has been raised over the past 13+ years!
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.
Diocese of Calgary Initiatives
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. Thank you for your generous support!
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!
It started as an outreach Jubilee project to assist the girls in a remote village of the mountains of southern Mexico, known as La Montaña. The girls needed a new dormitory in an orphanage, operated by the Sisters of Immaculate Mary in Tlapa, Guerrero. "If every parishioner would give one loonie per week," stated Fr. Fred, "St. Mary's could raise the required $100,000."
Since that time, Mission Mexico, working with the poorest of the poor in the villages of Tlapa in southern Mexico, "has funded micro-economic projects, thereby encouraging agricultural and small-business initiatives, adult literacy programs, health projects, construction of a high school with student accommodations, and student bursaries for young people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue a higher education. As well, Mission Mexico has helped with post-hurricane disaster relief and other unexpected emergency situations" (from Mission Mexico website).
Bishop McGrattan has re-affirmed that DECEMBER 12th (the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) be designated as "MISSION MEXICO DAY" in the Calgary Diocese. That's the day when Catholics from all parishes are invited to donate through their parish’s second collection on the Sunday closest to Dec. 12th.
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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