Posted by JDP on February 10, 2001 at 16:37:51:
In Reply to: Collections posted by que on February 10, 2001 at 14:47:16:
That practice was amazing. There was one collection which was known as "Oats Money" another was "The Popes Collection" and one for the priests or maybe that was the Oats one.
The most dramatic reading of the Litany of The Donors came from Fr. Anthony Fair R.I.P. as he was the master of the pregnant pause. To a kid this reading was much more exciting than a sermon, though something told you it was unfair. Your mind wandered up and down the streets and roads as Fr. Fair uttered the name of the "head" of each household followed by 2/6, 5/0, 10/0, £1 with the occasional £5 from a merchant, doctor or bankmanager. He would proceed at reasonable pace, which signalled his approval of the donations and suddenly there was a pause after "Joe Bloggs....2/-" and the harsh silence unsettled the entire congregation. There would be another pause after "John Bloggs.....£2" and you were left wondering was this pause to emphasise his approval of the amount while simultaneously putting it up to others to match this next time or was he disapproving of J.Bs, meagre £2. God only knows but I`m sure He approved of all donations.