"Piggy Bank" Church Continues To Raise Money For Vocations
Parishioner Therese Lim places money into the Vocations Church
at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.— story and picture by Tom Scura(Thunder Bay, January 18/10)
The Vocations Church — a large wooden “piggy bank” in the form of a church building — was at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday. Parishioners were invited to drop their loose change or bills into one of the slots of the piggy bank to support diocesan vocations to the priesthood and diaconate.
The local Knights of Columbus began the program over a year ago. Grand Knight Jim Dickson of Council #1447 got the idea while visiting relatives on Vancouver Island. “A vocations church toured parishes on the island and throughout the Yukon. They collected $107,000 in one year,” he said.
Jim later promoted the concept to other Knights of Columbus leaders in the Diocese of Thunder Bay and to Bishop Fred Colli. “The bishop was particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of raising awareness for vocations,” Jim said.
The Vocations Church began its tour of parishes in the diocese at the Cathedral on November 29, 2008. Since then, it was been to most towns in the diocese. Next week, it will be at St. Agnes Parish, Thunder Bay, and the week after, at Holy Family Parish, Thunder Bay.
So far, the Knights have raised about $4,000 for vocations through the program. They hope to present a first cheque to Bishop Colli in April and to continue the program indefinitely.
