After Mass, St. Mildred offering counters undertake the task of counting the monetary offerings collected during the Mass. This process involves ensuring accuracy in counting the donations received from the congregation. The steps involved include:
Collection: Gathering all the envelopes, cash, checks, and any other forms of donation collected during the Mass.
Counting: Physically counting the money received. This may involve multiple counters to ensure accuracy.
Recording: Keeping track of the amounts counted, often on a tally sheet or in a ledger.
Preparing Deposit: Preparing the funds for deposit into the parish bank account. This may involve bundling cash, endorsing checks, and filling out deposit slips.
Reporting: Providing a report of the donations collected to the appropriate church authorities, such as the parish priest, finance committee, or parish council.
Security: Ensuring the security of the funds throughout the process, including during counting, transport, and deposit.
Reconciliation: Reconciling the counted amounts with the records of collections made during the Mass to ensure accuracy and accountability.
Document Retention: Maintaining records of the offerings received, including tally sheets, deposit slips, and any other relevant documentation, for auditing and reporting purposes.
Overall, the role of offering counters is crucial in ensuring transparency, accountability, and proper stewardship of the financial resources entrusted to St. Mildred by the faithful.