Local Priest Exhorts Lay People to Practice Transparency in Handling Funds Intended for Church Projects – contributed by Malou Guanzon Apalisok
A local priest who is hugely popular on YouTube for his folksy and humorous homilies has called on lay volunteers to practice transparency in the handling of funds intended for church projects.
Fr. Crescenciano “Ciano” Ubod made this call before members and volunteers of the Shrine of Divine Mercy Foundation de Cebu, Inc. SDMCFI during a press conference held last September 23, 2022 at the Filipiniana Hall of the Archbishop’s Residence.
The foundation was earlier authorized by Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma to tend over the construction and development of the 6.9-hectare Divine Mercy shrine in Garing, Consolacion, a project of the Cebu Archdiocese to mark 500 Years of Christianity.
The foundation headed by Imma Alfon was also tasked to come up with fund raising strategies to support the development of the shrine which is estimated to cost more than P300 million.
SDMCFI was the lead organizer of the recently concluded Cebu Archdiocesan Apostolic Congress on Mercy CAACOM held last September 17 & 18 at the IC3. The 2-day event was meant to spread the Divine Mercy devotion and raise funds for the construction and development of the shrine.
During the press conference, CAACOM Executive Committee chairperson Jessica Otadoy submitted a financial report prepared by Yolanda Mina, a certified public accountant and foundation treasurer. The financial statement showed that the event generated P1,673,531.25. Expenses totaled P1,578,925.95. The cost of the Congress venue (P400,000.00) and audio visual equipment (P320,000.00) for two days got the biggest slice of the budget.
The remainder of the income as of September 30, 2022 stood at P94,605.30. According to Mina, 532 tickets have yet to be returned by lay coordinators. They have until October 15 to return them, otherwise they are considered sold. At P300 per ticket, the unsold 532 tickets are worth P159,600.00.
Meanwhile, some CAACOM participants gave generously to the shrine through donations totaling P302,751.25. Some gave contributions in kind like bottled water, food items and giveaways. According to Mrs. Mina, contributions in kind were worth P51,500.00.
Fr. Ubod who has been appointed by Archbishop Palma as chairman of the ways and means committee for the Divine Mercy Shrine project said he is pleased that the CAACOM executive committee practiced transparency by promptly submitting a financial report.
“It is good to practice transparency, especially if it is related to finances, especially for the Shrine of Divine Mercy Project which is a very big project.”
“The entire Archdiocese of Cebu should know the ins and outs of our funds, starting today, if it can be done,” Fr. Ubod stressed.
He added that once people perceive transparency in a church project, money will just come.
