MISSION COOPERATIVE PLAN
THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
Diocese of Oakland
2121 Harrison Street, Suite 100, Oakland, CA 94612-3741
Telephone: 510-893-4711 •• FAX: 510-446-7429•• Email:
DIOCESAN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Mission Representative and Mission Speaker(s) participating in the Mission Appeals need to read and confirm they understand the following Policies and Procedures.
1. Application, Acceptance of Immigration Regulation form, signed Diocesan Policies and Procedures page, Letter of Request and if applicable, copy of page listing your Diocese in the Annuario Pontificio or Official Catholic Directory must be received no later than December 31, 2015.
2. Submission of your Application indicates that your Mission or Organization including all parties involved in assisting your group, understands and complies with all statutes and limitations of the U.S. Patriot Act enforcing accountability for all money sent here domestically and abroad.
3. Diocese, Mission or Organization need to have a U.S. Mission Representative authorized to act on the behalf of the Mission and be located in the United States. Mission Distribution Checks will ONLY be mailed to the U.S. Representative’s address in the United States. Dioceses out of the country will have their monies sent by Wire Transfer. Please request a Wire Transfer Form if needed.
4. The Mission Speaker should be fluent in English and preferably have public speaking experience. Fluency in Spanish and/or Vietnamese would be very beneficial and should be noted on the Application.
If second language is noted on your Application and Assigned Parish requests Spanish/Vietnamese Speaker Mission Organization must provide.
5. All Application Packets will be reviewed and Mission Participants will be selected in January 2016.
6. Selected Missions will be notified in February 2016 and will receive their Selection Letter along with their Parish Assignment Form. Mission Group and Parishes must accept their designated mission assignments. The Selection Letter will be mailed to the Mission Representative who needs to return the 1) Assignment Confirmation form, 2) Mandatory Statement of Suitability form or Letter of Good Standing for each Mission Speaker, 3) Check Distribution Form or request a Wire Transfer Form and 4) Proof of Citizenship documents for your Mission Speaker(s). If an Immigrant, a copy of USCIS Form I-551 Green Card or if a Non-Immigrant, a legible copy of Passport AND Visa need to be faxed, scan/emailed or mailed to the Propagation of the Faith Office.
7. An Acceptance Letter confirming your participation in the 2016 MCP must be received by March 31, 2016. If not received, another Mission group will be selected from our Wait List.
8. Mission Speaker or Mission Representative is responsible for contacting both Parish Priests/Administrators as soon as Selection Letter is received. Mission Appeals are to be done at all Saturday and Sunday Masses and held only during the months of June through September with the exception of these two weekends. We are trying to avoid having two collections on the same day.
- Diocesan Priest Retirement Benefit Trust Collection - Weekend of September 3 & 4, 2016
- USCCB’S Holy Father/Peter’s Pence Collection – Weekend of June 25 & 26, 2016
9. It is recommended that lodging be requested at the time the Mission Appeal dates are being scheduled. This gives the Pastor/Administrator more time to accommodate the speaker at the Rectory. Please understand that the parish priest and staff are not responsible for providing transportation or lodging to the Mission Speaker(s) but will try to accommodate them. All Mission Speakers should be able to drive and rent a car in case transportation cannot be arranged or is not available by the parish.
DIOCESAN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES – Page 2
10. To help promote the effectiveness of the upcoming mission appeals, we ask that you send a short biographical announcement for the church bulletin notices along with a recent and clear photograph of the Mission Speaker(s). Also requested are suitable pictures or printed material describing the mission work. These materials are needed at least one (1) month prior to the scheduled Appeal Dates and should be sent to the above address and will be forward to the assigned parishes. Advance publicity has proven to be very helpful in the success of the mission appeals.
11. It is critical that all Mission Speakers contact both of their assigned Parish Pastors at least one month prior to your scheduled appeal dates. Your flight information and local contact information should be provided to the parish so they know when to expect you and can accommodate your arrival. Speakers are asked to please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the Mass on Saturday and Sunday.
12. MCP Collection Envelopes (yellow) are ordered and supplied by the Diocese of Oakland’s Propagation of the Faith Office. All envelopes will be mailed to the Parishes in May, 2016 prior to the start of the Mission Appeals (June 1st through September 30th).
Mission Speakers are not allowed to distribute their own envelopes or other materials which solicit additional contributions after the appeal. Please do not solicit subscriptions to mission magazines, newsletters, or request the names and addresses of donors. Again, NO selling of any merchandise is allowed during the missionary visit to any of the parishes.
13. The Mission Speaker must observe the liturgical norms for the integrity of the Sunday Eucharistic celebration, with special regard for the homily. Please use Sunday readings and integrate the scripture of the day into your homily. Homilies that ignore the scriptural and liturgical themes are unacceptable. Past evaluations given to us by Pastors/Administrators indicate they would like the homily to reflect the readings.
14. No collection information is to be given to the Mission Speaker. The Parish is to forward all yellow MCP Collection Envelopes, deposit all cash placed in the baskets and send a Parish Check (Payable to the Propagation of the Faith – Memo Mission Coop) for the monies deposited. The Envelopes, Parish Check and mandatory Mission Appeal Verification Form are to be mailed to the Diocese of Oakland’s Propagation of the Faith Office who will deliver everything to the Accounting Dept. for processing. Thank you letters will be prepared and mailed to all Donors regardless of the amount.
At the recommendation of the Presbyteral Council, the Bishop has decided all funds collected, less administrative costs are pooled and disbursed to all participating missions in equal shares. Checks and/or Wire Transfers will be done in mid-November. Non-compliance with these Policies and Procedures will result in immediate disqualification from the Mission Cooperative Plan.
For questions or concerns please contact Diana Cerin at the Propagation of the Faith Office, Diocese of Oakland, 2121 Harrison Street, Suite 100, Oakland, CA 94612-3741, by Telephone (510) 893-4711, Fax (510) 446-7429 or by Email at .
I have read and agree to follow the Diocese of Oakland’s Policies and Procedures and understand that a violation will result in our Mission Group not being considered for future Mission Appeals.
Print Name of Mission Speaker:____________________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________ Date:___________________________
Revised 08/01/15