A generous Portlaoise parishioner left €132,000 to Portlaoise Parish in 2016 in his will, the published parish accounts for 2016 show.
A summary of the parish accounts was published in the Portlaoise Parish Link Up over the weekend.
“Our sincere gratitude and appreciation to John Campion for kindly remembering the parish in his will, leaving €132,000 to Portlaoise Parish in 2016,” Monsignor John Byrne noted in the summary.
The parish had an income of €610,027 and expenditure of €324, 708 leaving a healthy surplus of €285,319.
“The healthy state of our parish finances is down to the generosity of so many. Thank you for your continued support,” Msgr Byrne said.
Huge
“We have a huge operation here in Portlaoise Parish,” Fr Paddy Byrne said.
He added that their aim is to make the parish the most successful one in the country.
“That is not about healthy bank balances. The is about the participation of 10,000 parishioners at parish ceremonies over the weekend,” he said.
He added that the finances do not stay in anyone’s back pocket and are instead put to good use within the community.
“Monsignor John Byrne led a very vociferous campaign to purchase land at Aughnaharna,” he said, at a cost of €1.5m when the government wasn’t providing land for schools during the downturn.
The junior and senior schools of the Holy Family schools now stand proudly there, catering for 1,400 pupils.
Funding of €130,000 was provided for an all-weather pitch there, also.
Examined
The Parish and Parish Centre Accounts for 2016 have been submitted to and examined by the Diocesan Accountant.
They will in turn form part of the Diocesan consolidated accounts which must be submitted to the Charity Regulator under new regulations governing the charity sector.
The parish now boasts a surplus of €285,319.00 on income and expenditure for 2016.
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