Diocesan Levies and the Parish

From Fr. Damien:

Each year, each parish contributes to two diocesan funds – the Central Diocesan Fund and the Education Fund. Until this year, the amount of these levies was based on the number of families within the parish. In order to make the system more equitable, from this year the levies are now calculated by the diocese as a proportion of the parish’s assessable income – 12% for the Central Diocesan Fund levy and 6% for the Education levy.

In the current year (2025), these diocesan levies for our parish amount to €15,426 for the Central Diocesan Fund, and €7,713 for the Education Fund.

For more on what the levies provide for, please see the link below Archbishop Eamon’s message below.

From Archbishop Eamon:

The Parish is a living community of believers. It is the place where most Catholics first hear the Gospel message, grow in faith, and are nourished by God’s grace in the sacraments. The Archdiocese of Armagh acknowledges with gratitude the work of all clergy, religious, and lay faithful who strive to make our parishes true centres of evangelisation and hope.

The Parish is also an integral part of the wider Armagh diocesan family. The 61 parishes of the Archdiocese increasingly work together and avail of essential support in the form of services and resources offered by diocesan agencies and offices. As the People of God, we are also called to invest in the future and, in particular, to encourage and sustain vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Ongoing formation of clergy and laity is another important aspect in the task of fulfilling the Church’s mission entrusted to her by Christ.

This booklet briefly explains how two diocesan funds—the Central Diocesan Fund and the Education Fund—serve to advance much of this vital work. It also sets out how parishes continue to generously contribute to this shared diocesan mission through a reformed levy system. I hope you find the details informative and helpful in understanding the indispensable bond that exists between the parishes and the Archdiocese.

The booklet is available here:

https://www.armagharchdiocese.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Diocesan-Levy-Booklet.pdf