Church income for the Killaloe Diocese was up by over 125,000 euro last year, according to annual accounts made public by the Bishop.Though contributions to Parish Collections were actually down in 2011, a number of bequests along with donations from the priests throughout Clare and the rest of the diocese contributed to a gross income of over 1.1 million euro.
According to Bishop Kieran O'Reilly, annual expenditure for the Killaloe Diocese has been reduced by 157,000 euro in the last three years due to what he describes as stringent scrutiny of the utilisation of contributions from parishes and priests.
Gross income was 1 million 164,836 euro in 2011 - up by around 75,000 euro on the previous year.
Total expenditure was 944,502 euro - down by around 50,000 euro on 2010 leaving a surplus of 220,334 euro.
But contributions to the church collection basket are actually down by 4.3%, with 761,271 euro brought in at masses last year.
Extra funds came from bequests and donations to churches in the Killaloe diocese totaling over 151,000 and parish priests contributed from their own funds again last year to the tune of 131,000 euro.
Bishop O'Reilly has thanked parishioners, priests and benefactors for their continued financial support in these difficult economic times.