A signature, thousands of gestures of love May 5, 2024:
National 8×1000 Day for the Catholic Church
Hundreds of support and solidarity projects also exist in the Diocese of Trapani
together with initiatives of historical and cultural value and protection of the artistic and monumental heritage
National 8×1000 Day returns to the Catholic Church on Sunday 5 May. In fact, in the approximately 25,500 parishes of the country, the faithful will be reminded that the economic support of the Church is entrusted to them and that the signature for the destination of 8×1000 of the Irpef revenue is one of the essential tools. This year too, the Italian Episcopal Conference is proposing the slogan launched last year: “A signature that does good”. An affirmation based on a series of small or large gestures of altruism, which not only make those who receive them feel good, but even those who carry them out.
In the year 2023 alone, over 243 million euros were allocated for charitable interventions (of which 150 destined for the dioceses for charity, 13 for needs of national importance of which approximately half destined for Caritas Italiana and 80 for interventions in favor of the countries poorer). Alongside these items there is 403 million euros for the support of over 32 thousand priests who spend themselves on behalf of the communities and who are often the prime movers in the works to support the most vulnerable. And over 352 million euros for worship and pastoral needs, an item which also includes the protection of cultural and ecclesiastical assets also with restoration interventions to continue to pass down art and faith to future generations as well as supporting the local economic and tourist industry. The signature costs the taxpayer nothing and is a right of all those who receive an income: those who present the 730, those who present the Income form, but also those who only have pension, employment or similar income and are not obliged to present no statement. Even the latter, in fact, can express their preference for the destination of the 8xthousand.
In the Diocese of Trapani, thanks to the eight x thousand, various concrete solidarity activities are carried out. The sums allocated by the Italians, thanks to the perseverance of the priests and many volunteers, have also become support for people in our territory children and young people at risk of deviancein the Cag centers, to young orphans Ukrainians welcomed at the Incoronata Institute, meals and the warmth of a community at the Alcamo reception centre and in Trapani near the Arch of Hopeactivities and entertainment at the day center for disabled people Domenico Amoroso in Trapani, support for the microcredit and for access to practices for over-indebtedness and again: medicines, plane tickets and specialist visits for those in difficulty – an ever-increasing number of people, including minors – and in need of adequate health services. Parishes also receive aid, such as an extraordinary aid for the Easter holidays to meet the food needs of many families or some associations for extraordinary social projects. A special chapter of the Diocese’s eight per thousand funds is also dedicated to prison pastoral care for detained people, those often most forgotten, and from this year also to boys and girls with eating disorders with the project “The house of love”.
It is also thanks to the 8×1000 funds that the Diocese opened and supports cultural and artistic activities for the territory such as the diocesan library “Giovanni Biagio Amico” and its section for children “Il piccolo prince”; the diocesan historical archive with its valuable cataloging work and services to the public; the diocesan museum of contemporary art “San Rocco” and all training and cultural activities in different educational sectors.
For the care and maintenance of artistic and ecclesiastical assets, the works at the bell tower of the Cathedral Church “San Lorenzo” in Trapani; at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes always in Trapani; at the Mother Church of Castellammare del Golfowhile new construction sites are starting for the parish church of the Erice hamlet of Naples and for the Church of the Holy Souls of Purgatory in Trapani where the sacred groups of the “Mysteries” are preserved.
The 8xmille report is published every year in the download area of the diocesan website www.diocesi.trapani.it
Soon, as every year, it will be published on the siteswww.8xmille.it And https://rendiconto8xmille.
“A community grows and is alive when it can count on everyone’s contribution – observes Monsignor Ivan Maffeis, President of the Committee for the promotion of economic support to the Catholic Church –: co-responsibility also passes through the signature on the tax return, which expresses belonging, effective fraternity and sharing”. “Thanks to the 8×1000 funds that citizens allocate to the Catholic Church – he adds – the territories of the dioceses and parishes in Italy can treasure resources that benefit everyone, without distinction. The interventions range from the welcome and solidarity initiatives of Caritas to the educational, sporting and training structures of our Oratories; from the restoration and enhancement of our churches to the support of the mission of the priests”.
Signing is therefore a responsible choice for every believer, but it is often also the case for non-believers, because they know that those resources are used for the good of the entire community, Catholic and non-Catholic, and then accounted for. In 2022 alone (according to the latest available data), over 11 and a half million citizens did so. There could be many more, to the extent that Christian communities actively do their part to ensure that everyone exercises this right of choice responsibly.
