Financing Opportunity

[Brother Adam]

I have a financing opportunity for those going into religious life, but who must pay their debt first.

I am in the process of completely redoing my 11 year old website, Catecheticsonline.com for relaunch. We have a lot of support behind the new project, and we already get a lot of traffic.

As a service to the Church I would like to put donation buttons on the side bar for up to 6 people who want to enter religious life. This is a "beta" thing so we will see if it works. I will basically collect money for you on my website and then send it directly to pay off your loans or debt. I will keep 3.5% of the amount donated because that is what it costs to accept donations + 1% up to and no more than $5 to help pay for website hosting. The rest goes to pay your debt and it costs you nothing to be listed.

Guidelines to being listed:

1) You must have discerned a vocation to religious life (not priesthood) and can be either a man or woman.
2) You must let me put your first name and order on the website next to your donation button.
3) You are optionally asked to submit a vocation story for the blog and pray for our work.
4) Phatmass members must help me verify that you are 'for real'.
5) You must have a debt that is not otherwise about to be paid of by another method keeping you from otherwise entering your order.
6) And of course you have to give me your actual information privately if I get donations so I know where to send it.

That's it.

[Brother Adam]

Just let me know in this thread. If I find out there are at least 6 people who want to be a part of this, I will PM you and get your details.

[Laudem Gloriae]

I too would like to be one of the 6. Let me know what I need to do. God bless.

[Strictlyinkblot]

I would also like to be considered as one of the six. Thank you

[MargaretTeresa]

I would to, once I get a solid answer. So I'll be contacting you again about this next summer (hopefully). In the meantime, I am praying for all of you.

[missionseeker]

Brother Adam, this is pretty cool. I'm not putting my name up for consideration, but maybe one day I will e able to donate.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' timestamp='1313886922' post='2292223']
I too would like to be one of the 6. Let me know what I need to do. God bless.
[/quote]

This is off topic, but how are you LG? We haven't heard from you in a while! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Brother Adam]

Phatmassers, can you vouch for the three people in this thread? This is also three less than we need to start the campaign. When we relaunch our website I will be sending an email to all 1,600 of my forum members plus hundreds of catechists. Promoting paying off the debts of the 6 people we will have on the site will be a big part of the relaunch.

[EJames2]

[b] [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showuser=18"]Brother Adam[/url] ,is this ever a wonderful idea!!! how excellent...(i have an amazing benefactor), but i praise God for you and your works...[/b]

PAX

[Strictlyinkblot]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1313942269' post='2292583']
Phatmassers, can you vouch for the three people in this thread? This is also three less than we need to start the campaign. When we relaunch our website I will be sending an email to all 1,600 of my forum members plus hundreds of catechists. Promoting paying off the debts of the 6 people we will have on the site will be a big part of the relaunch.
[/quote]

Hi, I'm not on here long but if you want I can provide references.

[Brother Adam]

Okay, as they say, let's 'get r done'.

Strictly, LG, and HB, let me know what you think:

Do you think you could each help me create a profile page for you for the website?

What I envision is a picture of each of you, OR if you prefer a level of privacy online, and that is very reasonable, a picture of your order. I would like you to write 3-5 paragraphs. 2-3 paragraphs with your abbreviated discernment story, 1 paragraph about the order you are going to enter, and any other information you want to include, including your current debt (you can round it off).

Then I am wondering if it would be possible to actually link directly to your lenders. I know with my school debt I can actually just give someone my account numbers and they can make payments. It's not like they can draw money from it or anything . That would eliminate the 3.5% that would go to a third party processor. And finally, yes, if members of PM aren't able to vouch for you because you are new, just privately send me a reference, a vocations director, pastor or family member would be perfectly fine. I want to give donors a sense of confidence.

[Strictlyinkblot]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1313944554' post='2292603']
Okay, as they say, let's 'get r done'.

Strictly, LG, and HB, let me know what you think:

Do you think you could each help me create a profile page for you for the website?

What I envision is a picture of each of you, OR if you prefer a level of privacy online, and that is very reasonable, a picture of your order. I would like you to write 3-5 paragraphs. 2-3 paragraphs with your abbreviated discernment story, 1 paragraph about the order you are going to enter, and any other information you want to include, including your current debt (you can round it off).

Then I am wondering if it would be possible to actually link directly to your lenders. I know with my school debt I can actually just give someone my account numbers and they can make payments. It's not like they can draw money from it or anything . That would eliminate the 3.5% that would go to a third party processor. And finally, yes, if members of PM aren't able to vouch for you because you are new, just privately send me a reference, a vocations director, pastor or family member would be perfectly fine. I want to give donors a sense of confidence.
[/quote]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1313944554' post='2292603']
Okay, as they say, let's 'get r done'.

Strictly, LG, and HB, let me know what you think:

Do you think you could each help me create a profile page for you for the website?

What I envision is a picture of each of you, OR if you prefer a level of privacy online, and that is very reasonable, a picture of your order. I would like you to write 3-5 paragraphs. 2-3 paragraphs with your abbreviated discernment story, 1 paragraph about the order you are going to enter, and any other information you want to include, including your current debt (you can round it off).

Then I am wondering if it would be possible to actually link directly to your lenders. I know with my school debt I can actually just give someone my account numbers and they can make payments. It's not like they can draw money from it or anything . That would eliminate the 3.5% that would go to a third party processor. And finally, yes, if members of PM aren't able to vouch for you because you are new, just privately send me a reference, a vocations director, pastor or family member would be perfectly fine. I want to give donors a sense of confidence.
[/quote]


As its an Irish bank, I don't know if its possible. I can certainly give you the account numbers but as its international I don't know how well it'll work. I'll be home the end of September and I'll ask them then.

How soon do you want the paragraphs?

[abrideofChrist]

Brother Adam,

You may wish to check in with IRS regulations for this... I remember another person who collected funds for a charity and had to pay income tax for the donations.

[Brother Adam]

Which is why it was my thought to eliminate me as an intermediary and we would only advertise it - the funds would go directly to the debt holders.

[TeresaBenedicta]

Adam, I'd be honored if I could be numbered among the aspiring religious on your site. My goal is to enter at the end of one year's time (next summer, sometime). My salary from working as DRE should get me mostly there, but I think I'll still be short about $5K. Right now I'm living with my religious community- been accepted, all of that jazz.

[Lisa]

I can for sure vouch for Hopeful and Teresa Benedicta. They have been an inspiration as they try to pay off their debt. StrictlyInkblot hasn't been on here long, but has shared about her discernment and debt I don't know LG, but I haven't been on here long, either.

[OnlySunshine]

Laudem Gloriae is an old member. I used to read her posts when I was registered under my old s/n. I can vouch for her. Last I heard, she was discerning with the Kirk Edge Carmel in the UK but wasn't able to enter because of her debt.

[OnlySunshine]

Here is Laudem Gloriae's old post about her discernment and acceptance to the Carmelites in Kirk Edge, Sheffield, UK.

http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=96789

[Brother Adam]

Hey everyone, I wanted to mention that we are still working towards making this happen, it just takes some time. We are narrowing things down and setting it into place exactly how it will work.

Here is how things are shaping up:

1) If you want to be one of the 6 send an email to me at adam4jmj at gmail dot com.
2) Include all of the following:

-- Your name (first and last) and your phatmass screenname.
-- The order you are going to enter and the contact information for that order (including someone who can verify you are approved to enter except for your debt). Neither of these first two will ever be made public unless you want them to.
-- A picture of you or your order
-- 3-5 paragraphs (2-3 paragraphs with your abbreviated discernment story, 1 paragraph about the order you are going to enter, and any other information you want to include)
-- Your current debt and what kind of debt it is (20,000 school loan, 3,000 medical bills, whatever) that you want help paying off.

Finally, how contributors can help you settle the debt. If possible the money will not pass through your hands or my hands. The money is to go from the person paying the debt, to the debt company to guarantee to the person helping you that the money has gone to the correct purpose. You will need to decide exactly how you want this done - whether you want your loan account posted in public, or if you have another way to allow someone to pay your debts.

Once verified I will add you to the website and you will be included as a major portion of our relaunch which will go to Catholics throughout the nation.

[Chiquitunga]

I can vouch for Laudem Gloriae! She's been a friend of mine for several years and is 100% "for real" and entering except for financial needs keeping her back. Hope this opportunity helps her and others! Wonderful idea, BrotherAdam!