Priests in the Philippines do not have a salary. That's why they don't pay taxes. Their daily expenses actually depend on the collection taken during the masses. A parish with a big collection can even be a temptation for a priest. A poor parish will surely make the priest live on canned goods. As for other sources of income, they depend on donations, or even the inheritance they get... if there is any.
Here in Japan, even priests have to pay taxes... yes, even the foreigners have to! For this reason, we receive our salary once a month. As we gather every last Tuesday of the month for our clergy meeting, we also receive an envelope stating how much was put into our bank accounts. Honestly speaking, what we receive is even lower than the starting pay of a usual employee. Well, it is because we live in a rectory already built within the church property... that saves us from any rent. Then, the parish supports the priest/s living in their parish rectory for their electricity, water and gas bills. The parish also shoulders the expenses for any renovations or appliances that need to be bought for the exclusive use of the rectory. Gas for our cars is also paid for by the parish. And so what was left of a usual salary should just be enough for our personal expenses, which include food and clothing. Transportation expenses, if they were meant for a mass request, are reimbursed by the parish that invited us. It must be noted though that the Catholic Church in Japan is not as rich as other nations think of Japan. Japan may be a rich country... no. 2 in the whole world... but the Catholic Church in Japan is not. It even struggles to gather money from the usual monthly "tithing" -- or even called "maintenance fee" -- from the parishioners. Weekly collection is as meager as a struggling boy carolling with a tin can during Christmas.
This leaves me to realize that priests in Japan, no matter how high-tech and rich the country is, are obviously living simpler lives than what I saw and still see in the Philippines. Priests in the Philippines are sometims spoiled by the faithful, thinking that if they do good to the priest, that would be one ticket to heaven. But here, nobody cares if you're a priest or not, unless you are introduced or seen in a liturgical function. Everybody is entitled to pay in the same way as everybody deserves good service. Simplicity of life as a priest here in Japan is such a beautiful thing! It rids me of other distractions and other worries. Only a meager budget for a simple lifestyle.
If I spend my earned yen in the Philippines, I may look rich... but not in Japan when a piece of discounted Mac_____'s hamburger would already cost almost PHP 50! Of course, I also have to save for my future, even if there is a pension fund that we are already paying for in the present. Truly, there is wisdom in managing money... and unfortunately, I have never received any training with that since my seminary days!
Well, better late than never!
Here in Japan, even priests have to pay taxes... yes, even the foreigners have to! For this reason, we receive our salary once a month. As we gather every last Tuesday of the month for our clergy meeting, we also receive an envelope stating how much was put into our bank accounts. Honestly speaking, what we receive is even lower than the starting pay of a usual employee. Well, it is because we live in a rectory already built within the church property... that saves us from any rent. Then, the parish supports the priest/s living in their parish rectory for their electricity, water and gas bills. The parish also shoulders the expenses for any renovations or appliances that need to be bought for the exclusive use of the rectory. Gas for our cars is also paid for by the parish. And so what was left of a usual salary should just be enough for our personal expenses, which include food and clothing. Transportation expenses, if they were meant for a mass request, are reimbursed by the parish that invited us. It must be noted though that the Catholic Church in Japan is not as rich as other nations think of Japan. Japan may be a rich country... no. 2 in the whole world... but the Catholic Church in Japan is not. It even struggles to gather money from the usual monthly "tithing" -- or even called "maintenance fee" -- from the parishioners. Weekly collection is as meager as a struggling boy carolling with a tin can during Christmas.
This leaves me to realize that priests in Japan, no matter how high-tech and rich the country is, are obviously living simpler lives than what I saw and still see in the Philippines. Priests in the Philippines are sometims spoiled by the faithful, thinking that if they do good to the priest, that would be one ticket to heaven. But here, nobody cares if you're a priest or not, unless you are introduced or seen in a liturgical function. Everybody is entitled to pay in the same way as everybody deserves good service. Simplicity of life as a priest here in Japan is such a beautiful thing! It rids me of other distractions and other worries. Only a meager budget for a simple lifestyle.
If I spend my earned yen in the Philippines, I may look rich... but not in Japan when a piece of discounted Mac_____'s hamburger would already cost almost PHP 50! Of course, I also have to save for my future, even if there is a pension fund that we are already paying for in the present. Truly, there is wisdom in managing money... and unfortunately, I have never received any training with that since my seminary days!
Well, better late than never!
6 comments:
Padre! How's everything there in Japan? I've been reading your blog entries since you've started this one. Yun nga lang paunti-unti pa lang. Still, it keeps me updated about our adviser in DBJ.
Just want to note na, burgers sa MangDo here in the Philippines is also expensive... Especially now, everything is skyrocketing!
Keep us posted! God Bless!
JINO,
Thanks for dropping by! I would really like to have this blog regularly updated at least once a week, but there are certain things to be done and when I would want to start updating, I do not feel the inspiration anymore. Anyway, for you and for others who expect from this, I will really try my best to be consistent and regular here. God bless!
hi Fr. Bob. first time to read your blog. been wanting to check but you know naman dito sa japan super busy lahat. palaging hinahabol ang oras...sana nga po you update it kahit hindi once a week, every other week kaya. i learned something and i will be able to share sa mga kakilala.
ang payat mo pala noon...just like my hubby Rico, super payat din, nowadays you know how he looks...hehehe.
keep it up and God bless you.
thanks Marty! this is one way to show the world what a Catholic priest experiences in a non-Catholic country -- with a seeming unconcern with religion -- like Japan. payat ba ako noon? hmmm... oo nga ano!
Hi Fr. Bob, How are you doing? I don't know if you still remember me. I'm one of the first batch of students from Don Bosco Technical College who visited Salesio. I would like to thank you for keeping us company while we were in Japan. Those memories are one of the things I would cherish.... Hope to hear from you!
Warm Regards,
Irene Yu
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