St. Francis de Sales Parish in Purcellville understands that the Catholic Church is universal. There is a constant presence of foreign priests serving at the parish. They often host visiting missionaries from places like Liberia, Ghana and India. Thanks to a special fund that collects 5 percent of parish income, the parishioners are connected to missions and churches around the world.

"We are one Church with stories from all over the world," said Father Patrick Posey, pastor. The parish has shown generosity to both international and local missions and charities.

The Preferential Option for the Poor (POP) Fund was started by Msgr. Thomas Cassidy in 2001. The idea is to "tithe" 5 percent of the parish money to help those in need.

The name for the fund came from the writings of Pope John Paul II. In many of the pope’s letters he spoke about giving "not just from surplus, but from our normal income," said Msgr. Cassidy. The pope also used the term "preferential option for the poor."

Msgr. Cassidy’s original goal was to create a fund of $100,000 where the interest could be used regularly and the principle saved for emergencies. The parish has given more than $120,000 in the first four years and averaged nearly $40,000 yearly.

"It’s a good program and no big inconvenience for anyone," Msgr. Cassidy said.

The parish accepts requests from parishioners for missions to fund. The donations normally range between $2,500-3,000. Parishioners bring requests for different missions to a small committee that makes the final decision. Madelyn Harp served on that committee for four years.

"It’s an interesting thing to do," she said. "You find out about missions and religious efforts around the world."

The committee meets four times a year and each time has anywhere from four to 12 requests.

"We try to give something to all of them, if possible," Harp said, adding that when needed, they would narrow down the selection.

According to Father Posey, one of the projects the POP Fund constantly supports is the diocesan mission in Bánica, Dominican Republic, since both Father Posey and Msgr. Cassidy served there.

Through the POP Fund, the parish has started a scholarship program for Bánica students. Currently, the fund sponsors nine students, several of which will graduate this spring.

The fund also sponsors missionary priests who want to study in the United States. While these priests go to class during the week, they are able to help Father Posey with the busy Mass schedule on the weekends.

With the constant presence of foreign priests, this parish understands the universality of the Church, said Father Posey. "They respond well when it’s time to give."

Other missions include the Sisters of Mercy in Panama, the Development Program of Maryknoll School for the Deaf in Cambodia, St. Joseph’s Orphanage in India, St. Clare Help of the Poor in Bosnia, the Benedictine Mission House in Tanzania, a center for handicapped children in Ghana and the mission of Sister Sponsa from Liberia. And this is just the list from the last two years. The parish has helped more than 40 missions with the money raised through the POP Fund.

The parish also invites representatives from the missions to speak to parishioners when possible.

"We want people to understand the reality of what we’re giving to," said Father Posey. St. Francis parishioners are now accustomed to welcoming visitors from around the globe.

Harp enjoys having the missionaries visit the parish. When Sister Sponsa visited from Liberia, Harp was excited to meet her after reading so much about her.

"I think we all enjoy hearing the missionaries talk," she said. "They have such good stories."

While the POP Fund reaches out to global missions, the parish uses the poor box collection and the People’s Need Account to aid local organizations, such as social services. The People’s Need Account is created from money raised at second collections held four times each year. Annually, this fund brings in up to $15,000. The poor box collects more than $7,000.

It is available when the need arises and is given to families who need help paying rent or other bills. On one occasion, a local man needed surgery but wasn’t able to afford it. St. Francis Parish stepped in to help him out.

The poor box funds also support the local Birthright and Lifeline, another pro-life organization. These organizations run their collection drives at the parish as well.

There is a free dental clinic that travels throughout Maryland and makes a regular stop in Brunswick, Md. — not far from the Purcellville parish border. The interdenominational clinic offers its services to people who have no insurance. St. Francis Parish provides meals for the dentists and hygienists as they work.

At the end of the year, parishioners are told how the money was spent.