WASHINGTON - For generations of Catholics, "E" has stood for envelope -- the Sunday offertory envelope.

In today's digital age, though, that "E" may be shifting to "e-giving," an electronic and automatic deduction from your bank account to help pay for the costs of running and maintaining the parish.

One company, Faith Direct, has said its client parishes are seeing revenue increases as high as 30 percent.

Our Sunday Visitor's Offertory Solutions subsidiary likewise estimates that parishioners who use its "Online Giving" option contribute up to 30 percent more than they would had they stuck with the envelope system.