Why do we tithe?

Tithing is "God's Plan." Mentioned over forty times in Scripture, it's giving the first tenth of one's earnings to God. It's giving to God, not to the priests or the Church. In the book of Malachi (3:10) God says, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house and try me in this, says the Lord of Hosts.  Shall I not open for you the floodgates of Heaven and pour down blessings upon you without measure?"

Tithing is budgeting God first. It's not caring what anyone else gives; it's knowing that what you give is between you and God. For senior citizens on limited incomes or parents with heavy parochial tuition bills, the percentage may differ, but we hope that the commitment will be made, and that it will be a realistic and conscientious one.

The ideal tithe . . . of giving 5% to God's Church and 5% to His other needs may be best explained by an example. If your income from all sources—before taxes—is $300 per week, the 5% Sunday mass offering would be $15. The other 5% might be divided by you among school tuition, a Diocesan collection, or any other charity you choose to support.

What are the effects of Tithing?

Many of our parishioners are already tithing, and perhaps others are very close to it. Adopting tithing as a parish way of life will enable our faith community to meet its financial obligations.

More important than this material consideration, however, are the spiritual blessings that will come to those who tithe, and to our parish because of those who tithe.

Tithing produces a spiritual transformation in the person tithing, since he or she is acknowledging that everything he has comes from God. It's putting God first in our lives. It is, in effect, saying "Thank you, God, for all the blessings you've given me."

The goal of tithing is

To secure not the tithe, but the tither,

To secure not the gift, but the giver,

To secure not the donation, but you---for God!

Do you have to fill out a pledge card?

No!  That’s the beauty of it!  It is not a pledge drive, not a program; it is a spirituality, a way of life!  It is between you and God!  It's your choice, your option.  You will not be asked to sign anything.  No one will call on you.  There are no meetings or pledges.  Just commit your self to this way of life, and see what happens when we make God “Number One” ion our lives!  (If He is not Number One, something else is.)  Remember, God said, "Try me in this."  You will find that God will not be outdone in generosity!