Cathholics and Tithing:
Tithing - giving a fixed percentage of one's income to the Church - is a
seldom practiced part of our religion. Many people, from
Dave Ramsey to
St. Michael all agree it is a good thing to do. The art of sacrifice, to go without some
physical pleasure for the betterment of something greater is a "good thing."
But the question remains,
should Catholics tithe?
The answer seems to be, we should, but we are under no obligation to. Rather
we should give from the heart. Even the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
2043 [...] The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs
of the Church, each according to his own abilities.
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What About Here at St. Mary?
The need for money to support our various
Church Ministries,
Religious Education Program,
Social Outreach Programs, and
to maintain our aging facilities (overseen by the
Building Committee),
seldom decreases. In fact, as our recent 2015 church survey indicated,
there is a desire among our parishoners for more and more events that
support the family,
increase the size and quality of our facilities, etc. None of these
things can occur without financial help from you, our parishoners.
Many people use our Offertory collection plate to make a donation. Some
register their address with the church and receive a weekly donation envelope
to both remind them, and to allow the staff an easy way to record their
donations for tax time.
Whatever mode of giving you choose, please make it a habit. Instill this
habit in all members of your family. Even kids can make a donation.
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