Mckenna Stewardship Newsletter
January 207

# 43 - JANUARY 2007

(Please feel free to use these comments in your bulletins. . . )

 “As strange as it seems, money and
possessions,
which should be among the blessings of
life, have tied more people in knots than
we’ll ever know. This is largely because
those who live by
the pocketbook find it easy to act as if
God doesn’t exist. They try to solve
their problems by use of material
possessions and wind up tense,
anxious and bound by their lack of faith.
Giving a meaningful percentage of
income to Church helps a person to
develop a right perspective and
ultimately frees him or her from the
shackles of faithless fear. I thank those
of you who have developed a right
attitude of faith and are committed,
consistent givers to Christ’s Church.
I have and God did!”
A parishioner
Rev. Joseph Gurdak, OFM Cap.
St. Anne — St. Augustin, Manchester,
NH


“This is an interesting program — I
enjoyed the stories told by the four
speakers. I do hope and pray that it will
be successful in out parish.”
A parishioner
Rev. Msgr. James A. Treston
St. Ignatius Loyola, Reading, PA


“My parents always used the Holy
Family as their model. Their example
led me to believe and feel — this is
right, this is what Jesus, Mary and
Joseph did. Knowing that God’s direction is leading me in tithing is exciting to me.
Thank you, Father, the parish of The Sacred Heart of Jesus, and all the wonderful people who
came to explain this to us.
A parishioner
Rev. John B. Bateman
Sacred Heart, Lewistown, PA

“Tithing to see how God works in making


and to His Church so we may continue to receive
His graces.”
A parishioner
Rev. Richard J. McAndrews
Epiphany of Our Lord, Plymouth Meeting, PA


“As a new couple in the parish we found the
tithing packet most informative. We are thankful
for all the blessings from God and feel honored
to be giving Him something in return.”
A parishioner
Rev. Joseph J. Nicolo
St. Helena, Blue Bell, PA

“I think that tithing’s time has come and it is part
of the new springtime in the Church. We financi-
ally support two churches: St. Mary’s and All
Saints Episcopal in Bergenfield. We cannot give
10% to both, but we intend to increase our
financial support.
A parishioner
Very Rev. Robert G Laferrera, V.F.,
St. Mary, Dumont, NJ

“We are seniors on a limited income, but we
decided instead of going to breakfast after Mass,
we would go home, cook breakfast and use the
money to increase our donation to God. We will
continue this plan as long as we can financially.
Thank you for the opportunity to give back to
God.”
A parishioner
Rev. Brian E. Jeffries
St. Augustine, Seymour, CT

“In the 1950’s my Mother gave me a dime for the
church collection. When I became an adult I
progressed to a dollar. In both cases this was
more of a “Show Face” to the parishioners in my
pew. Now I am older and realize that God counts
the bucks and will judge me on my true ability to
contribute. I now use PC banking and send a
monthly check directly to the parish. Now I sit in
the pew with my arms folded and know God is
my bookkeeper and not my fellow parishioners.”
A parishioner
Rev. Brian E. Jeffries
St. Augustine, Seymour, CT



our ends meet is just another of many small
miracles we see performed each day. However,
we do not give in order to make ends meet. That is
merely the by-product. We love to give to God



“Each individual needs to return a tenth to God
as much as the church needs the tithing. Actually
the individual needs to do it more than the
church needs to receive it.

A parishioner
Rev. Fr. James W. Mayer
Our Lady of Lourdes, Philadelphia, PA


“In tithing, we humbly recognize our
creatureliness and our basic poverty before our
Maker. As St. Augustine said so neatly, “Out of
God’s gifts, then, we make gifts to God, and
from us He receives what He first gave us.”

A parishioner
Rev. J. Bruce Jarboe,
Holy Trinity, Glen Burnie, MD


“It’s simple to tithe: you just give back 10
percent of what you earn to the source of your
spiritual teachings. It’s done for the joy of
giving. When you lovingly donate, the
abundance starts to come to you in many ways.~~

A parishioner
Rev. Timothy Dowling
St. Clare, Clifton, NJ


“Count me in for 5%. Wish I could do more!
Good luck! All of Good Shepherd’s
congregation needs to help!”

A parishioner
Rev. Paul C. Helwig
Good Shepherd, Camp Hill, PA

PASTOR COMMENTS
(From their parish bulletins.)

“Thank you for your generosity at Christmas and
all year long through God’s Plan for Giving. By
tithing we respond to God’s infinite love and
place our lives in His tender care. God has
provided everything for us and we need to
express our gratitude and praise Him in thought,
word, and deed. May the Lord bless you
abundantly at Christmas and always.”

Rev. Msgr. John E. Hart
St. Cecilia, Rockaway, NJ

“In the Transfiguration, Jesus shows His
disciples the glory that awaits us (and Him) in
the resurrection. In tithing, we have a foretaste of
this transformation as we place God first in our
financial lives as well as in our spiritual lives.”

Rev. John B. Bateman
Sacred Heart, Lewistown, PA

“In the name of Jesus, who was once a newborn
King, I thank you for your gifts to Him during
this Christmas season.”

Rev. Nicholas Bozza
St. Michael, Netcong, NJ


“When everyone helps, it makes it a lot easier for
everyone else. Prayer, good work, and sharing go
hand in hand and make the kingdom of God
more present here.”

Rev. Msgr. Robert E. Lawrence, V.F.
Holy Name of Jesus, Harrisburg, PA

“A two-year old boy had been given his bath and
a snack to enjoy while watching TV with his dad
before going to bed. He climbed on the sofa and
showed his dad his snack, an absolutely perfect
pear, and said, ‘Daddy, would you like the first
bite of my pear?’ He not only showed great
generosity; he practiced the first rule of tithing —
offering the first ‘bite’ of our most precious fruit
to God for all that He has given us. Or do we
offer the second, third, or sometimes the core to
God?”

Rev. Philip G Burger
St. Joan of Arc, Hershey, PA

“John Donne tells us ‘no man is an island..
we’re all a piece of the continent. . .‘ This means
we cannot exist alone; we must be involved in
the wellbeing of and have concern for all people.
This means caring and sharing. Caring about
people.. . and sharing with people what God has
given. This is also known by another term called
‘tithing’.”
Rev. Msgr. James H. Murray
St. Mary’s, Denville, NJ

“Glittery holiday ads can blind us to our
stewardship values and distort our needs and



wants. It is important that during this season of
endless buying we remember that each of us also
has the need to give back to God.”

Rev. Msgr, Matthew D. Hendrick
St. Mark’s Wilmington, NC


“For gifts of hope, dear Lord, we give thanks.
Enable us to see — in the places we live and
Work and go to school — the desperate and obvious needs of the some, and the silent, hardly
noticeable needs of others. Then strengthen our
hearts to respond to what we see.

Rev. Fr. James W. Mayer, 0 de M.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Philadelphia, PA


“If you look for ME at Christmas, you won’t
need a special star — I’m no longer in
Bethlehem, I’m right where you are. You may
not be aware of ME amid the celebrations. You’ll
have to look beyond the stores and all the
decorations. But if you take a moment from your
list of things to do and listen to your heart, you’ll
find I’m waiting
there for you. You’re the one I want to be with.
You’re the reason that I came. And you’ll find
ME in the stillness as I’m whispering your name.
“Love, Jesus.”

Rev. Richard J. McAndrews
Epiphany of Our Lord, Plymouth Meeting, PA


“Beware,” Jesus warns in today’s Gospel, “that
your hearts do not become drowsy.” Drowsy
from what? From self-indulgence and anxieties.
Instead, according to St. Paul, the Lord wishes to
make our hearts fill up with self-sacrificing love.
Generosity in our hearts is a sure sign of God’s
presence. Thank you for your sacrifice of tithing
form the heart.”

“To those we love we give our best. Let us then
Give God our best, too. Thank you for your
generosity in Tithing.”

Rev. Joseph J. Nicolo
THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH SPEAKS
( Comments with their envelopes.)

“I helped my Dad bring firewood into the house.”
Hunter

“I showed my friend how to climb a tree.”
Martin

“I played with my friend when I didn’t want to.”
Sara

Rev. William M. Weary
St. Joseph, PA

“I help my mommy clean the dishes without
complaining.”

“I make my bed, help with the groceries,
recycling, and read to my baby sister.”

“I greeted at Mass today.”

“I attend Faith Formation classes and help at
Habitat for Humanity.”

Rev. Barry Strong, OSFS
Immaculate Conception, Wilmington, NC


“Helped my brother.” 2nd Grader

“Played with my little cousins.” 6th Grader

“I prayed at night.” 6th Grader

“I walked neighbors’ dog for them.” 4th Grader

“I gave my neighbor her paper.” Kindergartener

Rev. Joseph J. Nicolo
St. Helena, Blue Bell, PA

(Editor’s note: It’s no surprise that the ‘small
people” in this parish are so helpful. There are
almost 60 ministries listed in their bulletin! These
children get much good example)
4


St. Helena, Blue Bell, PA