McKenna Tithing Newsletter
McKenna Tithing
Newsletter
JULY 2000
THE GENEROSITY OF TITHERS HAS GLOBAL IMPACT!
Scores of parishes are Tithing the Tithe, and the impact of their sharing is being felt in distant places by millions of people. The reports we read in your bulletins bring to mind the words of Archbishop Emeritus Peter L. Gerety, former Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Newark: “Tithing taps an instinctive Christian impulse to charity already in the faithful.”
Father Joseph P. LaMorte, pastor of Holy Trinity in Poughkeepsie, NY, writes with justifiable pride in his bulletin about the good his parishioners have accomplished through their remarkable generosity.
“. . .Our parish tithing committee has been in operation since April 1966 and the upcoming meeting has prompted me to write this about some of the good work that Holy Trinity has been doing since we began tithing in 1994. As many of you know, tithing is a spiritual program whereby we acknowledge the goodness God has given to us since everything belongs to Him in the first place and He lets us use what He has given; it is only right for us to give back to [Him] the first fruits as it were, our first tenth, for God’s good works. . . Trust is the key. As a parish, we have come to realize that God has been generous to us, too. It was recommended to me that our parish trust God’s goodness, too, and give away our first fruits to international, national and local charities. Hundreds of people have been touched by our generosity and their letters of thanks are contained in a book called ‘Responsorial Psalms’ located near the handicap door. They have been sent from all around the world and they express the heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your goodness. It appreciate it, too, and I thank God each night and each morning that I am a member of such a wonderful parish.”
+ + +
“Tithing gives 5% to one’s own church and the other 5% to charities of one’s own choosing. We extend thanks from the Little Sisters of the Poor for your donations of $2503, and the thanks of the suffering in Mozambique for your donations of $1158. . .”
Rev. James T. Smith, St. Kevin’s, Flushing, NY
+ + +
AND SO IT GROWS. . .
The McKenna Tithing Ministry has been introduced into 865 parishes in 20 States and 41
dioceses with 434 Updates
“Many thanks for your ‘other’ 5% generosity to the world poor and needy: Bishop’s Relief Fund $3484.”
Rev. Msgr. James P. McCoy, St. Jude, Chalfont, PA
+ + +
“. . . And from Fr. Tom Heron, Pastor of our sister parish in Philadelphia, Good Shepherd, from the most recent of his frequent thank you’s: ‘Thank you, St. Frances Cabrini Parish, for your continued financial support. I am most grateful to you for your kindness and generosity. May the Lord bless you abundantly during this Lenten season.’ “
Rev. Msgr. John Miller, St. Frances Cabrini, Fairless Hills, PA
+ + +
“Your continued generosity enables us to ‘tithe the tithe.’ Our first[contribution] went to Fr. Short for the Parish Mission. Since then we have been saving up our tithes to reach . . .$10,000. This amount will be given to Fr. Joseph’s Bishop so that he can build an all-purpose hall/church in Fr. Joseph’s home parish. The parishioners there are extremely poor and can raise only about $5000, one-third of the amount needed, but will supply all the labor for the project. With our contribution, Fr. Joseph’s parish will, for the first time, have a place to gather not only for Mass, but for religious education, child care, and the other things we take for granted. St. John’s will surely benefit from the prayers of those parishioners as they come together in worship. My sincerest thanks to all of you for your generous embrace of the tithing program . . .”
Rev. Brian Brennan, St. John/Evangelist, Mahopac, NY
(in a subsequent bulletin, Father Brennan wrote)
“Our ‘tithing the tithe’ will be sent to the Archdiocese of New York who will combine our offering with that of other parishes and forward the monies to the relief efforts underway in the flood-ravaged country of Mozambique. Just a few dollars can go a very long way in securing medicines and emergency food supplies for those who are suffering so greatly because of these natural disasters. Please keep our brothers and sisters in Mozambique in your prayers as well.”
Rev. Brian Brennan St. John the Evangelist, Mahopac, NY
+ + +
“As your generosity continues to grow through tithing, so does our parish ability to help others less fortunate than ourselves. If you have any ideas or requests of ways we can use our parish tithe, please let us know. God bless you!”
Rev. Clarence Olszewski Holy Infant, York Haven, PA
Editor’s Note:
Doesn’t all of this make you think of expressions like “Universal Church” and “Faith can move mountains”? And we could go on and on with these examples of global sharing, but thought you might like some other comments as well. . .
+ + +