McKenna Tithing Newsletter

JULY 2000
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(Please feel free to use these comments in your bulletins. . . )

PARISHIONERS’ COMMENTS. . .

“When asked to return to God a percentage of what He has given me, I might be tempted to ask ‘What has God given me?’ Then I realize that He has given me everything, especially eternal life. The 10% tithe in return is insignificant in comparison. Try tithing; it is truly walking out in faith and trusting that God WILL take care of your needs.”

A parishioner Rev. Peter D. Gillen St. Rose of Lima, Rockaway, NY

“I am happy that the St. Francis Boxes are back in church. I think that they should be there all the time. I tithe, and for me that means I give 5% to our church and more to St. Francis. I also try to help my grandchildren with tuition in another parish. I know that God has never forgotten me. I am a senior citizen.”

A parishioner Rev. Msgr. Francis Carbine St. Charles Borromeo, Bensalem, PA

“Give to God first and all other things will follow. This is so true. Tithing for me has truly been a blessing. It is not in the form of money, but other things like concerned friends, family, peace of mind, being able to wake up in the morning; not worrying about trivial things because you know your needs will be taken care of. God promised this. It is the joy of knowing how wonderful God is.”

A parishioner Rev. Theodore K. Parker. OSC All Saints, New York, NY

“After praying for His guidance, I decided to renew my commitment to the Lord. I have had first hand experience of His boundless love. Many times before when I would give to Him first, wonderful unexpected things would occur. . .”

A parishioner Rev. Richard J. McAndrews Nativity B.V.M., Philadelphia

“In your Sunday sermon you spoke about preparing ourselves for the second coming of our Lord. Wouldn’t Tithing be a great way to begin to do this? I don’t think anyone would have a problem with it if they calculated the money we throw away on trivial material ‘Things’. Tithing can only help my family in preparing to meet the Lord.”

A parishioner Rev. William J. Cox St. Peter, Honey Brook, PA

“We are very blessed to have such a caring pastor. Thank you for initiating tithing. We approve and it has made us aware of how much our church means to us. As we take care of our own

family and home, so it is our responsibility to care for the needs of God’s home and family – Our Church!”

A parishioner Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Hudak Immaculate Conception, New Oxford, PA

“Though my intentions were always good, I never did begin tithing. There was some excuse every time I thought the time was right. Enclosed is a check for $500. It certainly does not make up for my not tithing, but it is a start. The Lord has blessed me with so much. Because of that I am able to make a good living. I am aware He deserves more of me.”

A parishioner Rev. William J. J. O’Donnell Nativity of Our Lord, Warminster, PA

“Like so many other things, it should be automatic that we give back to God. It’s hard at times, but I have noticed that once I begin it becomes part of my routine. What makes it difficult at times is reviewing my income and finding that my tithe should be greater, then I have to adjust my attitude all over again. But it’s worth it because I want God and my response to God to be first.”

A parishioner Rev. Philip G. Burger St. Patrick, Trevorton, PA

“I always mentioned that I worked many hours for my salary and I was defensive when I discussed how much I gave to Church collections. Then someone asked me how I was able to do this. That question remained until I became ill and realized that without God’s help, I could not do anything. I thank God through tithing.”

A parishioner Rev. Marcello J. Latona Holy Trinity, Whitestone, NY

“I have been tithing ever since I joined St. Catherine’s. Although I am on a fixed income, my donation always comes first and God provides for all the rest.”

A parishioner Rev. Msgr. Alfred R. Ott, V.F. Cathedral Church of St. Catherine of Siena, Allentown, PA

“Once we wrote God into our budget we can no longer withhold payment from Him any more than we can withhold payment from Central Hudson. And it’s far more important to us that God’s Light does not go out! As we pay God’s bill first, there seems to be more money for all the other bills! Alleluia!”

A parishioner Rev. George J. Kuhn Good Shepherd and St. Joseph, Rhinebeck, NY

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PASTORS’ COMMENTS. . . (from their parish bulletins)

“When Sacred Heart became A TITHING PARISH on the first Sunday of February, I assured you that God’s Word promised abundant blessings to us. How right we were to TRUST in His Word! I just received news from Cardinal Hickey’s office that the Archdiocese of Washington (and that means our sister parishes and the benefactors of the Archdiocese) will pay the ENTIRE COST of $67,000 for a new roof over the Parish House!! If that isn’t a proof of God’s pouring out blessings upon us from His storehouse in heaven, I don’t know what it is! So I thank once again, (and I will not stop thanking) EVERYONE who++ had made and is making TITHING a regular part of his or her Sunday life. It is because of YOU that such blessings come to us. At the same time, this gift from the Archdiocese is a further reason for everyone to give from the heart to the Cardinal’s Appeal. ‘Love is repaid with love,’ says the Spanish saying. . .”

Fr. Francis Xavier Russo, OFM Capuchin Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Washington, D.C.

“. . .We, the Notre Dame faithful, give powerful witness to our faith by our renowned commitment to Stewardship and Tithing. We thank God for His guidance, and we are proud of the record He helps us attain. Bless us, Lord!”

Rev. William Benonis, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Swarthmore, PA

“Tithing is a free gift from you back to the God who has given you everything. You will receive much more than you give.”

Rev. Joseph P. Graff St. Bernard, Alpena, Michigan

“Mary said ‘YES’ to the Angel Gabriel and the Son of God became man. Joseph said ‘YES’ to the angel and became the foster-father of Mary’s Son, Jesus. When we tithe we say yes to Jesus who uses our gift to extend His kingdom on earth and to lead more people to His heavenly kingdom. Thank you for your generous sharing with your parish at this special season of joy and peace.”

Rev. Msgr. Leo N. Bierster St. Joan of Arc, Hershey, PA

“A little lady handed in her envelope on the Holy Day Tuesday. In it was this note: ‘Recently I was working with my Dad. I made a total of $48.00. I’m giving the church this $5.00 as my tithe. Sincerely, Alysha Brady.’ (“As the Advent Scriptures noted: ‘A little child shall lead them’.)”

Rev. James T. Smith St. Kevin, Flushing, NY

“Your tithe to the parish is so very important. Sometimes you might think that we receive a lot of money for the expenses that we incur. Just last week we had electricians in to check out the dome lights which are not all working. The cost to get up into the dome and check out the lights was $500. The cost of each of the bulbs is $140. There are eight lights in the dome. That is just one example of the vastness of the Cathedral.”

Rev. Msgr. William F. Richardson, V.F. Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick, Harrisburg, PA

“Thomas Indoe left his job as an executive for Del Monte Food and RJR Nabisco to work with Paul Newman who gives away 100% of the profits of his food company. ‘I was reviewing where I was in life. I’ll never get rich here – there aren’t any stock options – but that’s fine with me. My kids look at my job and say, “What a neat thing you’re doing, Dad”, versus working for a big corporation, putting money on the bottom line’.”

Rev. Msgr. Lawrence E. Hinch St. Teresa, Woodside, NY

“A man worked hard to buy a house for his wife, but was always too busy and had no time to share it with her. Another told his wife that he loved her, but never did anything for or with her. A woman dedicated herself to making her husband the kind of person she wanted him to be and then found that he had become a stranger. These are half-relations and miss a true sense of the other person. We may feel that we love God, but how are we expressing it? Tithing expresses what our words mean when we say that we ‘love’ God. Thank you for your support and generosity.”

Rev. Marcello J. Latona Holy Trinity, Whitestone, NY

“Spirituality challenged individuals and nations to take full responsibility for nurturing and sharing our numerous gifts. From a faith perspective, we own nothing in an absolute sense. All belongs to the Lord and we are essentially trustees. Spirituality calls for a change of one’s identity from owner to steward. This moral conversion is not easy; we continue to live with the illusion of ‘it’s mine.’ But unless we take on the identity of stewards, our new millennium will be characterized by an even less equal distribution of wealth and property than the last. And, of course, such a situation of inequality breeds warfare. Stewardship is a matter of life or death.”

Rev. Msgr. Richard A. Behl, D.Min. Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, NJ

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