Stewardship & Giving
As one of the precepts of the Church, each Roman Catholic is obligated to provide for the support of the life of their own parish. Holy Trinity is fortunate to be served by a generous membership who give to the life of the parish and often to the poor and needy in the local community.
Holy Trinity utilizes Direct Electronic Giving as the primary way to give to the parish. This secure, easy way of giving means not having to remember a check-book or cash for the parishioner. It also eases the burden of administration because the record keeping is done automatically, no money has to be counted, and envelopes do not have to be mailed to each parishioner. The direct giving form is available by downloading here or by contacting the parish office.
Principles of Catholic tithing
Principles and Philosophy of Tithing: Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II said: “We cannot stand idly by, enjoying our own riches and freedom if, in any place the Lazarus of the twentieth century [or any century] stands at our doors.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 states:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
296. Four Principles of Tithing:
a) Give back to the Lord in gratitude a portion of everything God has given, whether through paychecks, dividends, unexpected windfalls, Social Security payments, allowances or gifts.
b) See the tithe as a sacrifice, a donation that seems almost more than affordable, an offering that “makes holy” (the literal meaning of the word “sacrifice”) all the efforts and earnings of the past month.
c) Use whatever means the Local Community may use to identify your tithe as a donation from you, thus both manifesting to others your commitment to regular support of the Community and actively participating in the collection as part of worship.
d) Consider the biblical norm of tithing in determining the amount of your sacrificial gift. The biblical norm was ten (10) percent of one’s income. Those who are unable to contribute that amount are urged to prayerfully give as they are able.
The Biblical Basis of Tithing: Tithing is rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures, or Old Testament, reinforced by the New Testament teaching on generosity and exemplified in the lives of the early Christians.
The following passages from each of those sources illustrate this Scriptural challenge of tithing and generous giving:
Old Testament: “Glorify the Lord generously, and do not stint the first fruits of your hands. With every gift show a cheerful face, and dedicate your tithe with gladness.” – Sirach 35:8-9 (RSVCE)
New Testament: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35
Early Christians: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” – Acts 2:44-45
Additional passages on the biblical basis of tithing are: Dt 12:17-18; 14:22-29; 15:7-11; 26:1-15; Nm 18:21-32; Neh 10:36-40; 13:4-5, 10-14; Sir 35:1-10; Mt 25:44-46; Lk 6:24-25; 9:25; 16:13; 16:19-31; 18:25; Acts 2:42-45; 4:32-35; 2 Cor 8:2; 9:7; Jas 2:15-17.
Those faithful Christians who do tithe (give sacrificially) report how remarkably their material needs have been met. Moreover, they will cite these blessings as even greater, spiritual rewards:
1. a sense of serenity and satisfaction that comes from generosity;
2. an awareness that God comes first, even in decisions about money;
3. a recognition that one has eliminated the practice of making contributions that are mere leftovers or contributions of habit;
4. a deep sense of satisfaction in the progress made by the parish due to the amount of tithing by its members;
5. an ability to distinguish between wants and needs;
6. a feeling of belonging to the life of the parish, sharing ownership, and being a part of something bigger than oneself;
7. a deeper consciousness of society’s materialism and consumerism;
8. A keener appreciation of the world’s poor and how we should and can alleviate their pain and poverty;
9. a quiet confidence in the Lord’s protective care.