Why We Give

Online Giving

Giving online is simple and secure.  Through, Give Plus Powered by Vanco you can make a one-time gift (credit and debit cards) or schedule an ongoing gift using your checking account, debit or credit card*. 

  
If you are interested in getting envelopes or making a cash/check gift please contact the office at 219-464-4042.

  * A small portion of donations made will be used to cover processing fees.

What is Sacrificial Giving? 

From the beginning of time, God has given us the gifts of life and unconditional love. One day our God saw fit to give the first fruits of love for us, the sacrificial gift of His only son, Jesus. Jesus gave his own life for us on the cross. He set an example for us of giving unconditionally and of sacrificing so that others might live. We walk in the footsteps of Christ when we give sacrificially a part of our substance so that others might live. The Scriptures tell us that those who follow the example of Jesus will have life and have it to the full.

Everything is a Gift from God

In gratitude for God’s generosity, we dedicate a portion of these gifts—our time, talent, treasure, and prayer—to furthering God’s Kingdom. 

If we truly believe that God gives us all that we have, gratitude is one response. Trust is another. When we realize that God has provided for us and will continue to do so, we recognize that our real security lies in God. Our God, who has given us all, will take care of our future.
 

Five Elements of Sacrificial Giving:

1. Sacrificial Giving is Planned.

The decision to give is just that—a decision. It requires thought and time, so that it is integrated with other financial decisions as part of a careful, intentional response to God’s generosity.

Planning our giving enables us to give of the first fruits rather than some amount left over after “more important” obligations have been satisfied. The planning process itself can be a spiritual exercise, focusing our attention on our values and priorities.

2. Sacrifical Giving is Proportionate:

Our giving should be proportionate or commensurate to what God has given us. Most people use the biblical concept of the tithe, a tenth, as a guide. Others use a specific percentage of their own choice. In any case, our gift should reflect our level of gratefulness to God.

3. Sacrificial Giving is Sacrificial:

Our proportionate gift becomes sacrificial when it comes from our substance rather than our abundance. When we give out of our substance, we are changed in the process. We have given away something we thought we needed for ourselves, thus changing our lifestyle. We have acted on our belief that our security lies not in our material resources but in God.

4. Sacrifical Giving is a Prayer of Thanksgiving:

Too often, we want to separate the issue of giving, particularly the giving of money, from those more “spiritual” aspects of our faith life. Yet, the commitment to Sacrificial Giving is one of the most important expressions of what our faith means to us. Offering our gifts at Mass places them in an appropriate context of prayer and response to God. 

In the offering, we can express our joy in having received and in being able to give. We are able to say, “Thanks be to God!” We can give back some portion of the tremendous gifts that have been given to us, the most important of which we celebrate at the Eucharist. There is no better time, then, to fulfill our commitment to Sacrificial Giving than in the atmosphere of prayer and thanksgiving. 

5. Sacrifical Giving is a Gift:

No gift is truly a gift unless it is given freely without reservation or condition. The gifts of God are given to us in an unconditional manner, and we are called to model our giving after God’s. 

The motive for giving a sacrificial gift is not the expectation of getting something back. We are able to give what we give because God has already given to us. Sacrificial Giving is really a response, then, to the generosity of God. We acknowledge that we are not the starting point for the giving, but we are simply passing on a portion of what we have received.

Time and Talent

Our baptism reminds us of our new life in Christ.  We are called to be a witness to this new life 24 hours a day—in our home, neighborhood and job.  By giving a portion of our time and talent, and by making it visible to ourselves and to others, we continually remind ourselves of this reality. Using our time and talents express our gratitude to the God who has given us these gifts.

Place God First in All Things

 

This means making God’s priorities our priorities. When we place our loving Creator at the center of our life, we become more prayerful, more focused on loving and caring for our families and our neighbors in need, and less preoccupied with material things. In short, we find the true source of happiness and fulfillment that we all seek and that the Lord alone can provide.