The Offertory, or Collection, at Mass is an integral part of the Sunday liturgy, not just because it is the primary means by which St. Thomas the Apostle receives financial support from the parishioners, but because it is also an expression of our gratitude to God for the blessings He has given us to return a portion of them back to Him for use by His Church.
By our baptism as Catholics we are called to be stewards of God’s gifts to us, to use them in ways that build up our families, our parish, our community, and our world. In that stewardship, we are encouraged to be deliberate and intentional in weighing our various obligations against our limited resources as we decide where we spend those resources of time and money and effort. When we give to our parish and to the greater Church, we are witnessing to our children and to the world about our values and about what’s important to us.
Your weekly offering is to the parish what your paycheck is for your family. This is how the bills get paid: utility bills, insurance, salaries for clergy and staff, and all the other line items you see in the parish financial reports.
You may support St. Thomas the Apostle through the collection taken during Mass, or by setting up online recurring payments through ParishSOFT Giving.