Tithing is an unabashed act of faith that gratefully acknowledges that all that we have is ultimately a gift from God. It suggests that we designate 5% of our income to the Church of the Immaculate Conception to provide for the operation, maintenance, and ministries of our parish.

 
The second 5% is dedicated to charitable or humanitarian causes which we deem worthy of our financial support as Christians.

 
Because our tithing is both an act of our faith and an act of worship, it is not undertaken lightly. Careful discernment, honest reflection, and prayerful consideration on the part of every parishioner must be the basis for our personal or family decision to tithe or not to tithe. The one thing that all parishioners must avoid is being miserly in giving thanks to God or in sharing responsibility with one another to provide for the communal needs of our parish and for the needs of the truly impoverished. The practice of tithing as an act of faith immediately contradicts the spirit of consumerism so prevalent in our culture and so corrosive to our faith. 

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH
BUDGET
FISCAL YEAR 2007/08 

OPERATING INCOME

Tithes/Loose Collections                                                                     $    618,500.00
Catholic Virginian Envelopes                                                                        1,950.00
Religious Ed Collection Envelopes                                                               1,400.00
Bank Interest                                                                                               16,000.00
                  TOTAL OPERATING INCOME                                     $    637,850.00

OPERATING EXPENSES

Clergy                                                                                                   $      54,533.00
   (Salary, Substitute Clergy, Medical Insurance, Retirement, Retreats,
   Continuing Education, Automobile Expenses)
Rectory                                                                                                         14,688.00
   (Groceries, Maintenance, Utilities)
Personnel                                                                                                    269,134.00
   (Salaries for eight Employees, FICA, Disability Insurance, Retirement,
   Hospitalization for two Employees)
General Expenses                                                                                        40,860.00
   (Office Expenses, Kitchen Supplies, Bathroom Supplies, Parish Life
   Expenses, Doughnuts, Funeral Receptions, monies transferred to
   Replacement Reserve Account)
Worship/Liturgy Expenses                                                                          13,575.00
   (Music Supplies, Staff Member Continuing Ed, Decorations, Hymnals,
   Ministers of Care Expenses, Candle Supplies, Palms, Ashes, Hosts)
Adult Faith Formation                                                                                  15,475.00
   (Staff Member Continuing Ed and Meetings, Adult Ed Programs,
   Books and Videos, RCIA)
Religious Ed Expenses                                                                                10,400.00
   (Staff Member Continuing Ed and Meetings, Catechist Training, Religious
   Ed Program Books and Supplies, Sacraments Materials,
   Volunteer Screening)
Senior Youth Group Expenses                                                                      3,080.00
   (Partial Subsidizing of Retreats and Conventions)
Social Ministry Expenses                                                                            25,280.00
   (Parish Twinning, Bag Lunch Program, Financial Assistance, A Night’s
   Welcome, Just Faith, Empower Hampton Roads, Faith in Action,
   Young At Heart)
Assessments from Diocese                                                                       121,827.00
   (Cathedraticum and Catholic Virginian Tax, Insurance, Subsidy to two
   area Catholic Schools)
Church Utilities                                                                                            39,200.00
Church Building and Equipment Repairs/Maintenance                            29,798.00
                  TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                                 $    637,850.00