St. Timothy Catholic Community
Parish Verification Guidelines
To qualify as “active and contributing in-parish” the following guidelines apply:
Registration
One must be officially registered and tithing for at least 1 year as a parishioner of St. Timothy's, as recorded in our parish database. If recently registered at St. Timothy's Parish (less than 1 year), a statement from the former parish of “active and contributing in-parish” status at the parish will be accepted to qualify for tuition discount until regular parishioner status can be established at St. Timothy's Parish. The registration requirement applies to the custodial parent/guardian of child.
Regular Attendance
Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.” (CCC 2181) Parents of Catholic students should be particularly aware of this teaching of the Church, as they have solemnly promised God to raise their children accordingly to the law of Christ and His Church.
Evidence of attendance at Sunday Mass is difficult to ascertain. The easiest way to demonstrate one’s attendance at Sunday Mass is by participating in the parish envelope system.
To qualify for the discounted tuition rate the receipt of at least two envelopes a month is required. Those families signed up on monthly auto withdraw for their tithing will need to place a contribution envelope in the collection at least twice a month. Envelopes dropped off or mailed to the parish office are accounted for but do not fulfill the requirements of attending Sunday Mass, nor for receiving the reduced tuition rate.
Financial Support
The reason a discount is offered to an “active and contributing in-parish” is because they are already financially supporting the parish by way of the Sunday collection. The level of financial support will vary from family to family depending on the family’s income. The biblical tradition of a tithe is 10% of one’s income. Failure to support the parish financially would make a tuition discount unjust.
To qualify for the “active and contributing out-of-parish” rate, the Parish Verification Application is to be completed and submitted with your registration forms. The Finance Office will mail the applications to the designated parishes to be signed by the parish pastor. The reduced rate for the school year will become effective once the Parish Verification Application is signed by the pastor and returned to the school office.
If a family fails to qualify as “active and contributing in-parish”, or “active and contributing out-of-parish” they will be charged the full single tuition rate per student.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Debbi Mesa in the Parish Office either by email at dmesa@sttimothymesa.org or call 480-775-5200.