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The Albany Diocese's Black Catholic Apostolate, based at St. Joan of Arc parish in Menands, understands what it means to give.

On the third Sunday of every month, the Black Catholic Apostolate partakes in "Sacrificial Giving Sunday."

Parishioners are encouraged to give a little bit more to the parish that week, in addition to their regular donation to the offertory collection.

Rev. Kofi Ntsiful-Amissah, pastor, believes that this kind of giving helps unite the parish. Parish secretary Lucie Diomande noted that many parishioners make a donation in honor of an exciting life event, like a new job or an unexpected pay raise.

The practice of tithing -- giving 10 percent of one's income to the church -- tends to be more common in non-Catholic parishes, but is gaining a foothold in some areas of the country. The Archdiocese of St. Louis, for example, notes on its website that "tithing is absolutely still necessary in the Catholic Church today.

"Our Church still needs our support to pay the expenses and financial obligations it incurs as it operates in a commercial society," the St. Louis website adds. "Salaries, benefits, insurance, maintenance, utilities and service fees are all expenses that never even existed when our Lord first decreed that each of us was to give back a percentage of what we have. Additionally, we are still called to care for the poor among us."

The Black Apostolate doesn't ask for a particular amount on Sacrificial Giving Sunday, simply that parishioners make a sacrifice by adding a little extra to their offertory envelopes. The contributions help the parish with regular expenses such as electricity and building upkeep.

"You just give what you want," said Ms. Diomande. "You look in your heart and [at] how God blesses you. You want to say 'thank you' to God."

Giving, she said, is often a personal experience.

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