The McKenna Ministry has enjoyed extraordinary popularity and has seen phenomenal growth partly because it's different. The concept of giving a percentage of one's income to one's church is, of course, not unique. But the McKenna Ministry is a spiritual program that just accidentally raises money. The entire emphasis is on acknowledging one's dependence on Almighty God.

        This is how it happens.

       1 - A pastor hears about the program from a seminary classmate, a priest friend, a neighboring pastor, or sometimes a parishioner. Or perhaps someone gives him a copy of the newsletter. He then calls.

       2 - After some information is exchanged on the telephone, a date is agreed on for two meetings: the McKenna administrator meets with the pastor and his secretary in the afternoon, explains the procedure, and provides examples of written materials. At a second meeting that night, he addresses the pastor and his advisory group, (parish council, finance committee, stewardship committee, and staff), on the origin and nature of the McKenna Stewardship Ministry. It's at this meeting that a decision is made to give the rest of the parishioners the opportunity to hear about tithing.

       3 - On two succeeding weekends, four witnesses (two each weekend) travel at their own expense to that parish. The parish provides dinner and housing for overnight stays, and reimburses witnesses if they use public transport (such as plane or train travel).  Each visitor speaks at each Mass for no more than four minutes and explains simply how he or she first heard about tithing and what it has meant in his/her life. The pastor's homily details the Scriptural, historical and spiritual aspects of the practice. (The group is able to provide witnesses in several languages when necessary.)

       4 - Written material has been provided to the pastor suggesting facts to be covered in a letter to his parish in advance of the tithing weekends. This letter is mailed one week before the witnesses speak. After each Tithing Sunday, copies of the three talks (the Pastor's, and the two witnesses') are mailed to parishioners. These two mailings later become a Kit for New Parishioners.