The St. Michael Catholic Steward Tuition Rate is designed to support Catholic families in our parish who have committed to being an active part of our faith community through gifts of Time, Talent, and Treasure. Applications are accepted from St. Michael the Archangel Church families applying for the Stewardship Tuition Rate at the following schools: St. Michael Preschool, St. Michael School, Cardinal Gibbons High School, and all other local Catholic schools.
CRITERIA FOR THE ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC STEWARD TUITION RATE
Registered St. Michael Parish Members
Families must be currently registered members at St. Michael Parish and have activated use of REALM. Fully registered families include at least one adult baptized Catholic or welcomed into the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
Catholic Steward Identifiable Giving & Family Activity
Catholic Steward families are those who are dedicated to raising their children in the Catholic faith by attending weekly Mass, showing regular contributions annually to the parish, and actively participating in the life of the parish community. This active participation can be identified by participating in a parish ministry or group, and/or by volunteering as a parent leader at our parish schools: St. Michael Preschool and St. Michael School (Pre-K – 8).
Age-appropriate Sacraments
Reception of the Sacraments is a pivotal part of living out the Christian life. Therefore, students are required to have received or be currently enrolled in the preparation to receive age-appropriate sacraments at the time of Steward Rate application.
2025-2026 St. Michael Catholic Steward Tuition Rate Application Deadlines
October 31, 2024 | Families with Returning Cardinal Gibbons High School Student(s)
January 8, 2025 | Families with a New Cardinal Gibbons High School Student(s)
March 1, 2025 | All Other Families
New to the Triangle Area?
You are welcome to apply for the Catholic Steward rate by submitting a letter from your most recent parish documenting that you were registered, active and contributing parish members.
Registered Parishioners of St. Andrew the Apostle in Apex or Mother Teresa Parish in Cary?
Please follow your own parish’s stewardship application process.
Registered in Another Local Diocesan Parish?
Please follow your own parish’s stewardship application process. Once approved, you will need to submit a letter from your Pastor stating that your family is approved and that your Pastor is willing to pay St. Michael the Archangel the subsidy of $500 per year/per student.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE CATHOLIC STEWARD TUITION RATE:
1. Complete the 2025-2026 St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church Stewardship Application form and submit online.
Only ONE APPLICATION PER FAMILY, PER SCHOOL YEAR is accepted so please include ALL of your children’s information.
1a. Cardinal Gibbons High School families also need to complete and submit the CGHS Parish Affiliation form found on the CGHS website.
Questions regarding Stewardship may be submitted by email to stewardship@stmcary.org.
IS THERE A WEBPAGE DEDICATED TO THE STEWARDSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS?
Yes, you can access that site HERE.
WE APPLIED LAST YEAR AND WERE APPROVED, DO WE HAVE TO APPLY AGAIN?
Yes. The St. Michael Catholic Steward Tuition Rate approval is only for one year.
Families must apply every year.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING THE ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP APPLICATION FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR?
Your deadline depends on the students you have in your family.
*Only ONE APPLICATION is accepted per family, per year.*
For example, if you have one CGHS student and one rising fourth grader who will attend
St. Michael Catholic School, you need to include BOTH of those students on your ONE application.
2025-2026 APPLICATION DEADLINES
October 31st, 2024 – Families with RETURNING Cardinal Gibbons High School Students
January 8th, 2025 – Families with NEW Cardinal Gibbons High School Students
March 1st, 2025 – All other families
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC STEWARD TUITION RATE APPROVAL?
The criteria can be found in the St. Michael Catholic Steward Tuition Rate Guidelines.
HOW ARE TIME & TALENT HOURS TRACKED?
At this time, there is not a required number of Time & Talent hours. Your active participation in our St. Michael community is verified by Ministry & Group Leaders.
For your own records, we also recommend keeping a log of your participation.
WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PART OF TIME & TALENT?
Regular participation in a St. Michael Church ministry or group, as well as volunteering as a parent leader in our parish schools. Volunteer opportunities at St. Michael Preschool and St. Michael School (Pre-K-8) include (but are not limited to): volunteering as a Room Parent, chaperoning field trips, serving as an athletics coach, chairing a PTO committee, etc.
WHAT AMOUNT OF TREASURE IS REQUIRED AND HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE BE MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS?
At this time, a specific monetary amount has not been set and there is no required giving schedule. Please donate according to your financial abilities as an active Catholic Steward family. Your regular and identifiable contributions to St. Michael the Archangel are tracked in your Realm online account and/or through your parish offertory envelopes.
WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS ARE CONSIDERED PART OF OUR FAMILY'S OFFERING OF TREASURE IN OUR FAITH COMMUNITY?
Regular, identifiable and tax-deductible donations are considered Treasure. These include gifts offered to St. Michael Church Offertory, the church Charity Fund, and a multitude of ministry funds. Examples of school donations include gifts to the Angel Fund, the Queen of Angels Endowment, and other tax-deductible school donations.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY APPLICATION FOR THE ST. MICHAEL CATOLIC STEWARD TUITION RATE IS APPROVED OR DENIED?
Families will be notified by email once their application is fully processed.
WILL MY APPLICATION BE DENIED IF I FORGET TO INCLUDE INFORMATION OR HAVE MISSING INFORMATION?
No. If your application and/or your parish member information is missing any required information, you will receive a very detailed email stating specifically what information is missing and what the Parish Office is requesting.
IS THE ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC STEWARD TUITION RATE THE SAME AS FINANCIAL AID?
No. Financial Aid and Stewardship are two separate items, with separate applications, and separate guidelines. To find information regarding Financial Aid, please visit the St. Michael Catholic School website.
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT ANSWERED HERE, ON THE ST. MICHAEL WEBPAGE, NOR IN THE ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC STEWARD RATE GUIDELINES?
Please email any further questions to Stewardship@stmcary.org.