Investing with Faith / Kimberly Pohovey

Consider leaving a Catholic legacy with a bequest in your will

Each year seems to pass more quickly than the last. And yet even when we know the lay of the land, life is still full of surprises. Some of the things we’ve worked toward for a long time finally come to fruition. The kids in our lives grow up and before we know it, they’re starting families of their own. And many are blessed to amass a nice nest egg for retirement or increasing our stewardship. God is good.

We are grateful for unexpected graces and opportunities as our lives unfold. As we get older, it’s natural to ask ourselves, “What kind of legacy will I leave behind?” and wonder how people will remember us when we are gone.

Perhaps the best answer, though, is hidden in a deeper question: What does your faith story say about you? If you have lived your faith by cultivating a spirit of gratitude and sharing the blessings you have received with others, then you may want to consider making a final gift to the Church through a bequest.

The Psalmist asks it this way: “How can I repay the Lord for all the great good done for me?” (Ps 116:12)

Of course, none of us will ever be able to repay God for all the blessings we have received. Still, there may be no better way to thank God than to give a gift that helps to ensure that the ministries and initiatives that have brought his loving presence to us are there for others when they need them.

A planned legacy gift can benefit your favorite Catholic ministry, school or parish—those that hold a special place in your heart or have served you and your family over the course of your lifetime. Alternatively, you may choose to leave a small portion of your estate to the endowment funds administered by the Catholic Community Foundation (CCF) to provide long-term support of the Church’s mission here in central and southern Indiana.

A bequest gift at the end of your life to support Christ’s mission makes a lasting statement about you and what was most important during your lifetime. A bequest testifies to your generosity and your commitment to doing good. It concretely expresses your values to both your loved ones and your community. In that way, a bequest belongs to the testament part of your “last will and testament.”

Maybe you are a lifelong Catholic devoted to your faith and Church. Or maybe you discovered—or rediscovered—your Catholic faith in a quest for something more. Wherever your journey has taken you, Christ Jesus and his Church has been there to guide and support your every step. Much of that was possible because of the generosity of those who came before.

Like many Catholics, you’ve done your best to witness to your faith in Jesus Christ in both word and deed. Making a bequest is an opportunity to steward your blessings in a way that proclaims what you believe one last time. It’s a chance to leave this world a little better and more compassionate than you found it.

To learn more about leaving a Catholic legacy of generosity and faith through a bequest, contact the Catholic Community Foundation at 317-236-1482 or ccf@archindy.org.
 

(Kimberly Pohovey is the director of major and planned gifts for the archdiocese.) †