By Catholic Stewardship Consultants
www.CatholicSteward.com
Mark and Nora Pillori belong to St. Anthony of Padua Church in Kailua, and as they planned for the future, one of their highest priorities was including the parish in their wills.
By setting aside a portion of their estate to support St. Anthony, they hope to encourage more parishioners to consider doing the same. With Legacy Weekend coming up, they are sharing the message of planning for the future and securing a legacy gift to one’s parish or to the diocese.
A legacy gift can help ensure that your parish and diocese remain strong and well-supported for generations to come. Taking the time to create an estate plan also allows you to clearly state your wishes for your savings and retirement accounts, property, land and other assets, rather than leaving those difficult decisions to your family or the courts.
“It’s quite astounding to me that more people aren’t leaving the diocese or their parish in their will,” Mark said. “It is not that difficult, but some people wait so long that it becomes too late.”
Of course, these conversations can be difficult, but once you sit down and make a plan, you can move forward with peace of mind knowing everything has been accounted for.
“What more natural place for some of your estate to go to?” Mark said. “If you think about it, the church and your parish priests are always there for you. The priests may change over the years, but the church is always there. The church is there when you are born and baptized. It is there for your first holy Communion and confirmation, when you get married and have children, and when you die.”
Of course, you can leave part of your estate to your family, but the church is also family. Consider the lasting impact you could make by leaving even 5% or 10% of your estate to your parish.
“What better definition of a family is there?” Mark said. “A priest is always there when you call.”
Mark said he would love to see the day when all Catholic churches are self-funded due to the earnings on past gifts.
“Many people in Hawaii may not be rich in cash, but they are land-rich,” he said. “It does not take much to leave a percentage of your estate to the church. Your children can still receive the land and the majority of the estate. A portion of the money or assets you no longer need can be directed to your parish. You are not leaving your children out. I certainly would not suggest doing that.”
With Mark’s background in real estate, he has seen many families struggle after their parents pass away. He’s seen families torn apart, and he wants people to take the time to plan for their estate.
“Since Nora and I do not have children, it was even more important for us to decide where our estate should go,” he said. “We wanted the organizations we care about to get the support.”
Mark said he is happy that the diocese is making planned giving a priority.
“I think legacy giving needs to be discussed at least yearly,” he said. “You get wrapped up in the day-to-day and getting by, and you forget. It is the kind of thing the diocese needs to put in front of us every year so that it sinks in.”
When Mark and Nora did their planning, they chose mostly Catholic organizations.
“My point is that if everyone were to leave, let’s say, 5%, our diocese would never have to worry about money again,” Mark said. “A great deal of wealth is currently being transferred from one generation to the next. Many members of the baby-boomer generation inherited money from their parents, and they now have an opportunity to determine how those resources will continue making a difference.”
Mark hopes that sharing his message will encourage others to consider a legacy gift to their parish or the diocese.
Consider how you might support your parish or the diocese during Legacy Weekend.
Above: Photo courtesy Catholic Stewardship Consultants