LEGACY GIVING ANNOUNCEMENTS
For Bulletin and Other Communications
Below are sample announcements for
use in advancing legacy/planned
giving in your parish community
throughout the year. These can be
used in all communications...bulletins,
newsletters, websites, and more.
NOTE: Please close each of the
sample announcements provided with
this call to action: To discuss how to
make a gift in your legacy or estate
plans, please contact [NAME] at
[PHONE] for a confidential
conversation (could be Pastor, parish
liaison or CCF relationship manager).
New Year’s Day (Solemnity of Mary)
 How lightly Mary held Jesus. She
did not clutch Him to her but held
Him out for the world to know.
She knew that He did not belong
to her alone. From the moment of
His birth she was called upon to
share Him with strangers who
flocked to see Him. In the same
way, we are also called to hold our
blessings lightly, being willing to
share what God has given to us
with those whom God may lead to
us. As this New Year begins, let us
make passing on our Catholic
heritage our first resolution. A
planned gift to [PARISH] makes
you an eternal steward of our
Church.
Ash Wednesday
 Ash Wednesday leaves us each
with a visible reminder of our faith.
By remembering the Church in
your estate plans, you leave a
tangible reminder of your
commitment.
Lenten Season
 As we demonstrate our devotion
to God this Lenten season, we are
reminded to be stewards of our
faith. By providing a gift through
your estate planning, you leave a
sign of your commitment to
continue the good work of the
Church.
Easter Season
 Give the gift of joy this Easter
season. Please consider a gift to
the Church through your estate
plans to provide lasting support
for God’s work through the
[PARISH].
Thanksgiving
 At this time of the year, we give
thanks for our God-given
blessings. A gift through your will
or planned gift expresses your
gratitude for your faith and the
Church community.
Advent
 The spirit of giving is most
evident during the Advent season.
Consider a gift to the Church this
season through your will or a
planned gift.
Ordinary Time
 “For we know not the day nor the
hour.” Do not put off planning
your estate plans prayerfully.
Good stewardship dictates that we
look ahead and make provisions
for our family and our Church.
 Will your estate be eaten up by
taxes? It doesn’t have to happen.
Planned giving programs can help
you avoid gifting the state when
you didn’t to, as you preserve your
LEGACY GIVING ANNOUNCEMENTS
For Bulletin and Other Communications
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Catholic heritage.
We appreciate the thoughtfulness
of parishioners who have left
bequests to the parish. These gifts
help us to build a solid foundation
for future generations.
There is no greater satisfaction
than knowing that your personal
property and accumulated wealth
will be shared exactly as you
personally desire. Whether your
estate is large or small, you should
make certain it is properly
distributed to those to whom you
wish it to go. If you wish to
remember [PARISH], this can be
done through careful preparation
of your will.
Just as plan to ensure financial
health for our families, we must
plan for the health of our faith
families. Your planned gift to our
endowment will provide financial
support forever. You have a
wonderful Catholic heritage. Pass
it on!
Put your life-long, hard earned
assets to work for the Lord. A
planned, sacrificial gift to the Lord
acknowledges that we are simply
stewards of all that God has
provided. We are managers of His
blessings upon us. Just as we
sacrificially give throughout our
lives, we give our final gift at the
end of our lives here on earth. By
endowing our gifts, our charity
does not end when we are gone.
As we enter eternal life so too
does our gift.
“If anyone does not take care of
his own, and especially of his
household: he has denied the faith
and is worse than an unbeliever.
“ 1 Timothy 5:8 Planning for
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death is as natural for the
Christian as planning for life.
Having a will is simply good
stewardship. Take care of your
family.
Have you remembered the good
works of the Church in your will?
A bequest of part of your estate or
for a stated amount of $1,000,
$5,000, $10,000 will ensure that
the works of the parish will
continue after your death.
We have drawn spiritual and
academic life from our parish and
Catholic schools. What return will
we make of these gifts? As the
good steward of the Gospel, shall
we give to God sufficient return
for our gifts? Consider a lifeculminating gift through your Will.
Religious education of young
people is vital to the strength of
the church. Make provision in
your will for religious education at
[PARISH].
Who will take your place as a
generous benefactor to
[PARISH]? A memorial gift in
your Will could continue your
generosity after your death.
Your generosity during your
lifetime has enabled [PARISH] to
serve the people of God in this
community. Continue to be a part
of the strength of this community
by making a bequest in your Will
to [PARISH].
You need not redo your entire
Will to make a provision for a
charitable bequest to [PARISH].
See your attorney about preparing
a Codicil (a written change or
addition), have it witnessed and
attached to your Will. Add a gift
to your parish in your Will.
LEGACY GIVING ANNOUNCEMENTS
For Bulletin and Other Communications
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Have you ever considered
purchasing a paid-up life insurance
policy naming [PARISH] as the
beneficiary? It could provide a
very substantial gift for a small
investment on your part. Talk with
your agent.
You can have an everlasting
influence on the lives of families
in our parish. Please contact your
attorney and instruct him or her to
include a bequest for our parish in
your will.
“My weekly offering isn’t much,”
but my estate can make a one-time
gift at my death in a way that I
couldn’t while alive. “In
thanksgiving for the faith I
received at [PARISH], I
bequeath…”
Making a Will isn’t expensive. But
not having one may cost your
family a great deal. Please be a
good steward of your resources by
using wisely the Lord’s gifts given
to you. Make a Will or revise the
one you have if you haven’t done
so in the last five years, and
consider a gift to [PARISH].
Please remember the good works
of our parish in your Will. Once
family and loved ones are well
cared for, consider a modest
bequest to [PARISH].
Have you considered a bequest to
our parish, school or parish
endowment in your Will? Your
gift of faith will help preserve our
Catholic heritage into perpetuity.
Help [PARISH] pass on the gifts
of Faith, Hope and Charity and
consider the gift of a bequest to
[PARISH] in your Will or estate
plan.
Think about the people, things,
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and organizations most
meaningful to you. Write your Will
soon so your intentions will be
legally fulfilled according to your
wishes.
Many Catholic families are making
charitable gifts to create parish
endowment funds in memory of
parents and other loved ones.
Contact [NAME] to establish a
Memorial Fund in the name of
your parent(s) or a loved one.
In memory of deceased loved
ones, honor their memory through
a gift to the parish endowment.
What a beautiful way to honor a
loved one by supporting the
eternal work of the Church.
By making a gift to our
endowment, you will help provide
perpetual support for [PARISH].
It is a beautiful demonstration of
faithful stewardship and helps to
pass on our Catholic faith to
future generations.
Imagine a gift that gives forever.
That is what happens with a legacy
gift to our parish What you give
today will strengthen our Parish
family by providing perpetual
financial support.
Do you have life insurance you
may no longer need? By naming
our parish as a beneficiary, you
will provide lasting financial
support and may qualify for tax
benefits as well. It will not cost
anything to change the beneficiary
on your policy, and will do much
to help strengthen the [PARISH].
Consider instructing your life
insurance agent to include
[PARISH] as a primary or
secondary beneficiary on your
policy. It’s a wonderful way to
LEGACY GIVING ANNOUNCEMENTS
For Bulletin and Other Communications
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demonstrate your stewardship and
strengthen our parish endowment.
How long has it been since you
updated your Will? Does it still
express your wishes? Does it leave
a gift to [PARISH] to carry on its
ministry after your death?
You can share your faith beyond
your lifetime by careful estate
planning that includes [PARISH]
in your will. During your lifetime
you will have the joy of knowing
that whatever you do not use in
this life, will continue in ministry
through your church after your
death.