Investing with Faith / Joanna Feltz

‘The Circle of Giving—a Mass and Celebration’

Spring is a time of both renewal and thanksgiving for me. The recent celebration of Easter Sunday is a wonderful reminder of the supreme sacrifice made by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so we might have new life in him. Certainly, there is no greater reason to feel renewed and give thanks. However, I have another.

Springtime is also when the Archdiocese of Indianapolis shows its appreciation for our Legacy Society, a group of individuals who have made a sacrificial commitment to support the future of our archdiocese’s parishes, schools and ministries through a will, trust or other planned gift.

This year, there is extra call for celebration because the archdiocese is recognizing the Legacy Society together with the United Catholic Appeal’s Miter Society (those who annually give $1,500 or more to fund current needs and missions). This month, both groups are being honored regionally in an event called “The Circle of Giving—a Mass and Celebration.”

The circle represents two types of charitable giving: giving to meet the Church’s needs of today (annual gifts to the United Catholic Appeal), and giving to meet the Church’s future needs (establishing an endowment with the Catholic Community Foundation through a will, trust, beneficiary designation or other planned gift). Together, these two types of giving create a full circle of generosity and sacrifice.

The first of these Circle of Giving evenings was held on May 4 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis, where we celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving followed by a reception. A second Mass and reception was held on May 25 at St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Church in Floyd County.

Whenever I attend events like these, I can’t help but be moved by the generous hearts of these donors. They are truly doing God’s work by being good stewards with their resources and his Church. This spring, please join me in thanking them for making sure God’s work continues to be done today and in the future.

If you’re inspired by “The Circle of Giving—a Mass and Celebration,” and wish to become involved yourself, you don’t have to pick one group over the other. You can pick both. Create your own circle of giving. Make an annual gift to the United Catholic Appeal, and set up an endowment with the Catholic Community Foundation to support the future needs for your archdiocesan parish, school or ministry.

Our team at the Catholic Community Foundation and I are always here to help. Reach out to me by e-mail at jfeltz@archindy.org or by phone at 1-800-382-9836, ext. 1482, or 317-236-1482. Until next month, may God bless and protect you.
 

(Joanna Feltz, J.D., is director of planned giving for the Catholic Community Foundation in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and consultant to the law firm Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti, Rudnick & Galbraith PLLC. For more information about planned giving, log on to www.archindy.org/plannedgiving. Tax information or legal information provided herein is not intended as tax or legal advice and cannot be relied on to avoid statutory penalties. Always check with your legal, tax and financial advisors before implementing any gift plan.) †