4
in the diocese
August 19, 2014
On a Firm Foundation
Celebrating Catholic ministry
through endowments
By Mary Quilici Aumack
In this wonderful valley, Catholic
ministry takes many forms. At its heart
is the parish community. Parish life offers the opportunity to fill our spirit with
God’s abundance of love and mercy. It is
where we share faith, find fellowship,
and are renewed through the Eucharist.
All who are called to the table share in the
blessings and needs of the community.
Ministry is also manifest in our Catholic schools, where the “why” of us emanates from the Eucharist and manifests
in strong teachings of love and social
justice, from pre-kindergarten through
the broad-reaching ministry of students
and faculty of Santa Clara University.
The Learning and Loving Center ministers to women and their children. Our
Lady of Fatima residence lends corporal
and spiritual support at end of life. At all
stages of life and circumstances, people
are nurtured on many levels by Catholic
Charities and the parishes.
The Catholic community of our valley
has one house, with many doors. When
someone knocks at the door of Our Lady
of Guadalupe, he is asking help from all
of us. And we respond, through effective
ministry.
One way to strengthen our ministry is
through permanent endowment, a fund
created to support a specific entity or
purpose. The fund is invested, and only
a portion of the income is used for the
specified purpose. Therefore, the fund
grows and is available for perpetuity.
Donors may start endowments
through the Catholic Community Foundation, where the funds will be managed, and disbursements made to the
beneficiary organization. Starting gifts
can take many forms, including cash,
securities, pledges over time, real estate
and personal property, or bequests.
By sharing our gifts now, through an
endowment, we are providing for future
generations. Because of your decision
today, your parish will receive a grant
every year, even beyond 100 years from
now. We call this Forever Value.
It is the goal of the Catholic Community Foundation to help devel