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November 6, 2018 | The Valley Catholic
COMMUNITY
On a Firm Foundation: Pioneering Ambassadors
Mary Quilici Aumack
Executive Director
Catholic Community Foundation of Santa
Clara County, [email protected]
A few weeks ago, we held our inaugural Mass of
Celebration for founding members of the Society of
Saint Joseph. You can read about it in Liz Sullivan’s
article in the October 23 issue.
The Society of Saint Joseph recognizes individu-
als and families who have remembered “Church” in
their estate plans. The Mass and reception provided
us an opportunity to thank founding members for
this generous and important gesture.
I gave the refl ection at the end of Mass. As I was
preparing it, I thought about my legacy, and the con-
tributions of those who came before me. For whom
am I an ambassador? What values do I hope will be
strengthened, and from where did they originate?
Of course, for me this always comes back to my
parents, Winona (Nonie) and Aldo Quilici. If you’ve
read my “stuff ” over the years, you’ve heard some of
these stories:
• They were “Mr. and Mrs. Saint Justin,” sup-
porting Monsignor Mentasti, Mother Margaret
Mary, Sister Gemma and the entire community
in all ways.
• Then they were “Mr. and Mrs. Notre Dame,”
managing dinner dances and bingo games.
My mom worked at McDonald’s so I could go
to Notre Dame.
• They had a deep commitment to family. My
dad’s favorite experience, more than a fancy
trip, 49er game or car project, was to sit in a
corner when we were all together, and just take
in the conversation and laughter.
My parents’ greatest gift to me, among many, is
my faith. This was then strengthened through experi-
ences and relationships at Saint Justin, Notre Dame,
Gonzaga, Saint Mary Parish, Santa Clara University,
and Catholic Charities.
My work at the Foundation has also been a great
source of spiritual strength. I have the unique blessing
and opportunity to work with clergy, religious and
lay leaders. I learn through reading, discussion and
writing. I am a “sponge” when given the opportunity
for conversation about faith, sacraments, life.
And over the course of the last 20 years, one person
whose pastoral leadership and friendship have been
interwoven in the path of my faith journey is Bishop
McGrath. I am stronger in my faith and commitment
because of him.
Sometimes we refer to our parish as our “village of
faith.” In this village our faith is nurtured. This is the
WHY of us that I discuss often. Because we are given
the gift of the REAL presence of Jesus in the Eucha-
rist, and the opportunity to enter into a relationship
with him, we have great gratitude that compels us to
action, and to generous giving. This is why we invest
in our village, and in vocations, in youth ministry, in
lay leadership, in clergy and religious life, in Catholic
Charities and in the great gift of Catholic education.
Why we are compelled to evangelize. Because these
aren’t just great institutions, service providers and
traditions, they are Catholic, they are ours.
At the Foundation, we speak often of FOREVER
VALUE, this idea that through our legacy we can
provide permanent support for the ministries that
formed us and supported our families, in sadness
and joy. This can be in the form of fi nancial assistance,
programs that bear our mark, and prayer.
Doug and I will provide permanent support to a
number of these organizations through our family
endowment, which will be funded when we die.
Our selected benefi ciaries, including our parish, will
receive a grant from this endowment every year,
FOREVER. This is our legacy plan.
The Society of Saint Joseph was started as a
formal coming together of people who want their
legacy to include a contribution to their village of
faith. Contributions can take many forms and be
of any size. I encourage you to visit our website at
cfoscc.org/societyofsaintjoseph to learn more.
We are grateful!
$500 for your parish and
$500-$5,000 for charities of your choice!
Donor Advised Fund Match
Think of a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
like a “charitable checking account.”
All contributions to your DAF are fully tax
deductable in the year you add to the fund.
You can take as long as you like to decide which
charities you would like to give the money to
and your funds grow tax-free in the meantime!
For more information, visit
cfoscc.org/DAF-Match