Eight years ago, Monsignor Michael Chaback, then the Director of the Office for Permanent Diaconate Formation for the Diocese of Allentown, presented 47 men to then Bishop John Barres to be ordained as deacons. You read that number correctly: four – seven. According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, which studies church trends and demographics, it was the largest class of deacons in…
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The future success of your favorite Catholic cause started with you … … and your strategic gift to an endowment fund. During the past five years, close to 500 donors made more than 600 gifts to endowment funds managed by the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania to support their favorite Catholic causes. This is tremendous. Thank you. And thanks to those same donors, the Catholic Foundation has grown to more than…
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Beneficiary designations can be a great way to leave a forever gift to your favorite Catholic cause, avoid estate taxes and lessen inheritance tax for heirs. A person’s life-long impact on the world does not need to stop at their death. Naming a favorite Catholic cause’s endowment fund as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, or on any investment accounts ensures that their impact on the organization will continue long…
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Each year, Catholic Schools Week recognizes the unique strengths that are at the heart of Catholic education: rigorous academics, unwavering faith, guiding principles, and service to others. It is because of these strengths that almost 50% of endowment funds invested by donors with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania support Catholic schools and scholarships. “Strong academic outcomes anchored by our Catholic faith are why our donors believe in Catholic schools,” Pete…
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A Legacy Remembered Many of those touched by Sr. Janice attended her Memorial Mass at St. Thomas More Church, Allentown, on January 31, 2023. She was remembered as an advocate for people with special needs with her tender, yet pointed, voice. “We gather around the altar to pray to God in thanksgiving for Sr. Janice’s life, mission, and ministry,” said Monsignor John McCann, Homilist. He remembered her as someone who…
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During Fall, God brings out the best in nature and surrounds us with a blaze of color before blanketing us with the cold and quiet of winter. Living life filled with passion and purpose — in a blaze of glory — honors God’s goodness. At any stage in life, we want to look back and know our moments on earth matter. A Will Helps Protect the People and Causes You…
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Supporters of Catholic causes can ensure their favorite organization continues fulfilling its missions by directing distributions from their tax-deferred retirement accounts to an endowment or donor designated fund managed by the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania. This is a win for both the Catholic organization and the donor/taxpayer. With qualified charitable distributions, they can begin as young as 70 1/2 years old. What Are Qualified Charitable Distributions? If you are age 70½…
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The Catholic Foundation helped me realize my dream of helping youth in our parish. By starting the Youth Ministry Endowment Fund now, I could see the impact while I was still alive. By also including the endowment fund in my will, as a beneficiary for my insurance and investments, and as a preference for memorial gifts, the impact for your in the future will live on forever. Holy Family Youth…
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Despite the turbulent market conditions, investors holding onto appreciated investments can still take advantage of tax savings by donating it to the endowment fund of their favorite Catholic cause. Appreciated Investments Include Stocks and IRAs Options may include gifts of appreciated stock, required minimum distributions (RMD) from their IRA that become a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) for donors 70.5 or older, gifts from a donor advised fund and inclusion of…
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Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Allentown has been serving up food and spiritual assistance to those in need through its two ecumenical kitchens for decades. To ensure these vital services remain in continuous operation, Catholic Charities partnered with the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania to create two endowment funds: Catholic Charities Lehigh Valley Ecumenical Kitchen FundFund supports the operations, supplies, special programs, equipment maintenance and replacement, other maintenance and…
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