The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida is proud to work with parishioners, pastors, donors and our broader community to strengthen our diocesan family. This month, we launched our annual Our Catholic Appeal campaign which benefits every parish, ministry and school in the Diocese of Orlando. We also launched our first-ever Spanish-language Catholic Legacy seminars that help parishioners create a legacy that celebrates their faith and Catholic values and gives witness to a love that endures. We also partnered with the Diocese’s Office of the Permanent Diaconate to support deacons who are playing a growing role in spreading the Lord’s blessings throughout our community.
You are my hope, Lord; my trust, GOD, from my youth. Psalm 71:5
One Family: Our Catholic Appeal 2020
One family: Annual gifts to Our Catholic Appeal provide essential funding to ministries that benefit every Catholic parish, school and family in Central Florida. Please click here to make a gift that strengthens our diocesan family. God bless you!
In the Community: Ministry Formation Conference at Bishop Moore High School
Catholic Foundation Campaign Directors Doris Quinones and Teresa Herrán discussed Foundation services with English- and Spanish-speaking audiences this month at a ministry formation conference. More than 700 people attended the event at Bishop Moore High School in Orlando, where Doris and Teresa also shared information about how donors can impact lives through stewardship at the parish and diocesan level with offertory, Our Catholic Appeal, Donor Advised Funds and Planned Giving. At the conference, Very Rev. Miguel Gonzalez of St. James Cathedral in Orlando spoke about how we are all on the same journey to encounter Christ. In a moment of reflection, he asked the audience: “How do I encourage the encounter of Christ through my ministry?” 
Very Rev. Miguel Gonzalez
 Doris Quinones |
 Teresa Herrán |
In the Community:
Planned Giving Seminar
St. Catherine of Sienna (Kissimmee)
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At The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida, serving our diverse community in the nine-county area of the Diocese of Orlando is a priority. With this in mind, our team has been working to make a Catholic Legacy Planning Seminar available for our Spanish-speaking parishioners. We are blessed to share that earlier this month at St. Catherine of Sienna in Kissimmee, we presented this program in Spanish to a full house of 90 attendees. Meanwhile, in another room, we simultaneously presented an English-language program with 20 more attendees. In all, 110 parishioners learned how they can plan for their own needs, the needs of their heirs and also leave a legacy of their faith to impact lives with gifts through Wills & Estate Planning, and Financial Planning. The group also experienced the crowd favorite presentation, “Picture Your Catholic Legacy,” an interactive exercise that assists families in articulating their family mission statement and how they will pass on their values to future generations. Legacy Planning is distinct from estate planning because it focuses on the values behind the inheritance. “It’s an amazing resource that we are bringing to our community”, said Doris Quiñones, a Catholic Foundation Campaign Director, who facilitated the Spanish-language part of the program. “So many of those who attended said that they were grateful that we brought this important topic to them and helped them to begin the conversation with their loved ones and how to plan a legacy from their heart.” The seminar reviews the steps of estate planning and provides resources, such as a Wills & Estate planning guide, the Catholic Medical Directive, and more. Attendees also had the opportunity to have free consultations with an estate attorney and financial consultant. The Catholic Foundation offers Legacy Planning Seminars in English and Spanish for free to parishes throughout the diocese. We can also bring the “Picture Your Catholic Legacy” presentation to your Catholic organization, club or council.
Coming in March: Legacy Planning Seminars
On March 12, The Catholic Foundation is partnering with Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando for a seminar that will take place from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Please click here to register. On March 25, The Catholic Foundation is partnering with Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Ocala for a seminar from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Please email Colleen Halsted at CHalstead@blessedtrinity.org to register.
Establish Your Catholic Legacy
To leave a legacy is to reveal our hearts, for our legacy is a final testament of who we are, what we value and whom we love. The Catholic Foundation can help you create a legacy for yourself or in memory of your loved one. Find out more by visiting our legacy planning website at: http://mycatholiclegacy.cfocf.org If you are considering leaving a legacy gift or planned gift to your parish, parish school, or any ministry in the Diocese and would like more information about how to do so, please contact Janet Caramello, Director of Philanthropy at The Catholic Foundation at 407-246-4802 or jcaramello@cfocf.org. Please also contact Janet if you would like more information about hosting a Catholic Legacy Planning Seminar at your parish, bringing the program “Picture Your Catholic Legacy” to your club, organization, or council, or if you have already made a legacy gift and not yet notified your parish.
Planned Giving Advisory Council
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Pictured left-to-right: Garrett Burke, George Compton-Craig, Greg Meier, Wendy Mara, and Brendan Burke.
The Catholic Foundation’s Planned Giving Advisory Council this month hosted a networking breakfast and panel about “Impactful Philanthropy” at Annunciation Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs. Steve Zepf, Joe Bert, and Father Stephen Parkes were panelists whom shared their expertise and insight with 25 estate planning and financial advisor professionals attending that morning. The Planned Giving Advisory Council is comprised of charitable gift, estate planning and wealth advisor professionals dedicated to helping clients maximize their philanthropic impact through gifts that support their Catholic values. “Whether it’s educating our youth, maintaining our places of worship, taking care of our senior leaders that dedicated their lives to nurturing our relationship with God or serving those in communities who are homeless or hungry — the financial needs of our Church and community are great,” says Council Chair Garrett Burke. “Our goal with the Planned Giving Advisory Council is to ensure professionals in Central Florida are aware of these needs, are educated about the Catholic Foundation’s role in addressing our community needs, and to help equip their clients who share the same faith-based mission with philanthropic solutions that mutually meet the needs of the Church, our community and their own families.”
Donor Advised Funds! Flexible. Simple. Charitable.
Are you looking for a flexible, simple tool that allows you to manage and maximize your giving to support the causes that matter most to you? Are you interested in simplifying your annual and lifetime charitable giving? Would you like to make a single gift to support multiple charities? Would you enjoy knowing that your gift will grow tax-free while being invested in a socially responsible way in accordance with Catholic values? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) with The Catholic Foundation could be the perfect charitable tool for you and your family! A Donor Advised Fund is like having your own foundation (without the hassle and legal fees). Contribute cash, appreciated stocks or assets (real estate or business interests) and take the maximum tax deduction this year. The fund is invested for growth (tax free), which permits you, as the advisor, to make grants to many Catholic or public nonprofits over your lifetime. You can also name successors which allows you to engage your family and for them to continue your legacy of philanthropy. A secure Donor Portal allows for 24/7 access to your Fund! To learn more or to start your own Donor Advised Fund, please visit www.cfocf.org/daf or contact Madelyn Weed, Vice President of Donor Services, at mweed@cfocf.org or (407) 246-7188.
Socially Responsible Investing
Diaconate Fund
Our diocesan family is grateful that deacons are playing a growing role in building the Lord’s kingdom in Central Florida. Our deacons serve the people of God through baptisms, marriages, funeral and burial services, distributing the Eucharist and proclaiming the Gospel. To support this important ministry, the Office of the Permanent Diaconate helps parish communities in recruiting potential candidates and offers guidance to permanent deacons in their ministry. Furthermore, they have established a Reserve Fund with The Catholic Foundation with the purpose of:
- providing partial scholarships for deacon aspirants or candidates who cannot meet the financial obligations of their initial formation;
- providing partial scholarships for deacons or the wife of a deacon enrolling in certifying courses as Spiritual Directors, Chaplains, Tribunal Advocates, or other specialized certifications; and
- supporting other formative programs initiated by the Office of the Permanent Diaconate that benefit the corporal and spiritual needs of the Diocese.
If you are interested in helping us grow this Reserve Fund to support the permanent diaconate, please click here or contact Madelyn Weed at 407-246-7188 or mweed@cfocf.org.
9th Annual Marian Essay Contest: Growing the Next Generation’s Devotion to Mary
The Diocese of Orlando Office of Schools invites our 6th, 7th and 8th grade Catholic school students to reflect on Mary’s great YES to our Lord’s request to be the mother of Jesus and to submit an essay on how their life can glorify the Lord as Mary’s did. Essays (300-500 words) submitted to school principals by March 16th will be eligible for a $1,000 tuition scholarship to a Catholic parish or high school of the winner’s choice in the Diocese of Orlando. A first-place runner-up ($100) and second-place runner-up ($50) scholarship will also be awarded. These scholarships are made possible by The Fr. Frank Zammit Endowment Fund at The Catholic Foundation of Central Florida. Fr. Zammit grew up in Malta during the war. His faith, and especially his devotion to Mary, were strengthened through his experience as a youth there. He created this essay contest nine years ago to introduce a new generation to the spiritual fruits of a devotion to Mary and her special care through her relationship with her son, Jesus. The essay contest winners and their families will be invited to an event at a May Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe as well as The Catholic Foundation’s Evening of Gratitude event in Fall 2020 (attendance at either event is optional). The Marian Essay Contest is an opportunity to encourage the transition of our Catholic faith and values to the next generation. We encourage all of our middle school students to embrace this opportunity to share their reflection on Mary’s YES and how their life can glorify the Lord.
Bishop Noonan Visits Pope Francis!
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This month, Bishop John Noonan and other clergy met with Pope Francis in Rome, Italy, where they discussed the state of our diocese and our larger church, including pastoral concerns, vocations, economics, young people and more. Bishop Noonan said he had a truly beautiful experience with the Holy Father.
Happy Birthday, Bishop Noonan!
The Catholic Foundation and our Diocese of Orlando partners were proud to honor Bishop Noonan’s birthday this month. We are grateful for Bishop Noonan’s service which blesses thousands of lives in Central Florida.
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Happy Retirement Very Reverend Paul J. Henry!
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Catholic Foundation staff was happy to attend Very Reverend Paul J. Henry’s last Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe before his retirement. We are grateful to Fr. Henry for his decades of service to our faith community in Central Florida. God bless you, Very Reverend Henry!