By Mary Quilici Aumack, CEO, The Catholic Community Foundation For most of my life, my parish has been an important hub for me. Of course, it is the center of my sacramental life.  And it is much more. At St. Justin I first understood the power of a community of faith, celebrating sacramental milestones and witnessing the stewardship exhibited by my parents. At St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, my faith journey has continued and been strengthened. This has been the faith center for me for 30 years. It is here that:

• Our daughter Kacey received an excellent education, rooted in Gospel values
• My husband Doug was baptized
• We worked the sausage sandwich booth at the Country Fair for a million years in a row

It is here that we see friends at Mass, inquire when someone is there without a spouse, hug each other in shared joy, supported hope, and deep pain. You see, we are meant to be in communion. While sacraments are core to our Catholic presence, ritual and community sustain us. THIS is why we are longing for “business as usual” - meeting at Mass, going to coffee after, attending meetings (even if it is to complain about something). As we all wish for a resumption of our normal parish life, no one is working harder or hurting more than our parish staff and pastors. We have had an extraordinary Spring Grant application process at the Foundation this year. Because of a $500,000 match and broad generosity, we will be distributing roughly 3X the normal amount in grants to local programs. This is extremely important because at a time when parish revenue has decreased across the board, parish teams have had to pivot and invest in areas that were not considered in previous years. Our Parish Stewardship grants typically fund things like worship aids, welcome programs and ministry fairs. This year the grants are for things like:

• Clorox 360! This is a special broad sanitizer to prepare the church between Masses and to be used to reduce chance of infection in the schools
• Technology, technology, technology. Most of us have appreciated livestream Mass. Did you know that many pastors were using their personal iPhones propped up against a candle to make it work?

The pandemic has exposed great need across many areas, and pastors have responded. Some parishes are offering up to four Masses every HOUR on Sunday – 20+ Masses each weekend – so that more of us can experience the Eucharist. AND, in addition to all that, it is confirmation and first Eucharist season. Many pastors are welcoming young people to the table and witnessing confirmations two at a time, adding 40-60 additional Masses. In addition to tending to our spiritual needs, ALL parishes are reaching out to our neighbors in need. We have received many grant applications for increased support of St. Vincent DePaul, food distribution, and job support programs. Our pastors didn’t sign up for this! They pursued the vocation with a strong desire and call to be in communion, in community with us. And yet, they move forward with gratitude and vigor. Imagine. In my work I speak with many pastors. We meet regularly with a group of pastors who we call our Parish Leader Advisors. Last time we met, we asked how we can help all pastors and parish priests.  Here’s what they said:

• Call or send a note to your pastor expressing support for their work and their staff
• If you can, send a gift card to your parish for a delivered staff lunch
• Offer to volunteer in support of parish grounds. Nick on our staff lives with four other young men. They are in the neighborhood of Queen of Apostles and have offered a day of labor, perhaps landscaping, cleaning, or anything else Fr. Jeff and his team need.
• Perhaps you have technical skills that could be of value as designs are made for continued virtual Masses, faith formation and instruction.
• When you celebrate a milestone such as a birthday or anniversary, send a note of thanks to a priest, religious or lay person who has walked with you on your faith journey.

Above all, they ask for our prayers. No matter how you pray, add a few extra prayers as often as you can in thanksgiving for the teams at our parishes and Catholic schools, who did not sign up for this and are responding with grace and efficacy. I am grateful.

The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) was passed in March 2020. When most people think of this legislation, they think about Economic Impact payments and loans for small businesses. However, there are also some significant provisions around charitable giving that may benefit you and help you support the organizations you love.

What it All Means

For Non-Itemizers

If you take the standard deduction when you file your federal taxes, the CARES Act gives you a $300 above-the-line deduction for cash donations. What does that mean? Your donation of up to $300 will be deducted from your adjusted gross income (AGI). This happens before you take the standard deduction. But, because this deduction is limited to cash contributions, gifts to a donor advised fund and complex gifts of stock or other assets do not qualify for this deduction.

For Itemizers

For folks who itemize their deductions, you’re normally limited to deducting 60% of your AGI. The CARES Act waives that limit for cash donations. While there’s still a deduction limit of 100% of your AGI for the 2020 tax year, any cash donations above and beyond that may be carried over as deductions for up to five years. Because this exception is only for cash donations, there remain certain limits on deductions for other gifts, like stock or personal property. And, there are still deduction limits for contributions to a donor advised fund. For Tax Advisors: View our webinar and resources on the CARES Act and philanthropy >>

Next Steps

For Non-Itemizers

If you likely won’t itemize your tax deductions for 2020, consider a gift to the 2020 Spring Grant Cycle match opportunity which supports immediate needs and vital programs all over our diocese. There is currently a 1:1 match for all gifts toward this $500,000 match! Learn more >> Or, consider a cash gift to your parish’s endowment, or an endowment for another organization you love. See our full list of funds >>

For Itemizers

Consult with your tax advisor to determine an appropriate and effective solution for your unique tax situation. A gift to the 2020 Spring Grant Cycle match opportunity will support immediate needs and vital programs all over our diocese. There is currently a 1:1 match for all gifts toward this $500,000 match! Learn more >> For some, a family fund might be an appropriate solution. Donors who will give large sums but would like their gifts to support the charities they love over a longer period of time (instead of giving a huge amount in one lump sum) may consider a custom family fund. This fund might be an endowment, which grants in perpetuity, or a fund with a more aggressive granting timeline. There are many different ways to customize these funds, so please contact us to discuss this option. Contact us >> Read about Family Endowments >>

By Nick Carney When I was in high school, I was on the wrestling team, and it was brutal. I endured several hours of practice in a hot room, pushing myself physically and mentally through grueling practices, and fasting to make weight. At the end of every practice, my wrestling coach would make us do sprints across the room. The whistle would blow, and we would have to run as fast as we could from one end to the other. Keep in mind that this was at the end of a three-hour practice. I was exhausted with almost no energy left, but we were encouraged to push ourselves with everything we had. On the last sprint, the coach would  always say, “This is the last one, let’s make it the best one.” I was always encouraged to hear that it was the end, but it was also a great reminder to finish strong. Every time I walked on the mat when it was finally time to compete in a tournament, I was ready. All my hours of work, pushing myself to exhaustion through exercise, and fasting to meet a weight class resulted in preparation. Beyond that, my sacrifices allowed me even an even greater feeling of gratitude and accomplishment when I was victorious. Let us enter Holy Week with the same demeanor. This is the last week, let’s make it the best week. Palm Sunday is a celebration of Jesus entering Jerusalem. People excitedly waved palms to welcome Jesus - a welcome fit for the King. Let us bring that energy into our final week before Easter. Regardless of how well we were able to stick to our Lenten promises (made especially difficult this year with everything going on in our world), we can rededicate ourselves this final week and prepare our hearts for the resurrection. I challenge you this Holy Week to let this last week be your best week as you continue, and perhaps amplify, your prayers, almsgiving, and fasting. Strengthen and fill your heart as we prepare for Christ and allow the resurrection of our Lord fill us with Joy. "Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.​" (John 12:12-15)

By Nick Carney Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph. The patron saint of workers, a happy death, husbands, fathers, and the Universal Church. That is high praise for a man who doesn’t have any spoken words in the Bible. From what we learn in the Gospels, he is married to Mother Mary, stepfather to Jesus, and trusted by God to protect and lead their family. Of course, this is not Joseph's initial plan. I am sure he had a wonderful plan to marry his bride, have children and raise them in his home in Nazareth. Instead, God had a different plan for him. He was encouraged to be strong and take Mary as his wife even though he knew there would be judgement and scrutiny by the community. He didn’t even get to live in Nazareth like he had wanted. Immediately after Jesus was born, they fled to live in Egypt. What a life he didn’t plan. The past few weeks have been an adjustment for us all in light of the developing COVID-19 situation. Many of us have had to adjust to working from home. Schools are closing down and many students are being educated at home over video calls. Businesses are closing, putting heavy burdens on business owners and leaving many without work. People are anxious about staying healthy and ensuring their families are safe and prepared. Then there are the most vulnerable in our community who are in need of care and resources now more than ever. Everyone in our community is making adjustments. None of this was in our plans for 2020. My father, before he passed away, was a United States Marine. He was taught how to adapt, adjust, and overcome situations. What a great and challenging mentality. On Saint Joseph’s feast day, I think about how he would react and lead our family if he were still with us. Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph – the stepfather of Jesus who faced many changes and obstacles to raise his son with pride and integrity. Let us reflect on Saint Joseph’s great work and the gift of trust that God gave to him. Let us pray that we have the trust and flexibility to follow any path God lays out for us.  

Society of Saint Joseph Prayer

Creator of all that lives, from the beginning of time you have entrusted to women and men the gifts of Creation itself that they may bring forth abundant blessings from your gracious hand. From our first parents and down through the ages, from humble shepherds to royal rulers, skilled laborers to fearless prophets, your people handed on a legacy of faith until it bore fruit in the womb of Mary and was protected by the love of Joseph. Now in your Son we have all been given Christ’s mission to plant the seeds of the Gospel that it may flourish not for our sake alone but for the good of generations to come. Bless us now, we who continue the legacy of Joseph. Like him, may we dedicate our lives to watching over the Church, the body of Christ that you have entrusted to us. Increase our faith with Joseph’s courage who placed his trust in you even when the future was uncertain. Open our hearts with Joseph’s generosity who gave his heart to Mary and Jesus. And fill our lives with Joseph’s joy in knowing that our faith in Christ, through the grace of the Spirit, will live on beyond our days. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen

By Nick Carney Recently I had the opportunity to share a retreat weekend with several great men. It was a wonderful opportunity to start my Lent by recharging and refocusing on the season. All the men were at different stages of their lives. Some were right out of college, just starting their careers, and discerning the big life decisions - Who should I marry? Should I marry? Where should I live? What profession am I be called to? Other men were further along in their life - married, homeowners, raising children, and planning for what future obstacles may come. Then there were men who carried even more life experiences under their belts – men established in their profession or retired, with grandchildren, providing the gift of wisdom for the benefit of others. After discussion throughout the weekend I noticed two commonalities regardless of age or stage in life. One is that we are always preparing for the next journey in our life. Young or old, near the beginning or end, we are always looking for the next brick to add to our foundation to build a legacy. Which leads to my second observation. What is the legacy we are leaving? How are we making an impact? Every person is looking for ways to grow and invest in their life. If you just finished your degree, you may be looking to begin laying the foundation of your legacy in your profession. If you have children, you want to be a virtuous example so that your children will continue what you built. Later in your life, you may want to leave a legacy for your community, for the place that helped you become who you are today. We enter Lent, this season meant for preparation for the resurrection of Christ. We are taught to prepare through prayer (Justice to God), fasting (Justice to self), and almsgiving (Justice to neighbor). Every year, I enter Lent with a plan for how I can best give of myself in these ways. I plan a routine of the same things I do every year with the mindset: “This is what I am supposed to do.” I plan on giving up social media, changing my diet, dedicating extra time for prayer in the morning, and finding ways to volunteer at my local church. These are all admirable pursuits and opportunities for me to help eliminate distraction in preparation for Easter. However, after this weekend I had a mental shift in my idea of Lenten preparation. The question I started asking about my preparation is now: “During Lent, how am I going to build the legacy of Christ?” This is the challenge I present to you. Continue in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, but reflect on Christ and how your efforts are going to build on your legacy and the legacy of our Church. “The most beautiful act of faith is the one made in darkness, in sacrifice, and with extreme effort.” -Saint Padre Pio Are you interested in leaving a charitable legacy as part of your estate plan? The Foundation has ideas and tools which can help you plan for a legacy gift to your local parish or any charity that you love. Call us at 408.995.5219 or visit cfoscclegacy.org for more information.