It’s Complicated . . .
. . . to prepare for heaven. That was my main takeaway from our November 30 seminar, aptly titled “Preparing for Heaven: Stewardship of Life. Stewardship of Legacy.”
Over the course of the morning, speakers repeatedly emphasized the importance of planning ahead. Doing so is one of the greatest gifts we can give our loved ones.
Linda Rivera, our parish funeral coordinator, said that she’s happy to meet with people. Planning is much easier in advance, compared to planning while grieving. Among other things, Linda can help you identify a funeral home, explain who does what, and assist with readings and music for your funeral. Along with a funeral home, she can advise you when it comes to burial options.
Lawyer Sam Nelson talked to us about Catholic estate planning, comparing it to a road map. Which direction will you take when it comes to a medical directive? A will or a trust? Power of attorney? Beneficiaries for your funds and assets? Charitable bequests?
Liz Boo Neuberger from the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) spoke about a planning team for your legacy. Members could include an estate planning attorney, your family, a financial planner, and a philanthropic advisor—and me, as I learned. Yes, several speakers said it’s a good idea to let me know if you’re planning a bequest to the parish. I confess I hadn’t thought of that much before, but it makes sense for someone in my position to be aware of your plans.
Fr. Steve spoke of being grateful as a “virtue of an older person.” As Catholics, we share in rich sacramental experiences. Let us be thankful for them. Let us share our faith and our approach to charity with our children. It’s a gift we can give them.
I’m grateful to our parish volunteers who prepared a great breakfast to kick off the morning. Thank you, Bob, Tom, Becky, Tim and Tony. I’m grateful as well for our guests from CCF, which provided seminar resources. They helped decomplicate things.
If you’d like to know more about any of the topics, let me know.
Thank you for your support, and have a great week!
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