May is Create Your Catholic Legacy Awareness Month, a time set aside to reflect on how faith, gratitude and stewardship can continue bearing fruit for generations.

Launched in 2024 by The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, Create Your Catholic Legacy Awareness Month began with a simple but powerful purpose: to help Catholics understand that planned giving is not reserved for a select few. It is an accessible and meaningful way for faithful people to support the parishes, schools, ministries and Catholic causes that have shaped their lives.

For some, that legacy may begin at the parish where they received the sacraments, raised their children or found comfort in a difficult season. For others, it may be rooted in a Catholic school, a beloved ministry, the formation of future priests, care for those in need or the quiet desire to strengthen the Church for those who will come after them.

However it begins, a Catholic legacy is an act of trust. It is a way of saying that the faith we have received is worth handing forward.

This year, that message came to life in a special way at the inaugural Legacy Conference, hosted in partnership with the Malvern Retreat House.

Nearly 100 people gathered from across the Delaware Valley on Thursday, May 21st for a day centered on faith-filled planning and lasting impact. The Malvern Retreat House provided a peaceful and prayerful setting where attendees could listen, learn and reflect on the legacy they hope to leave.

Together, attendees explored how a gift through a will, trust, retirement account or other estate plan can become a final act of love for the Church and the people it serves.

The day began in prayer, with Father Michael Riggs, O.S.A., celebrating Mass and setting a tone of gratitude, reflection and trust. From there, the conference moved between spiritual reflection and practical guidance. Father Thomas Dailey, O.S.F.S., opened Scripture as a lens for stewardship, inviting attendees to consider Creation and the Annunciation as stories of responsibility and response. Louis N. Teti, Esq., then brought the conversation into the home, helping families think about how values can be passed on with the same care as assets.

Personal witness gave the day its heart. Scott and Susan Cryder, Ken and Lisa Ewell, and Howard Stoeckel shared how intentional Catholic philanthropy has shaped their families and deepened their sense of discipleship.

“I don’t care if anyone remembers our name. That’s not what is important to us,” said Susan Cryder during the panel. “What’s important is we have done what we can do with the blessings that we have. We don’t need recognition. We just need God to see that maybe we helped just one person.”

Denis Gray, Esq., offered practical guidance on putting those intentions into place, while Dr. Daniel A. Drain helped attendees consider the final chapter of life through the dignity, hope and teaching of the Church.

At the close of the conference, attendees were invited into one final moment of reflection. Rob Longo and Luke LeTourneau of Live Vertical led guided adoration, creating a quiet space before the Blessed Sacrament where the day’s conversations could settle into prayer. What began with Mass ended in stillness, reminding those gathered that legacy planning can be more than a legal or financial exercise. It can also be an offering of gratitude, entrusted to God and shaped by love.

The Foundation is honored to walk with people through these deeply personal conversations.

“Create Your Catholic Legacy Awareness Month reminds us that legacy is ultimately an act of faith,” said Ted Qualli, president and CEO of The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia. “When someone includes their parish, school or a Catholic ministry in their plans, they are making a profound statement about what has shaped their life and what they hope will continue long after them. The Legacy Conference gave us a beautiful opportunity to walk with people as they consider how their generosity can strengthen the Church for generations to come.”

Throughout the month, The Catholic Foundation shared stories and resources to help individuals and families consider how their Catholic values can be reflected in their planning. These conversations are often personal. They touch on family, memory, gratitude, sacrifice and the sacred responsibility of stewardship. They also remind us that planned giving is not only about what happens at the end of life. It is about how a life of faith continues to bear fruit.

“At The Catholic Foundation, it is an honor to sit with individuals and families as they think about what matters most to them,” said Garrett Owen, Chief Philanthropy Officer of The Catholic Foundation. “These conversations are never only about assets or documents. They are about faith, family, gratitude and the desire to make a lasting difference. We are always here to listen, guide and help people create a legacy that reflects the values they have lived.”

Create Your Catholic Legacy Awareness Month has ended, but its message continues to echo. A Catholic legacy is not measured only by what is left behind. It is measured by what continues. In every planned gift, there is a quiet act of trust that the Church’s work will go on, that faith will be handed forward and that generosity offered in love will never be lost.