Symposium - Conventual Franciscan Friars

In a recent letter to Minister General Carlos Alberto Trovarelli, Pope Francis writes:

“I associate myself spiritually with all those who shall participate, through prayer and charity, in the various initiatives being promoted for this Eighth Antonian Centenary. I hope that all of you may be able to say, along with St. Anthony: “I see my Lord!” We must “see the Lord” in the faces of all our brothers and sisters and offer them consolation, hope and the opportunity to encounter the Word of God, upon which they may anchor their lives.”

We posed the following question to some of our friars:

How do you see the face of God or “See the Lord” when you work in your ministry?

In Loving Memory †friar Charles J. McCarthy

In Loving Memory +Friar Charles J. McCarthy, OFM Conv. Friar Charles J. McCarthy, OFM Conv., (73) was called home by Sister Death on November 28, 2024, in Albuquerque, NM. Friar Charles was a priest-friar in the Conventual Franciscans of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation. He was preceded in death by his parents, John...

Wandering with Purpose: A Life Rooted in the Creed’s Promise

Wandering with Purpose: A Life Rooted in the Creed’s Promise Friar Charlie McCarthy lived in anticipation of that promise, embracing each new place and calling with the faith and hope of one who knew that this world is but a step toward eternity. His near 50 years as a Conventual Franciscan were a journey of...

Eternal Hope: Finding Comfort and Hope in the Promise of Eternity

This past year, as I have prayed the Nicene Creed during the liturgy, that last phrase, “and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come,” has held particular, personal meaning for me. In January of 2024, our oldest brother, Mike Roddy, died unexpectedly while our brothers,...

The Visible and Invisible: Caring for God’s Creation

God entrusted us with the task of taking care of the world. Now we have the responsibility to take care of it and protect it, including all the people who are part of this creation. The protection of human dignity is the focus of the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Refugee Center in El Paso, TX....

Rooted in The Creed: Teachers of Faith

Parents are the first teachers of the Catholic faith. This is taught in the Second Vatican Council. Pope Francis has added grandparents among these first teachers. I add another faith group, the religious education teachers/catechists in parish programs. As parents, my husband and I wanted our children to experience that the Catholic faith was central...

Baptismal Font to Altar: The Power of the Creed in our Worship

Earlier this month, I had the joy of witnessing the baptism of Catalina, the first daughter of my best friend Erica and her husband, Zach. The ceremony was a beautiful and intimate gathering at Fort Meade Military Base, celebrated by Archbishop Broglio. Her closest family surrounded Catalina as she was welcomed into the Church and...

I Believe…Celebrating 1700 Years of the Nicene Creed

Happy Anniversary! This year, 2025 is the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. In his proclamation to announce the Holy Year of 2025, Pope Francis reminds us 2025 is also the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. Since 325 A.D., this Creed has been professed by all Christians. It had an initial post-conciliar rocky start,...

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not...

Jubilee 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope

A Jubilee Year “is a year of forgiveness of sins and the punishment due to sin; it is a year of reconciliation between adversaries [and] of conversion. A Jubilee Year is above all the year of Christ, who brings life and grace to humanity. “ -(From the website of the Holy See.) In 1300, Pope...

The Road Less Traveled

In late 2019, I received an invitation from the former Zambian Minister of Health to come to Zambia and visit a couple of the bush hospitals. He heard from one of the friars that I was a nurse practitioner and was interested in both the role and how we (students and faculty) could help with...

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Wills & Bequests

Thank you for considering a planned gift to the Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation.

We all worry about what will happen to our family and friends when we pass on to eternal life. We want to ensure our loved ones are cared for here on earth after we are gone. However, many people find thinking about estate plans to be an unpleasant or daunting endeavor. We hope the information we have available will ease the process and be a source of comfort to both you and your loved ones by allowing you to make certain your legacy will continue.

When you meet with an attorney who will assist in planning for the rest of your life and your estate, be sure to discuss frankly with your attorney important issues, such as your current situation, financial matters, family dynamics, charitable planning and health care. This will allow the attorney to craft an estate plan that most accurately satisfies your needs and those of your family.

There are different kinds of bequests. For each, you must use very specific language to indicate the precise direction of your assets, and to successfully carry out your final wishes. Here are samples of how to indicate a general or undesignated gift to the friars.

Legal Entity for the friars	Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc
General Bequest	I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______
Bequest language for specific amount:	I hereby give, devise and bequeath the sum of ________ dollars ($_________) to Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.
Bequest language for specific property:	I hereby give, devise and bequeath [100 shares of XYZ Corp. stock / my guitar collection / the real estate legally described as follows] to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.
Contingent bequest language:	If my spouse does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. [the sum of ________ dollars ($_________) / 100 shares of XYZ Corp. stock / my guitar collection].
Residuary bequest language:	I hereby give, devise and bequeath [all -or- ___ percent (___%)] of the residue of my estate to Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.

If you have included a bequest for the Friars in your estate plans, please call us at (812) 923-5250 or use this confidential form to let us know. We would like to thank you for your planned gift and invite you into the San Damiano Legacy Society.

Sharing your plans to include the friars in your estate plans allows for the friars to maximize the impact of your gift and honor your benefaction during your lifetime. Throughout your lifetime, you can change this gift arrangement if your needs change.Your loving gifts help us to form a community of fraternal love and equality by supporting and calling one another to on-going conversation in our vowed life. Prayer and Contemplation strengthen us on our journey of faith.

Our ministries arise from the needs of God’s people in an ever-changing world. As servants and heralds of the Kingdom, we strive to respond compassionately to those needs through a prayerful discernment of our gifts and resources as individuals and as community.

Gifts of any size are deeply appreciated and will be stewarded according to your wishes. In many cases, legacy gifts allow you to make larger and more impactful gifts than would have otherwise been possible

General Bequest:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______

General Bequest:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______

General Bequest:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______

Working with Father John and Becki to find a donor story regarding including the friars in their estate plans and why it means so much to them.

As soon as a gift is received and matched to a donor, the Mission Advancement Office sends an acknowledgment letter stating the nature of the gift, the gift valuation date, and the gift valuation amount and a clarification statement indicating no goods or services were exchanged for the gift.

The Province of Our Lady of Consolation, is a tax exempt 501(c) organization (EIN # 35-6019627) and Its members and employees do not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. Any document or information shared by our staff is intended to be educational. We strongly encourage donors to seek counsel with tax expertise from their own legal and financial advisors.

Wills & Bequests

Thank you for considering a planned gift to the Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation.

Legal Entity for the friars	Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc
General Bequest	I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______
Bequest language for specific amount:	I hereby give, devise and bequeath the sum of ________ dollars ($_________) to Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.
Bequest language for specific property:	I hereby give, devise and bequeath [100 shares of XYZ Corp. stock / my guitar collection / the real estate legally described as follows] to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.
Contingent bequest language:	If my spouse does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. [the sum of ________ dollars ($_________) / 100 shares of XYZ Corp. stock / my guitar collection].
Residuary bequest language:	I hereby give, devise and bequeath [all -or- ___ percent (___%)] of the residue of my estate to Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.

General Bequest:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______

General Bequest:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______

General Bequest:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______

Working with Father John and Becki to find a donor story regarding including the friars in their estate plans and why it means so much to them.

Wills & Bequests

Thank you for considering a planned gift to the Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation.

Legal Entity for the friars	Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc
General Bequest	I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______
Bequest language for specific amount:	I hereby give, devise and bequeath the sum of ________ dollars ($_________) to Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.
Bequest language for specific property:	I hereby give, devise and bequeath [100 shares of XYZ Corp. stock / my guitar collection / the real estate legally described as follows] to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.
Contingent bequest language:	If my spouse does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. [the sum of ________ dollars ($_________) / 100 shares of XYZ Corp. stock / my guitar collection].
Residuary bequest language:	I hereby give, devise and bequeath [all -or- ___ percent (___%)] of the residue of my estate to Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc.

General Bequest:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______

General Bequest:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______

General Bequest:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to: Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Inc. the following ______

Working with Father John and Becki to find a donor story regarding including the friars in their estate plans and why it means so much to them.

Fall Newsletter - St. Anthony - Example through the Ages

Give

“Remember when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received – only what you have given.”

-St. Francis of Assisi

Since the time of St. Francis and his first followers, our ministries, our ability to serve those in need, the education of new Friars, the care of our senior men all are possible with the partnership of our benefactors. Your generosity makes these stories possible.