By Garrett Owen • Posted February 9, 2024

Whoever cares for the poor lends to the LORD, who will pay back the sum in full. -Proverbs 19:17

As we begin the season of Lent — a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia (CFGP) invites you to join us on a journey of profound introspection and deliberate deeds as we prepare to celebrate the eternal hope of the Resurrection at Easter. The pillars of Lent remind us that our baptismal vows ask us to know Christ better and faithfully follow His will. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving should be fixtures of our Christian identity.

Lent provides us with an opportunity to align our actions with our beliefs.

The idea of almsgiving may appear antiquated, but it holds profound significance. The word alms originates from the Latin words for mercy and pity. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus implores us to give with understanding to those facing hardship. Almsgiving reminds us of Jesus’s call to serve and connects us with those in need.

Over the next 40 days, we invite you to reflect on the significance of charitable giving as a valuable component of your Lenten journey. In a special way, we invite you to consider how your estate planning can make a tangible impact on the lives of others.

At CFGP, we offer a range of resources to assist you in mapping out your legacy giving with confidence and thoughtfulness. By crafting a legacy plan, you can intentionally choose how to support the causes and communities that hold a special place in your heart.

As we focus on the core aspects of our faith this Lent, it is important to consider how our earthly actions can reflect our spiritual commitments. We invite you to take advantage of FreeWill – a service offered by CFGP at no cost. It provides a resource to create your will and include charitable intentions that are important to you.

We also invite you to our Catholic Workshop Series, “The Circle of Life: Conversations Catholics should have now about end-of-life planning,” designed to serve the Catholic community and provide helpful information about end-of-life care and estate planning.

This workshop will take place on Feb. 22 from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Chester. To learn more about this free event, please visit our website.

CFGP can help you ensure that your estate plan truly reflects your wishes and your values. For more information on estate planning and planned giving, please email me at gowen@thecfgp.org or call 215-587-5650.

May this season of Lent bring you peace and clarity as you reflect on your journey of faith and the impact you wish to make.

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Garrett Owen is the Chief Philanthropy Officer The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia.