Bequest in favour of the Parish

Many of us have a special connection to our parish, nurtured by years of church, schooling, friendships and support. You can help your Parish to flourish with a gift in your Will.

You should always consider the needs of your family, dependents and loved ones first. Having done this, people often want to leave a further legacy to organizations that do good works. We invite you to consider our parish as part of your will.

A gift of any kind set in your will for your parish is one way you can personally advance the vision and mission of the church. A bequest to your Parish can create lasting change and help provide a secure future for your local church, its parishioners and priests.

Over the years, many people who have felt a special connection with their local parish and church have left part of their Estate to their Parish or the Diocese of Broken Bay. Like a gift to a charity, a bequest of any amount to the Church is a way of saying “thank you” for the spiritual nurturing provided to you and your family over the years.

By making a bequest you can specify to which area of church life, you would like to contribute. Contact the parish office, for any additional information you may want on specific areas of work in the Church, making/changing of a will, making a bequest or ways in which you or your family can be recognized. We also respect that you may rather give anonymously. Either way, if we can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to call us.

Some frequently asked questions:

What is a bequest?
A bequest is a gift of any kind set out in a Will. No matter the size of the gift, a bequest of any kind in your Will can make a significant difference. It is a simple but powerful way to provide support for the causes that matter the most to you. By making a bequest, you decide how you would like your generous gift allocated. A bequest can be made in several ways: The following are some examples of how a bequest may be given:

  • A Specific Bequest: A detailed gift, for example, an item of property, shares or an insurance policy,
  • Percentage of your Estate: Nominating a set percentage of your Estate for your chosen beneficiaries,
  • Residuary Bequest: Nominating a beneficiary to receive any leftover monies from your Estate, and
  • Whole Estate: Nominating your entire Estate for your chosen beneficiary.

How does a bequest help your parish?
A bequest to your parish, no matter how small, will help the faith community which has meant so much to you to continue its good works and its loving outreach. It is also a means by which you can plan a lasting gift for your parish which might not be possible in your lifetime.

In receiving a bequest, a parish may be able to use the gift to attend to much-needed maintenance and improvements to the church and other Parish property or put the gift towards building a new church or refurbishing their existing one. These kinds of gifts help the Parish free up other income to use toward pastoral care programs.

How do you leave a bequest?
First and foremost a Will should provide for your family. If you don’t have a Will when you die, your goods are distributed according to a set formula, which may not reflect your intentions.

It is advisable to seek professional advice and assistance when making a Will. Your solicitor can confidentially discuss your concerns and requirements and can prepare a Will for you to ensure that your wishes regarding your estate are honoured. If you do not have a solicitor, please contact the Law Society of NSW who can provide a solicitor referral service for your area

Law Society of NSW
Solicitor Referral Service: Website
Sydney: (02) 9926 0300
Email: crs@lawsociety.com.au

What should I give?
You should always consider the needs of your family, dependents and loved ones first. Having done this you may give a dollar amount or a specific gift such as shares. Care should be taken in giving a specific asset, as it may not be suitable or useful to the purposes of the Parish. In addition, if you are too specific the asset may no longer be in existence at the time of execution of your will, so nominating an amount is better than gifting the remaining balance in a certain bank account.

Alternatively, you may give all or some of your residuary estate, that is the portion of your estate left over after you have made your specific bequests.

How to include the Parish in your will.
Thank you for your thoughtful and generous consideration to make a lasting gift to your Parish. A gift in your Will (also known as a bequest) to the Church supports your family of faith.

It is important that you take care of your family’s needs first, and we recommend that you have a discussion with them regarding your intentions.

The following wording is intended as a guide only and we recommend that you seek advice from a solicitor who is experienced in Wills and Estates. You may wish to contact the Law Society of NSW via email lawsociety@lawsociety.com.au or phone (02) 9926 0333 for their Solicitor Referral Service.

A. For general purposes to a Parish in the Diocese of Broken Bay

“I give to the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Broken Bay, (ABN 79 031 652 544) as trustee for the Catholic Parish of St Agathas Church, Pennant Hills , in the State of New South Wales for its general purposes, the sum of
$__________ or _____ percent of my estate or the property at ________________ (or other specific items), free of all duties, taxes and other deductions of whatever kind.I declare that the receipt for the same signed by the Bishop of the Diocese, or other designated officer, shall be sufficient discharge to my Executors and Trustees.”

If you would like further information on bequests including how we can acknowledge your generosity in your lifetime, please contact the parish office (02-94841427) to speak with the Parish Priest.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

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St Agatha's Catholic Parish,
Pennant Hills, NSW 2120
PO Box 127, Pennant Hills, NSW, 1715
20 Boundary Road, Pennant Hills NSW 2120, (Enter through Trebor Road – see Map)
Phone: 02 9484 1427  

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