Donor's advice: ‘Church knows best'

By Ana Rodriguez Soto - Florida Catholic newspaper

Photography: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC

MIAMI | On the Sunday when the Gospel describes the exact requirements for entrance into heaven — “whatsoever you did for the least of my brothers” — the Archdiocese of Miami honored three couples who are living out that dictum, and two dozen others who are doing it from beyond the grave.

Albert and Barbara Del Castillo, Sean and Dina Clancy, and Jeremiah and Catherine Sheehan were this year’s recipients of the One in Faith, One in Hope and One in Charity awards, respectively.

This is the third year the archdiocese bestows the honors as part of its ThanksForGiving Mass — a time to thank everyone who contributes on a regular basis to the annual ArchBishop’s Charities and Development, better known as ABCD.

The Mass is timed to coincide with Thanksgiving, so this year’s celebration took place Nov. 23 at St. Mary Cathedral. Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated a similar Mass the Sunday before, Nov. 16, for donors in Broward.

At the Miami-Dade Mass, 25 members also were added to the Archbishop Coleman Carroll Legacy Society, which recognizes those who have remembered the archdiocese in their will.

Most of the inductees were honored posthumously, although Karey Bosack Greenstein, senior director of planned giving, is hoping to change that.

“I’m sure there are many more people who have left the archdiocese or its programs in their will. They just have to tell us,” she said. “We want to thank them while they’re living for the legacy that they’re leaving after they’re gone.”

The Carroll Legacy Society was started only a couple of years ago and has about 80 named members. But membership is automatic for anyone who plans to leave a gift for the archdiocese after death. The gift could be directed to benefit a specific parish, school, archdiocesan agency or program.

And the giving does not need to be complicated: It can be as simple as naming the archdiocese as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

“You can give in little ways. No gift is too small,” said Bosack Greenstein, who hopes many more members will come forward as word spreads about the society.

As for those who received the One in Faith, One in Hope and One in Charity award, all said they reacted with shock to the news.

“I was pretty much rendered speechless. I was stuttering on the phone,” said Barbara Del Castillo of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Miami Lakes.

“It’s very surprising and very humbling,” said her husband, Albert.

The One in Faith award recognizes “excellence in evangelization” and commitment “to spreading the Good News” so that others can come closer to Christ.

The Del Castillos are both attorneys who don’t have a lot of time to give to the Church, so “it’s good to know that we can help through our treasure and through our talents,” he said.

“I started as a candy striper at Holy Cross (Hospital),” said Catherine Sheehan of her early days giving of her time and talent. “You didn’t need service hours back then. I absolutely loved it.”

The Sheehans are members of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Lighthouse Point. Their One in Charity award recognizes “constant support” of the ABCD as “an expression of (their) unselfish love of God.”

The Clancys’ One in Hope award recognizes their embodiment of “the four infinitives of stewardship”: receiving God’s gifts gratefully, nurturing them responsibly, sharing them sacrificially and returning them to God abundantly.

“One doesn’t do things in anticipation of receiving awards,” said Dina Clancy of St. Joseph Parish in Miami Beach. “So to get this recognition is humbling.”

“I felt unworthy but very happy,” added her husband, Sean. “We love the Church and anything we can do to help.”

Albert Del Castillo added that he has good reasons for sharing his treasure with the archdiocese.

“Because the archdiocese has systems in place, organizations in place, to best direct our contributions,” he explained. “It’s the best way of giving because the Church does know best who are those in need.”