September 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the Lord!

As Catholics, we are called to recognize that all we have is a gift from God. Throughout our lives, we are blessed with opportunities to use those gifts to care for our families, serve our communities, and support the mission of the Church. Estate planning offers us another opportunity to live out this call to stewardship—not only for today, but for the future of the Church.

I am pleased to share this newsletter with you as an invitation to consider the legacy of faith you hope to leave behind. The Church walks with us during the most important moments of our lives: in the sacraments, in the Holy Mass, in moments of celebration and also in those of great sorrow. Including the Church in our estate plans is a meaningful way to ensure that the faith we have received continues to be shared with those who come after us.

Planned giving is a prayerful consideration of the blessings God has entrusted to us and how we might use them to make a difference beyond our own lifetime. A gift through a will, retirement account, life insurance policy or other planned arrangement can provide for your loved ones while also supporting your parish and the Archdiocese.

May we always remember that our greatest legacy is not what we leave behind, but the faith, hope, and love we give to others. May God bless you and your loved ones and may your legacy of faith continue to bear fruit for generations to come.

Know that I remain,

Sincerely in the Lord,

Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre

Archbishop of Louisville

What Will Your Legacy Be?

By Melody Denson, Director of Planned Giving, Archdiocese of Louisville

When people remember us, what will they say? Will they remember our kindness, our faith, and our generosity? Will they remember the way we loved others? As Catholics, our greatest legacy is not found in what we leave behind materially, but in the faith we pass on and the lives we touch through our witness to Christ.

A Catholic legacy is built over a lifetime. It is reflected in the prayers we teach our children and grandchildren, the values we model each day, the time we give in service to others, and the love we share within our families, parishes, and communities. Long after we are gone, these gifts continue to shape future generations and draw others closer to God.

Planning your estate allows you to provide for your loved ones and the organizations that matter most to you. To learn more about including your parish and/or the Archdiocese in your estate plan, contact Melody R. Denson at (502) 585-3291, ext. 1117, or by email at mdenson@archlou.org.

To include a gift to your parish and/or the Archdiocese in your will, ask your estate planning attorney to add this suggested wording to your will or living trust.

I give, devise, and bequeath to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Louisville, a corporation sole with principal offices at 3940 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, Ky 40213-1463 [insert gift] for the use and benefit of [the Archdiocese, parish, or school name].

“Generosity guided by faith; it’s how holiness finds its way into the world.”

Margaret Trahan

In My Professional Opinion

By Emily Monarch, Attorney Pitt & Emison, Parishioner at St. Agnes

Whether you have already completed your estate plan, or it is still on your to-do list, a new Kentucky law might impact your plan. Effective July 15, 2026, Senate Bill 50 (SB50) makes extensive reforms to Kentucky inheritance, trust, and probate laws.

Intestate Succession

SB 50 changes the order of who inherits from you if you die without a will. Under the old law, your spouse only inherited half of your estate. Under the new law, without a will your surviving spouse may inherit a larger share of your estate and will inherit 100% of your estate if you do not have children or all your children were with your surviving spouse. Stepchildren are now also included in the line of succession but more distant relatives, such as second cousins, have been removed. From a practical perspective this means that if you die with no relatives closer than a first cousin, your estate will go to the State of Kentucky. Making a will or trust can help you avoid unexpected results by naming the beneficiaries you want to inherit from you.

Stronger Protections for a Surviving Spouse

Kentucky law has always protected surviving spouses from disinheritance by allowing them to take a share of the deceased spouse’s estate that passes by will. SB 50 expands this protection by allowing a surviving spouse to take a share of other assets that pass outside of a will, such as beneficiary designated accounts (Payable on Death/Transfer on Death), retirement accounts (IRA/401(k), etc.), property jointly owned with right of survivorship, and other assets. If you are married and own these accounts or assets, it is important to look at your estate plan and beneficiary designations to make sure they still work.

Kentucky Inheritance Tax

In a separate bill, the Kentucky Legislature added nieces and nephews to the list of individuals who can receive property at death without paying Kentucky Inheritance Tax.

What should you do?

If you don’t have an estate plan, now is a great time to make one. In addition, if you have remarried or have a blended family, have had recent life changes such as a birth or death in the family, or have large retirement accounts, now is a great time to review your existing plan and beneficiary designations with a qualified estate planning attorney.

And Now These Three Remain: Faith, Hope, and Love...

(I Corinthians 13:13)

by Lynn Haner, parishioner at St. John Paul II

I have received, witnessed, and experienced so many, many blessings throughout my life. I was born prematurely, not expected to make it. Both my father and my grandmother shared their fears and urgent prayers of that time, begging the saints to intercede for my life and here I am. Blessed from the very beginning with a solid family life, I was grounded in faith, hope and love.

Our family was always active in our parish, St. Raphael the Archangel, and I graduated in the Class of 1970. My parents had a close group of parish friends. So, throughout my childhood, in my parish community, I was inspired by those around me who lived the life of our faith by word and action. I knew it was my responsibility to serve likewise in my future.

I am a retired educator, and during my employment years, my focus was on my service to youth. I encouraged their growth academically and especially spiritually, by every means I knew. Financially, I put an envelope in the basket from each paycheck. I never thought much about my financial stewardship. At the time, it was a necessary math calculation in my modest salary.

Today in retirement, I have more time to pray and reflect. I am filled with gratitude to God for my life, for the gift of our faith passed on to me through my family and Catholic education, for the Eucharist and the sacraments which sustain me and give me hope for the future of our troubled world. I want a life of faith, hope and love built around community and service for everyone – today and all the future generations. How can I support this deep desire? I have more resources today than I did years ago. I feel a deep sense of satisfaction that I have made a legacy bequest in my will to my parish and the archdiocese. It is a token of gratitude to God for all He has given to me.

Melody R. Denson

Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving

Phone: (502) 585-3291, Ext. 1117

Email: Mdenson@archlou.org

Office of Mission Advancement

3940 Poplar Level Road

Louisville, KY 40213-1463

archlou.org/planned-giving