Faithful Legacy

Ensuring the Future of Our Catholic Faith





Each of us has been blessed by God and entrusted with many gifts from Him. We are all called to receive God’s gifts gratefully, to cherish and tend these gifts, to share them in justice and love with others and to return them with increase to the Lord.

Part of our responsibility as stewards of God’s gifts includes what is sometimes referred to as our “final act of stewardship” – the creation of our estate plan.  Our estate plan is part of our legacy, enabling us to use those gifts that have been given to us to provide for our loved ones in the future. We also have the opportunity to give witness to the importance of our faith and express our gratitude to God by making a gift to the Church that strengthens our parish for future generations.

There are many ways that you can make a legacy gift, whether by including us in your will, naming the parish as a partial or contingent beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy, or with a simple payable on death designation of a bank account.  We recommend that you work with your trusted financial advisors to determine what is right for you. 

Below you will find some basic information you may need to put your plans into place:

St. Mary Church

242 North State Street

Painesville, OH 44077

Parish Tax ID# 34-0714517

If we can help you in any way in this process, or if you have already provided for our parish in your estate plan, please let us know!  You are welcome to contact: Fr. Stephen Vellenga at 440-354-6200.    The Catholic Community Foundation of our Diocese is also able to help answer questions and provide resources to you.  Please feel free to contact Mary Lou Ozimek at 216-696-6525 x4070 or mozimek@catholiccommunity.org for a confidential conversation or to obtain a printed copy of the Catholic Estate Planning Recordbook.

Thank you for considering our parish as part of your Catholic legacy.