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About
Our Office |
Mission
Statement:
The Catholic Planned Giving Office is dedicated to serving the parishes, Catholic
schools and organizations in the Diocese of Lincoln. The Office is founded
on prayer and faith in Jesus Christ and his Catholic Church. The Office is
committed to the Ministry of Development, which focuses on bringing people
closer to Christ. It invites them to participate in Christ's ministry by financially
supporting the future works of their parish and school.
The long-range Ministry of Development involves people and their resources. It involves their hopes and dreams for the future of their children, grandchildren and friends in their parish and school community. It is through this ministry that the Catholic Planned Giving Office serves the spiritual needs of the faith community. We will provide leadership, support, resources, and information on planned giving. We will find the best way for parishioners and supporters of Catholic education in Lincoln to contribute their financial resources. We will work so that all may build up our parishes and schools, and build up the Kingdom of God.
A Brief
History
The Catholic Planned Giving Office was started in March of 1997. The ten Catholic
parishes in Lincoln, NE along with the Office of Diocesan and Social Development
for the Lincoln Diocese made a commitment to organize, staff and fund a full
time professional planned giving office to serve the Catholic parishes, grade
schools, and Pius X High School in Lincoln, NE. After planning, organizing,
interviewing and raising the seed money necessary to start, the office opened
March 10, 1997. The office now serves the Diocese of Lincoln and its parishes
and Catholic Schools.
Michael
L. Henkenius
Michael Henkenius is originally from Carroll, Iowa where he graduated from
Kuemper Catholic High School in 1988.
He graduated cum laude from Creighton University in 1992, and receieved his
law degree from Creighton Law School in the spring of 1995.
He worked as a Legislative Assistant in the Iowa House of Representatives
during the 1996 legislative session. After the 1996 legislative session he
managed a State Senate Campaign in Davenport, Iowa. Michael was hired as the
director of the Catholic Planning Office in March of 1997.
Michael and his wife Monica live in Lincoln and are members of St. Joseph's parish. They have two sons, Zachary and Andrew and daughter Sally.
Reverend
Liam M Barr
Rev. Liam M Barr, Director of Diocesan and Social Development
Father Liam M. Barr was ordained for the Diocese of Lincoln,
Nebraska, in 1974 and has an extensive background in administration. Fr. Barr
has served as a Pastor, High School President, and Director of the Office
of Diocesan and Social Development. He has been involved in leading capital
campaigns and endowment drives within the Diocese, which over a period of
20 years has generated in excess of $40 million. Fr. Barr holds a Master of
Theology from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and bachelor’s
degrees in Philosophy and Theology from the Pontifical Lateran University
in Rome.
What
We Do
We are available to meet with you to help you find the best planned gift that
fits with your overall estate plan. We can provide information on estate planning
and give you direction and ideas. We can meet with you to review the different
parts of a will. We can provide you with the names of local attorneys, accountants,
and financial planners.
Our office hosts estate planning seminars for parishioners and supporters of Catholic education. The office also hosts a seminar for estate planning professionals, attorneys and accountants each fall to promote charitable giving, and further the education of the professional estate planning community.
Twice a year we publish a newsletter titled "Catholic Planner" which discusses the spiritual aspects of planned giving as well as estate planning information.
In December, we coordinate the "Christmas Wish List" which contains specific gift opportunities at every parish and Catholic school. Gift opportunities range from chalkboard erasers, to computers, altar candles, scholarships for needy families, and much more.
The Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Society is an organization sponsored by our office which thanks those that leave a planned gift to their parish or Catholic School. We meet for Mass four times a year followed by coffee and rolls afterwards.
The most important part of our job is to meet with parishioners and supporters of Catholic education to learn about their hopes and dreams for their family, friends, parish and Catholic school and find the best way to make those hopes and dreams happen through planned giving.
