CHARLOTTE — When Josephine DeRosa passed away at age 91, she made an act of charity one of her final wishes. A parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville for more than 24 years, DeRosa left estate gifts in her will: a $15,000 gift to her parish and another gift to directly benefit the Diocese of Charlotte.
The gift to the diocese, which totals $28,500, will benefit the ministries and offices of the Diocesan Pastoral Center.
The Diocesan Pastoral Center, located on South Church Street in Charlotte, houses the many offices that support the local Church throughout the western half of North Carolina. A number of these offices are well known throughout the diocese because they are funded in part by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal.
The administrative offices – while not in the spotlight – are just as important as DSA-funded ministries in supporting the local Church. This includes Human Resources, Tribunal, Legal, Finance, Properties, Development and the Chancery.
Diocesan Chief Financial Officer Bill Weldon explains that financial support for these offices is primarily provided by funds from parishes.
“Bequests that benefit diocesan offices – such as this generous gift from Josephine DeRosa – are greatly appreciated as they provide much needed support for vital activities and reduce the financial burden on parishes,” Weldon said.
A portion of DeRosa’s $15,000 estate gift to her parish was added to one of 10 endowments the parish already uses to benefit the ongoing needs of the church and the parish school. The remainder of the estate gift went directly to the parish.
“I am grateful for the many faithful parishioners like Josephine who have left gifts to the parish in their will,” said Capuchin Franciscan Father Martin Schratz, pastor. “For many seniors who have retired here in Hendersonville, Immaculate Conception has become not only their home but their family.”
“More and more people across the diocese are remembering the Church in their estate plans – gifts from thousands of dollars to millions – and we are thankful for their generosity. Anyone can leave an estate gift to the Church,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development.
“I humbly ask our parishioners to consider gifts to the diocese, as well as their parishes, schools and agencies, when preparing or updating their wills,” Weldon said. Gifts to support current operations, as well as endowments to support future operations, are both critical to the financial well-being of the Church in western North Carolina.
For details about endowments or estate gifts, contact Ray-Eric Correia, diocesan director of planned giving, at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter