Supporting Your Parish, School or Other Ministry Through Your Will

NOTE: Parishes and many Catholic schools and ministries have formal legal status under Church Law (Canon Law), but do not have independent status underthe Civil Law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The appropriate civil legal entity to receive bequests is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole, organized and existing in accordance with Chapter 506 of the Massachusetts Acts of 1897. Boston’s Archbishop, Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM Cap, is charged by Canon Law with seeing that bequests to all entities related to the Archdiocese of Boston are handled to assure that the bequests of the deceased are fulfilled in all respects.

Outright Bequest

  • Specific Dollar Amount
    “I give the sum of $_____ to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole” [if the bequest is for other than the general use of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole, then add the following: “to be used for the benefit of  <name and address of the parish, school or ministry>.”]

  • Specific Property
    “I give all my right, title and interest in and to <description of property> to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole” [if the bequest is for other than the general use of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole, then add the following: “to be used for the benefit of  <name and address of the parish, school or ministry>.”]

  • Share of, or Entire Residue, of Estate
    “I give (all/or _____%) of the residue of my estate to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole,” [if the bequest is for other than the general use of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole, then add the following: “to be used for the benefit of <name and address of the parish, school or ministry>.”]

Conditional Bequest

Insert conditional language in the above provisions. For example:

“If my husband/wife does not survive me, I give the sum of $_____ to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole” [if the bequest is for other than the general use of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole, then add the following: “to be used for the benefit of <name and address of the parish, school or ministry>.”]

Restrictions

If the gift is for a purpose other than an unrestricted use, insert the restriction in place of the words “to be used for the benefit of <name and address of the parish, school or ministry>.” For example:

I give the sum of $_____ to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole, for the following use and purpose” [if the bequest is for other than the general use of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole, then add the following: “at <name and address of the parish, school or ministry>.”]

Flexibility Clause

Please add the following language to all bequests:

“If, in the judgment of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole (the “Archdiocese”), it becomes impossible to accomplish the purposes of this gift, the income and/or principal may be used for such related purposes and in such manner as determined in the sole discretion of the Archdiocese.”

Language for Having Masses Celebrated

  • Specific Number of Masses at a Particular Church
    “I give the sum of $____ to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole, for the benefit of <name and address of the parish> for <specific number of> Masses to be celebrated over <number of not to exceed 25> years after my death, for the repose of my soul <or other person or purpose>.”

  • Annual Masses Over a period of Years
    “I give the sum of $_____ to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole, for the benefit of <name and address of the parish> for annual Masses over a period of <number of years not to exceed 25> years to be celebrated for <purpose>.” 

NOTE: If you want the parish to have access to all of the funds right away, also state: “It is not my intention to create a non-autonomous pious foundation or trust of any sort in canon law or civil law.” Otherwise, the parish will not receive the principal amount until all of the requested Masses have been celebrated.

Additional Information

The Federal Tax ID for the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole is 04-2106175.  The address is 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, MA 02184.

We advise you to review this language with your own independent legal counsel. This language is not provided as legal or financial advice. Please discuss these issues with your own, independent legal counsel.

For more information, please contact:

Catholic Community Fund
Archdiocese of Boston
66 Brooks Drive | Braintree, MA 02184
Lynne E. Sullivan
Phone: (617) 779-3747