A Journey Across Texas Leads to Special Gift Designated for Youth Faith Formation
God made me to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.
This is a passage that is very special for Martin and Irma.
As Irma describes her faith, she remembers that her entire purpose and guiding force in her life goes back to the Baltimore Catechism. From El Paso and eventually to the Diocese of Fort Worth, Martin and Irma have created a personal journey that has led to future funding of what is most important to them and their Catholic faith—a planned gift designated for Faith Formation of youth preparing for first communion at St. John the Apostle in North Richland Hills.
In The Beginning…
Theirs is a story that is all too common in Texas, and especially so in the Hispanic community. Martin and Irma were both born and raised in El Paso. Even though they lived in the same area of El Paso, they did not know each other in their home community. It was only after both had moved to the North Texas area that they became acquainted.
Both Martin and Irma shared the common bond of attending Catholic schools. While Martin attended through the fourth grade, Irma continued attending through the eighth grade. Like most adolescents, life was busy and not too much attention was paid on what would become of their future and their first meeting.
Martin moved to North Texas and was a 35-year-old college graduate from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) where he studied civil engineering. He went on to serve with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and retired in 2015. Irma was 28, and like her future husband, a proud graduate of UTEP. While at the university, Irma received a scholarship from Catholic Charities of El Paso to help with the first year at UTEP and Irma remains grateful to this day. Irma eventually received her undergraduate degree in science and medical technology. Upon moving to the North Texas region, Irma received her master’s degree in health care from what now is the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.
Both had made it from El Paso to St. John the Apostle in North Richland Hills. Like most singles in the church, they were both searching for a sense of belonging and completion.
Irma said, “As a young adult, during the ‘fun days,’ one of the parishioners of St. John the Apostle started the Catholic Single group and that is where I met my husband. At present St. John has provided for my growth by helping with Child Formation and attending classes to increase my knowledge of the Catholic Church.”
After many years—and many miles traveled—they met on one fateful day at the St. John the Apostle singles group. The rest… you could say…is history.
Now, after having celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary, both Martin and Irma began to consider what their legacy might be for both their faith and their parish.
Like many of a certain generation, the memories are crystal clear as to recalling exactly where one was when they learned on a fateful day in this nation’s history that we had lost the 35th President of the United States. But it was a different moment in history that began to plant the seed of generosity and obligation in Irma’s young heart. So true for a young, 7-year-old Irma when John F. Kennedy posed a question to our fellow countrymen, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” That phrase has a special meaning to Irma and has resonated with her while she and Martin have discerned on how they too could be helpful to future generations.
Martin and Irma recognize that as the Hispanic communities are becoming the majority, it is important that Hispanics continue to maintain the growth of the churches built by the previous generations, some who were not Hispanic. As they said, “They gave us these gifts, let's make them grow.”
Someone Like Me Can Make Gifts Like This
Some years ago, they recall reading an article about making planned gifts in the North Texas Catholic and that is what planted the seed that they too can do something like this. They both specifically remember attending a program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Keller where Renée Underwood, Chief Development Officer of the Advancement Foundation of the Fort Worth Diocese, made a presentation regarding opportunities for parishioners to individually review their estate plans and discern if making a gift through individual retirement accounts (IRAs), qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), creating an endowment or making a provision in one’s will might possibly be a decision aligned with their faith.
Martin and Irma, who had both completed two successful professional careers, discerned about the things they heard that day. They realized the Lord had blessed them with the ability to provide for others when they are called home.
Since that time, Martin and Irma have made provisions in their estate to provide a gift to St. Ignatius in El Paso and St. John the Apostle in North Richland Hills. They feel that both parish communities nurtured their spiritual growth and formed them into the adults they are now. As a child, St. Ignatius school and church helped Irma build a relationship with God that has guided her throughout her life. While attending St. Ignatius church, Irma always felt God’s love, protections, prayers and had the assurance that the dreams of her future would be answered.
Their gift to St. John the Apostle will be appropriated toward a building for child faith formation classes. It is Irma’s dream that classrooms could eventually be built for the primary purpose of being used by the director of religious education, the catechists, and children. Classes could also be supplemented with online classes. Assisting students as they prepare for First Holy Communion and providing a building for faith formation for the children is their mutual goal and would serve as the ultimate acknowledgment of their generosity.
Irma is currently taking adult faith formation classes at St. John and has acquired new guidance in her spiritual journey. She considers this the best thing that has happened to her since she made her first Holy Communion.
Only In God is My Soul at Rest
As Martin and Irma enjoy their retirement years, they also continue to experience the peace of the Lord. In providing for future generations of young Catholics, their hearts are filled with gratitude. In completing their wishes and outlining their objectives, they have come to believe that their values and life stories make the impact of these gifts meaningful to them. Giving to the Diocese of Fort Worth and parish fits their values and their life stories.
To learn more about how you might provide for future Catholics through your estate plan, contact Renée Underwood, CFRE at 817-533-7242 or plannedgiving@adv-fdn.org.
If we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can make it out of the stormy weather…