Annual event recognizes those who have
remembered Glenmary in estate plans, bequests

Happy Reunion: Marge Tomanocy, left, had a reunion with Father Jim Kelly following the Father Bishop Legacy Society luncheon. Over 40 years ago Marge was one of the first Glenmary Lay Missioners and Father Kelly was among the first priests to join Glenmary. Marge explained to planned giving officer Susan Lambert, center, that she worked with Father Kelly in those early days of Glenmary and had not seen him in many years.

Forty members of the Father Bishop Legacy Society gathered at Glenmary’s Cincinnati Headquarters on June 8 for Mass and a luncheon. This is the fourth year that this annual gathering of planned givers was held.

“The day went very well,” said planned giving officer Susan Lambert. “We had a good turnout and everyone seemed to really enjoy the event.”

Father Bob Poandl, then first vice president, celebrated the liturgy in Our Lady of the Fields Chapel at the Glenmary residence.

In his homily, he thanked those gathered for their generosity in supporting Glenmary’s work in the home missions. “It’s because of your goodness, prayers and gifts that we missioners have the opportunity to do mission,” he said. “And we do that mission in your name and in the name of the Church.”

The Father Bishop Legacy Society was established in 2003 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Glenmary’s founder, Father William Howard Bishop. To date there are approximately 650 members who have made planned gifts or bequest commitments to Glenmary.

Following Mass, the guests enjoyed a luncheon and a brief presentation by Father Dominic Duggins, Glenmary’s development director.

The gifts from the members of the Father Bishop Legacy Society, he said, account for approximately 30 percent of Glenmary’s operating income in a typical year.

“On behalf of those we serve,” he said, “we thank you for all you do to make our ministry possible.”

As a token of appreciation, Father Dominic gave each donor an autographed copy of Big Stone Gap, the first book in a trilogy by Adriana Trigiani. Trigiani grew up in Big Stone Gap, Va., where she and her family belonged to the Glenmary mission in nearby Norton, Va. She has remained connected to Glenmary and donated the books for the event.