Bequests: Join the Perpetual Light Society

The Perpetual Light Society

The Perpetual Light Society provides Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Louis the opportunity to support the Annual Catholic Appeal with a gift that will become a legacy for your families. I invite you to consider a bequest or other type of planned gift and continue your personal or family tradition of faithful stewardship beyond your lifetime. Your witness demonstrates your selfless support for the ministries of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. — Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Archbishop of St. Louis

What is the Perpetual Light Society?

The members of the Perpetual Light Society (PLS) have made a commitment to the Annual Catholic Appeal Endowment Fund. The endowment fund was established to support the long-term financial future of the Annual Catholic Appeal; allowing those who love the Church to support those in need for generations. Your legacy gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal will always serve where help is needed most, in line with the priorities of the Archbishop of St. Louis. Every year, a portion of the funds, which are invested in accordance with the social teaching of the Catholic Church, are used to provide funding for ministries of the Annual Catholic Appeal.

Who Can Give?

Membership in the PLS is open to anyone – regardless of income or age – who includes the Annual Catholic Appeal or the Annual Catholic Appeal Endowment in their estate planning.

Benefits of Giving

Your planned gift, made from assets rather than income, can make a tremendous impact on the Annual Catholic Appeal, likely at no cost to you during your lifetime. Special recognition includes:

  • Members are remembered for generations to come. Each name or family name is inscribed in the hand-painted archdiocesan “Book of Life” on display at the Cardinal Rigali Center.
  • Members are invited to an annual appreciation event.
  • Members are remembered in the prayers of our retired priests at Regina Cleri.
  • Most importantly, members can know that their gift will serve the mission of the Church for years to come.

Ways to Give

Give Later*

Leave a gift through a bequest in your will or trust or designate our fund as beneficiary of your life insurance or retirement accounts.

Give Now

Make an outright gift of cash, stock, retirement assets or real estate.

Give and Receive

Make a gift and receive income for life or a term of years with a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder unitrust. The Annual Catholic Appeal partners with the Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri to assist our donors with planned giving needs.

For more details on these and other ways you can support our fund with a planned gift, please visit rcfstl.org or call 314.918.2890.

*When leaving a gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal Endowment Fund through your will or trust or by naming the fund as the beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy, please use the following language: Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri (EIN 46-3309222)/Annual Catholic Appeal Endowment Fund.