Bernard Hamoline’s love of God and of the Church shines forth – whether in conversation or hearing him sing God’s praises. His faith is lived out in his work with the parishes of St. Denis, Prud’homme and Vonda in the Trinité pastoral region and it grounds his commitment to his family, to the land and to the community.
It is also reflected in the planned gift that he recently made to the Diocese of Saskatoon.
“When I think about my life and the key things of my life, they have always been centered around the Church. I feel that the Church has been part of the life I have now, and the life that I am going to have in eternity. So it only makes sense for me I think to want to support that into the future,” he says of the decision to leave a legacy gift to his diocese.
“Everything God has given us as resources is intended to go back to God or used for God,” says Hamoline. “So this is just a small way of registering that message now, as I talk this over with my family, and after my death, as part of my last will and testament.
“I want to leave a legacy to my children and to my family – and everything that is important in our lives and into eternity is part of that legacy, so it makes sense for me to give a gift to the church to ensure that legacy continues,” he says of his reasons for setting up the planned gift. “It is also way for me to show leadership, to give an example to my family and the people I serve in the parish.”
Even after he dies, Bernard hopes and prays that the legacy gift will provide a witness “that faith is important, faith matters.”
Not knowing whether his estate would be large or small, Bernard decided to follow the Biblical exhortation about giving God the first 10 per cent and set up a planned gift using that percentage as a starting point.
There are many ways to make a gift to the church through your estate and leave a legacy of faith. Mr. Bernard Hamoline chooses to make his gift through a Bequest in his Will to be shared with the 3 Trinity Parishes and the Diocese of Saskatoon. Two other common ways to supporting your faith community through your estate is by making the church beneficiary and/or owner of a Life Insurance Policy or adding the church as a beneficiary of a RRSP or RRIF. For more information on ways to support your parish, a ministry, program, or make an unrestricted gift to the Diocese of Saskatoon please contact Jocelyne Hamoline at 306-659-5849.