News Briefs: Post-abortion support group MADISON -- Hope is available for those who suffer from the aftermath of abortion. Whole Heart, a post-abortion ministry, will offer a 14-week bible study and support group for women beginning Feb. 24. The support group uses a workbook titled, Forgiven and Set Free, which offers scripture reflections and journal exercises. A compassionate, safe, and confidential setting is provided. The facilitators have received training from Project Rachel and PACE (Post-Abortion Counseling and Education), which is a ministry of national Care Net. The Whole Heart team networks with Project Rachel and makes referrals to other post-abortion groups and resources. For additional information about the 14-week group or the Whole Heart Ministry of Care Net Pregnancy Center in Madison, call Cassie at 608-259-1605. Call by Feb. 17 to register for the support group. Pregnancy Helpline volunteers MADISON -- Pregnancy Helpline Inc., a pro-life organization, is seeking women and men volunteers for its phone counseling service. Volunteers answer the phone in their own homes. They are trained to take the caller to the next step in solving his/her problem by providing confidential lay crisis counseling, professional and emergency referrals, and/or connecting caller to community services. The next training session will start Saturday, Feb. 15, in the former Holy Redeemer School at 124 W. Johnson St. at 12:30 p.m. To register for the training session or for more information about being a volunteer, call Mary Ann Schulte at 608-233-4829. Beginning Experience: Helps to heal the pain of loss MADISON -- Beginning Experience is a weekend retreat for those suffering from the pain of loss through separation, divorce, or death. Presented by a team of people who have suffered the loss of a loved one, the Beginning Experience program is designed to be a time of closure on the past and a new beginning in the present. "Beginning Experience gives people the opportunity to deal with their grieving and understand where they're going to start to heal," said Paul Anderson, coordinator. "It is one of the most powerful things I've witnessed in divorce ministry." Presentations, personal private reflection, and small group sharing are part of the weekend. Those who have participated report increased emotional health and self respect; new skills to deal with the pain of loss; healthier family relationships; and renewed energy. In the Diocese of Madison, a Beginning Experience weekend will take place Friday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, March 2, at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison. Cost is $125, which includes two nights' lodging, five meals, and snacks. To register or for more information, call the Office of Family Ministry at 608-821-3175 or Anderson at 608-862-3613.

Lecture:
'Gospel as Call to Mission'

MADISON -- "The Gospel as Call to Mission" is the topic of the next St. Thérèse of Lisieux lecture that will be held on Wednesday, March 12, at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center here.

The featured speaker is Fr. Donald Senior, a Passionist priest, biblical scholar, president of Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago, and editor of The Catholic Study Bible.

Senior's lecture will highlight various unforgettable "calls" as captured in the Gospels and underscore their common threads: call, follow, and participate. He will stress that the life of discipleship begins with a call from Christ.

Senior has served as a professor of New Testament studies since 1972 at CTU, where he has served as president since 1987.

He entered the Passionist Religious Congregation in 1960 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1967. He has a license in theology and doctorate in New Testament studies from the University of Louvain, Belgium.

He has also pursued further graduate studies at Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Harvard University.

The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with evening prayer. Bishop William H. Bullock will preside. Following the lecture, there will be time for questions. Guests are invited to a reception in the dining room afterward.

Admission to the lecture is by reservation only. For more information, contact the Office of Pastoral Services at 608-821-3083 or e-mail pastoral@straphael.org.

Using stock in gift annuity: Can benefit donor and church

By Julianne Nornberg
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF

MADISON -- St. Thomas Aquinas parishioners Gini and Bob Kraft recently established a charitable gift annuity (CGA) with the Diocese of Madison.

In doing so, the Krafts became one of the first couples to use appreciated securities as a basis for the CGA.

It was their wish to do something for the church. After early contacts with Jay Conzemius, director of stewardship and development for the Diocese of Madison, it became obvious that setting up the CGA was not only a good solution, it was an excellent idea, said Bob.

Married over 55 years, the Krafts are third generation lifetime residents of Madison and products of parochial grade schools and Edgewood High School in Madison. Their roots in Catholicism were firmly entrenched within their bones, said Bob.

Self-employed for years prior to his retirement, Bob owned and operated Architects-Engineers-Inc. of Madison, a small firm responsible for the design and development of several churches in Wisconsin and Iowa.

Gift annuity benefits

The Krafts saved, invested, and into retirement years had securities with meaningful appreciation. Giving funds away in one sum might entail sizeable capital gain taxation. By taking such securities and creating a Diocese of Madison CGA, their donation allows them to receive a reasonable quarterly return and spreads the capital gain over many years.

"The donor gets a benefit and the donation can be spread out. As the donor, we not only receive income but we spread some taxes out, too," said Bob. "It's very easy to do; it's just a small bite at a time, but over the long term it does some good."

"It's just the right thing to do," he said. "God has been good to me and to our family."

Numerous options

Like others considering a CGA, the Krafts worked with Conzemius, who presented the numerous options available.

"A charitable gift annuity offers attractive interest rates. The resulting payments are partially tax-free," said Conzemius. "People choose to set up their gift annuities with the diocese because our program allows them to name his/her parish, the diocese, parish school, or a bishop-approved Catholic institution as primary beneficiary of their gift annuity."

In the case of the Krafts, they designated multiple beneficiaries of the gift portion of their CGA. A portion goes to each - the diocese, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison, and the Poor Sisters of Nazareth in Stoughton.

"The diocese benefits because we get to handle the annuity and we are always named as a minor beneficiary. Catholic ministries benefit because they could be designated as beneficiaries," said Conzemius.

"Last year, the Diocese of Madison gift annuity program secured over $55,000 in future gifts for parishes, parish schools, and other Catholic institutions, and over $40,000 in gifts for the diocese."

For information on how to set up a CGA with the diocese, call Jay Conzemius, 608-821-3040.

"Everything went like clockwork," said the Krafts. "We are pleased with our decision."