Catholic Causes

Your Parish

There are 75 parishes in the diocese and many have been the spiritual homes of their local communities for generations. They administer the mass and sacraments, along with providing a variety of ministries. Parishes rely upon the support of parishioners to help sustain their mission. To leave a bequest to your parish, please click here to request your parish's specific legal name, legal address and tax ID number.

To leave a legacy gift to Your Parish in your will, you can use this bequest language:

Sample Bequest Language for your Will or Revocable Living Trust

A gift to the Your Parish in your will or revocable trust enables you to support their mission and make a difference in the lives of future generations. A bequest:

• is easy to arrange.
• will not alter your current lifestyle in any way.
• can be easily modified to address your changing needs.

Residual Gift Language

A residual bequest comes to us after your estate expenses and specific bequests are paid:

I give and devise to [Parish Legal Name] (Tax ID #), located in [City/Town], CT, all (or state a percentage) of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to be used for its general support (or for the support of a specific ministry).

Specific Gift Language

Naming the Diocese of Bridgeport as a beneficiary of a specific amount from your estate is easy:

I give and devise to [Parish Legal Name] (Tax ID #), located in [City/Town], CT, the sum of $___________ (or asset) to be used for its general support (or for the support of a specific fund or program).

Contingent Gift Language

[Parish Name] or its affiliates can be named as a contingent beneficiary in your will or personal trust if one or more of your specific bequests cannot be fulfilled:

If (insert name) is not living at the time of my demise, I give and devise to [Parish Legal Name] (Tax ID #), located in [City/Town], CT, the sum of $ _______ (or all or a percentage of the residue of my estate) to be used for its general support (or for the support of a specific fund or program).

If you've already written your will, this codicil can be used to amend your will: Please click here to download

*A codicil is a legal document that changes specific provisions in your will but leaves all the other provisions the same.