Msgr. Sam Bianco — born as the Great Depression ended and his father went off to war, raised in the postwar boom, ordained in that first decade after the Second Vatican Council — had a 45-year career in ministry. 

TORONTO - It is the morning after a loved one has suddenly passed away and you are all alone. There is so much rushing through your mind, not least of which is giving your loved one the proper send off from this world. Who do you turn to for help? A funeral director of course. 

The voice over the phone said, “Our parish has been bequeathed some land in the Bahamas! What’s the next step?” 

Fr. Chris Cauchi is raising funds to raise an 88-year-old church roof, and thanks to a major donation the heavy lifting has become easier. 

A charitable gift annuity is a gift that keeps on giving. For the life of the annuity it can generate a steady income stream for retirees and provide regular donations to charities. 

Years ago, cremation was forbidden for Catholics because those who popularized the practice did it as a way of denying the resurrection of Christ, life after death and the resurrection of the body at the end of time. Their thought was to destroy the body so that God could not resurrect it. 

With the Catholic Church playing a huge role in Fr. John Newton’s life, it seemed natural to him to remember the Archdiocese of Toronto in a significant way in his will. 

When it comes to giving to the Church, the adage that cash is king is not necessarily true. 

One of the most challenging issues in estate planning is how to handle the disposition of a vacation property. The challenge is how to dispose of such property either during life or at death. For those with a small family or perhaps a single child, the decision is not challenging. For those with multiple children, the decision on whether to retain family vacation properties or share them among members of the family can be difficult. 

A comprehensive estate plan provides for the transfer of assets to designated heirs after a person’s death as well as makes provisions for management of a person’s affairs in the event they are incapable of doing so themselves while still alive. An estate plan ensures your wishes are carried out. But it must be created properly. Below Amanda J. Stacey, a partner in the Private Client Services and Charity and Not-for- Profit groups at Miller Thomson LLP., reviews some of the most common estate planning mistakes and pitfalls.