Archdiocese partners with free will program to support families, parish legacies

Sunlight illuminates a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. (Photo by James Ramos/Herald)HOUSTON — Nearly 70% of American adults have not prepared a last will. Many who have wills have not updated them for new children, wives, or grandchildren. When a loved one passes without a will, families face significant logistical and financial challenges, only adding to their grief. 

In August 2025, the Archdiocese announced a partnership with MyCatholicWill.com to provide parishioners the opportunity to protect their families by creating a will for free.

Rhonda Bean, associate director of Development - Stewardship and Planned Giving, said the initiative “reflects our commitment to walk with our Catholic families in every season of life, ensuring their dignity and security.”

Through MyCatholicWill, every parishioner can access the website, walk through the questions, and complete a will, all for free, according to Bean.

“Those who participate are invited during the process to prayerfully consider a bequest to their parish, strengthening the Church’s mission for generations to come,” she said. “Many parishes have embraced this resource and have been blessed with an outpouring of generous commitments from the faithful, a testament to the Holy Spirit moving in our communities.”

The goals of the program are to provide Catholic faithful a free resource to prepare their last will, safeguarding their family’s future and legacy; to ensure that every Catholic may receive a funeral and burial rooted in Catholic sacred traditions; and to encourage prayerful bequests to support parishes and the missions of the Archdiocese.

“This is important to many — they want to pass on the heritage of their Catholic faith and positively impact future generations of Catholics,” Bean said. “But it is most, or more, important to have a will in place to protect those you love — provide guardians for your children, ensure a Catholic funeral and burial, and ensure that your assets are directed to the people and ministries that you care more about. Accidents happen, cancer comes, we don’t know when God will call us home, but we know we need to protect our families and honor our faith.”  

MyCatholicWill was founded in 2021 by brothers Thomas and Daniel Thimons because they recognized a need within the Church. Their mission is to secure Catholic legacies for future generations and, in the process, support Catholic nonprofits, like the Archdiocese and its parishes, by providing simple, practical tools to pass on the heritage of faith and positively impact future generations of Catholics across the country. 

MyCatholicWill exists to hand on the light of faith to the next generation through online self-help forms and templates, along with educational content from a Catholic perspective. 
With a bequest of $2,000 or more to the Archdiocese, the faithful can become members of the Sacred Heart Society.

Bean said, “The mission of the Sacred Heart Society is to leave an enduring footprint on our local Church and the advancement of our faith through legacy gifts, to provide enduring support for the advancement of our faith through our local Church, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.” 

Planned gifts made through wills, trusts, life insurance policies, or other estate-planning tools provide churches and religious communities with dependable, long-term financial support. 

By designating money, property or investments that take effect after a donor’s lifetime or as part of a broader estate plan, these contributions help fund future projects, building repairs and endowments. For donors, planned giving offers a meaningful way to leave a legacy and create a lasting impact on their faith community.

Anyone can use MyCatholicWill. Gift designations can be made for any Archdiocesan parish, a Catholic school, a ministry, St. Mary’s Seminary or simply to the Diocesan general fund. Leaving a gift is entirely optional and not required. One may also plan their Catholic funeral as they complete their will.

John Martinez said he and his wife, Teri, have always financially supported their church, St. Edith Stein Parish in Katy, or volunteered their time. 

For them, using MyCatholicWill.com meant they could continue to offer support and help those who need assistance by leaving a contribution to the Archdiocese in thanks for the gifts the Lord gave them during their lifetime. 

He said being part of the Sacred Heart Society was “Our opportunity to offer love, charity, and to help lay people to pray and offer sacrifice for their salvation during their earthly journey and assist those young men entering the priesthood. It offers a way to complete and find a way back to God through His Son, Jesus Christ.”

He added, “The Sacred Heart Society emphasizes unity for those individuals having diverse backgrounds and guidance to those lacking spiritual growth, and a means to become active in their church by offering their time and talents.”

A special Mass and reception will be held annually for members of the Sacred Heart Society. To join, complete the online form at www.archgh.org/sacredheartsociety. To start a will, visit www.MyCatholicWill.com/archgh.