Single Mother Turned Faithful Benefactor
Cathy Colpitts´ Gift Ensures Her Parish´s Future for Generations
“Something was missing. I realized that what was missing was the Eucharist. It was then that I decided to return to Most Pure Heart.”
Cathy Colpitts, parishioner of Most Pure Heart of Mary in Topeka, has blessed her parish with a profound gift that beautifully reflects her faith and commitment to supporting her parish beyond her lifetime. In February 2024, Ms. Colpitts committed to naming the Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish Endowment Fund as beneficiary of the proceeds from the sale of her home in her estate plans. This act of generosity is made possible by the endowed funds held with the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas.
During her earlier years as a single mother of five, Cathy found herself in a similar position as many in the Archdiocese: living a modest life with a steadfast commitment to the faith, though financially unable to contribute a tithe. “It is a good way to give back after the years that I could not afford to. I was a single mother with five kids and only one salary; I rarely got child support and figured it was a strange commodity. I was so tight I couldn’t even give a dime to the church. Every time the priest talked about tithing, I felt bad that I couldn’t contribute. I just did what I could and told myself that when I’m older, maybe I’ll be able to do that’” Cathy said.
When asked about her estate plans, Ms. Colpitts remarked, “I just didn’t know what to do with the house and I didn’t want it to go into probate. Somebody had suggested that I donate it to my church, and I thought it was a good idea.” After discussing this with her pastor, Fr. Nathan Haverland, he contacted the Catholic Foundation, which helped facilitate her request. “I wanted my house to go to the endowment fund,” she said, “because there, I can be remembered and make an impact forever.”
Although she is currently dedicated to the faith, Cathy drifted away from the church for a brief period in her adult life, exploring Protestant denominations. “Something was missing. I realized that what was missing was the Eucharist. It was then that I decided to return to Most Pure Heart” Cathy said. She rekindled her faith when her mother was diagnosed with leukemia, taking her to Sunday Mass and holy days of obligation. “After my mother passed away, I decided to become a Eucharistic minister and have been ever since”. Cathy and her brother, Ed, continue to serve in this capacity at Most Pure Heart of Mary nearly every Sunday.
Gifts of real estate to an endowment fund with the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas are invested, and the growth of the fund is distributed to the institution in perpetuity. Because of her selflessness and commitment to her parish, Cathy will continue to support Most Pure Heart of Mary for generations to come. If you, like Cathy, would like to create a lasting impact with a parish, school, or ministry, the Catholic Foundation would be delighted to assist you.