Lamplighters Legacy Society

“As one lamp lights another nor grows less,
so nobleness enkindles nobleness.”
—James Russell Lowell, 1900

This quote from Lowell was a great favorite of Mother Mary Joseph Rogers, the founder of the Maryknoll Sisters and was an inspiration for her reflections and conferences given to the Maryknoll Sisters over the years. Drawing on that idea, the Lamplighters Legacy Society is our way of honoring and recognizing our partners’ continued support of our mission through their legacy by a remembrance in some form of planned gift.

When you commit some part of your endowment to us such as through a bequest in your will, making us a beneficiary of a Trust or entering into a Charitable Gift Annuity agreement with the Maryknoll Sisters, you become a member of the Lamplighters Legacy Society. Agreeing to be a Lamplighter allows us to honor and recognize your partnership with us.

Mother Mary Joseph Rogers, the founder of the Maryknoll Sisters, died on October 9, 1955. The legacy of her life—a deep spirituality and all-embracing love, an enthusiastic commitment to the mission of Jesus, a spirit of warm hospitality and gracious generosity, and a sense of kindly humor—is the foundation on which the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation rests.

The ability of the Congregation to fulfill its mission also rests on the generosity of our faithful benefactors, who unite their prayerful and financial support to our efforts in making God’s love visible in our world.

Lamplighters have a special bond with the Maryknoll Sisters and a unique partnership with us in fulfilling the Mission of Jesus. We are united in our mission of making God’s love visible.

How to Become a Lamplighter:

  • Make a bequest to the Maryknoll Sisters in your will or revocable trust.
  • Fund a Charitable Gift Annuity with the Maryknoll Sisters.
  • Make the Maryknoll Sisters a beneficiary of an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or other retirement plan.
  • Make the Maryknoll Sisters a remainder beneficiary of a charitable remainder trust.
  • Establish a charitable lead trust designating the income distribution to the Maryknoll Sisters.
  • Make the Maryknoll Sisters the owner and/or beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Benefits for Members of the Lamplighters Legacy Society:

  • Inscription in the book dedicated to its members
  • Membership certificate
  • Special remembrance annually on October 9 in the Mass to commemorate Mother Mary Joseph

God has yet a great work for us to do;
but the realization of this vision
depends on you and me as
individuals and on our cooperation.
Do we love enough, do we work
enough, do we pray enough,
and do we suffer enough?
Maryknoll’s future depends on our answer.
—Mother Mary Joseph, 1947

Helpful Information

The legal name of the Congregation is: Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Inc.

The Congregation is a nonprofit corporation [501(c)(3)] under the laws of the State of New York.

The Congregation’s tax identification number is 13-1740257.

Sample bequest language:

The residue of my estate, including real and personal property, I give, devise and bequeath to the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Inc. of Maryknoll, New York.

Or

I give, devise, and bequeath to the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Inc. of Maryknoll, New York ____________________________. (Insert dollar amount, percentage of estate, or exact description of property and its location.)

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I, [name], of [city, state ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Inc. or Maryknoll Lay Missioners [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic where you agree to make a gift to Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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