“Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response” by the USCCB defines a Christian steward as one who gratefully receives, responsibly cultivates, lovingly shares, and returns God’s gifts to the Lord.
Encompassing some of those same values, the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana Catholic is sponsoring three sessions that will focus on the topic “Creating Wealth, Establishing a Legacy, Responsible Estate Planning” in August. Leading the discussions will be presenters Garett Bonk, an estate lawyer with Bonk Law Offices, and Daniel Rodriguez, regional director at Notre Dame Federal Credit Union.
The free seminar will be held at three locations within the Diocese of Gary: Aug. 3, 6 p.m., at Holy Family Parish in LaPorte; Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m., at St. Paul in Valparaiso; and Aug. 12, 6 p.m., at St. Matthias in Crown Point.
Judy Holicky, coordinator of stewardship and development, said this seminar will give attendees concrete tools and steps they can use to preserve family income, build a nest egg, and leave a legacy that supports their family members and ministries in the future.
“When we learn how to best manage money during our lifetime, we can leave a generous portion to the people and the things we love most,” she said.
Holicky explained that there is “a paradigm shift that happens when we hand over our finances to God.” She hopes people who attend the seminar will walk away with a prayer in their heart, understanding that God has already blessed them with more than they need.
She added, “We often have enough to share with others, specifically to share with our parishes and ministries, our Catholic schools and religious education programs. I want people to feel confident in making financial decisions that include their ministries and not just their own satisfaction.”
In her own experience, Holicky said when she first started putting God in charge of her finances, she discovered that no matter the medical bills or other expenses, she was reminded that she has many God-given talents that allowed her to start over from scratch. For Holicky, it’s about leading a simple life with small daily acts of charity.
For example, Holicky shared that she paid off a car loan a couple of years ago, and in the next month, a friend lost their house to fire. She was happy to write a check for the amount that her car would have cost.
“I did not even miss the money, but it was a big thing to the family in need,” she explained. “I find I can be generous to others and within a short time, God will bless me tenfold.”
Holicky stated she believes in all that the Catholic Foundation does, like making sound investments through a reputable wealth management firm. She also noted the foundation gives back to the community through the Mercy Grant and Eucharistic Adoration Grant.
“My father taught me to let my money work for me; the foundation puts money to work for our endowment fund holders, the many churches, Catholic schools and other ministries,” she said. “It creates a permanent stream of cash flow for the endowment holders.”
Holicky shared that she has wanted to host this seminar for several years. Both presenters are on the Catholic Foundation Board of Directors. The first time she met Garett Bonk, an estate lawyer, he gave an animated presentation on managing your money toward end-of-life. She knows Daniel Rodriguez through the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union. Rodriguez has gone into schools to teach children and teenagers how to manage their money and how to have a different attitude toward money.
Rodriguez’s career in banking actually began by accident. Twenty-one years ago, while attending college and working as a package handler for FedEx, he realized he wanted a career that better aligned with his business management studies and offered a more sustainable work-life balance. A friend encouraged him to apply at Bank Calumet, and he was hired as a teller. That opportunity changed the course of his life. On Oct. 5 of this year, he will celebrate 21 years in the banking industry.
“Today, as regional director for diocesan development at Notre Dame Federal Credit Union, I have the opportunity to combine my passion for financial stewardship with my Catholic faith, helping organizations strengthen their financial future so they can continue serving their communities,” he said.
Rodriguez shared that the seminars are designed to help people understand that it’s never too early – or too late – to begin planning for their financial future. He plans to discuss practical retirement planning strategies, how to build wealth over time, and the importance of creating a thoughtful estate plan that reflects financial goals and values.
For those who are still working, Rodriguez will focus on the steps they can take today to prepare for retirement. For those already retired, he’ll discuss strategies to help preserve assets, generate reliable income and ensure their savings last throughout retirement.
“More than anything, I hope attendees leave feeling empowered rather than overwhelmed,” he said. “Financial planning doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right plan and guidance, everyone can take meaningful steps toward financial security while creating a lasting legacy for their loved ones and the causes they care about.”
Rodriguez noted that faith reminds us that we are stewards, not owners, of the blessings God has entrusted to us. He added financial planning isn’t just about accumulating wealth – it’s about responsibly managing those blessings in a way that honors God, cares for families, and supports the ministries and communities that have shaped our lives.
“Every day, I have the privilege of helping Catholic parishes, schools and ministries strengthen their financial foundation so they can continue carrying out their mission,” Rodriguez said. “That’s far more than a career to me – it’s a vocation.”
Garett Bonk’s father, Gary Bonk, inspired him to become an estate planning attorney. He grew up working at his dad’s office and often witnessed the clients’ appreciation for the work he had done for them and their families. He decided to attend law school with the hope that he could similarly help families navigate through their legal issues. During law school, he interned with the Illinois Appellate Court and clerked for a law firm called DDV Law, LTD., which exposed him to other areas of the law, including some complex estate issues. Ultimately, these experiences motivated him to return home and carry on the work of helping clients achieve their estate planning goals.
Bonk said he is excited to share information about estate planning options that could help audience members ensure their assets are properly managed and eventually surpass their goals without the interference of the Probate Court. Specifically, he plans to explain the different estate planning tools, such as Last Wills, Transfer on Death Deeds, and Revocable Living Trusts. He will also briefly focus on charitable estate planning tools for those who are interested in leaving a legacy that will impact their community for years after their death.
“I hope attendees walk away inspired to reflect on their estate planning goals and consider how their estate can affect others beyond their immediate family,” he said.
Bonk said faith can play a major role in how people establish an estate plan. He explained his meetings start with a comprehensive review of all the assets owned by a client. This exercise gives the client perspective on the size of their estate and the impact it can have on those important to the client. He said clients often credit their faith and service to Christ as to why they have been blessed with the health and resources they have today.
Bonk added, “Furthermore, this exercise sometimes inspires clients to craft their estate plan to share their blessing by giving back to causes like one of our many endowment funds within the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana, and consequently motivate future generations to carry on the faith.”
For more information about the Catholic Foundation, visit https://catholicfuture.org. To register for one of the free seminars, visit catholicfuture.org/events.
