Planting Seeds for the Coming Harvest

“And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
                                                                                      Mark 4:8

Planting Seeds for the Coming Harvest is the theme that helps us describe our work in creating and growing endowments to further the mission of the Catholic Church. It is the philanthropic cultivation needed to ensure an active and dynamic future for the Catholic Church in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties.

Through God’s grace, the "Seeds" come from benefactors through the generosity of planned giving and major gifts. These charitable gifts will grow in number, over time, to reap bountiful harvests through the creation of endowments that will strengthen the eternal work of the Church.

Benefactors are invited to designate their gifts to support the Archdiocese, or any parish, school, ministry or other Catholic institution within the Archdiocese of Hartford. The harvesting of endowments will provide a permanent and perpetual source of income for the benefit of the benefactor’s parish, school or favored ministry.

Endowments are like a mustard seed — “the plant grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make their nests in its branches” (Luke 13:19). The tree is the Church, the branches are the parishes, schools and ministries throughout the Archdiocese, and the birds are the Catholic faithful.

The emblem for Seeds for the Coming Harvest features a dove, which signifies the joining of the Holy Spirit with the Church’s benefactors, who will bring new life to the Church. Our responsibility as Catholic faithful is to evangelize and pass on our Catholic faith to future generations. The “Harvest” will ensure that our Catholic heritage is forever alive and strong.

Planting Seeds for the Coming Harvest allows benefactors to demonstrate their gratitude for God’s abundant graces, and to share their blessings with others to help increase the fruits of the Church.

“And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." Mark 4:8

"The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. Mark 4:24

"What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and 'the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” Luke 13:18-19

“For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be takenaway.” Mt 25:29