CULLMAN – The Clairvaux Society is an organization, established in 2010, to ensure the long-term future of St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School through planned giving. Members of the society gathered recently to celebrate reaching the society’s initial goal of $10M in committed gifts.
The planned gifts from the 79 Founding Members of the Clairvaux Society have been made in the form of insurance policies, annuities, real estate, stocks, bonds, cash, and bequests in wills and estate plans. The values of the planned gifts range from $2,000 to $1M, and the ages of the Founding Members from 19 to 95 years of age.
At the celebration held on November 7, 2015, Abbot Cletus Meagher offered a Mass of thanksgiving in the Abbey Church. Following the Mass, the group gathered with the monks for a reception and dinner honoring the Founding Members, and inducting the 7 new members: Fr. Richard Altenbaugh, Mr. & Mrs. Clark Branch, Jr, Mr. & Mrs. Tom Brett, Mrs. Carolyn E. Eck, Mr. & Mrs. David Kassouf, Fr. John McDonald and Fr. Augustine Moore, PhD. The celebratory dinner was prepared by chef Allie Foster and her staff and served by the students of St. Bernard Prep School.
In his remarks during the dinner, Abbot Cletus thanked the Founding Members for their very generous support of St. Bernard. He announced that the Clairvaux Society would continue to welcome and honor new members who desired to support St. Bernard through planned gifts. Fr. Marcus Voss announced that the Fifth Annual Clairvaux Society Mass and Dinner will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016.
As has been the Society's tradition, new members will be inducted at that time, and receive their Clairvaux Society pins, certificates and books.
Anyone desiring further information is asked to contact Fr. Marcus at 256-531-2010 or Chris Rooney at 617-283-5158.
