Long-term Impact
The Basilica Legacy Society recognizes forward-thinking donors who have provided for The Basilica Landmark in their estate plans. We acknowledge the generous intentions of those who will have a transformational impact on the lives of The Basilica community members and their families. A documented promise of a planned gift to The Basilica of Saint Mary or The Basilica Landmark helps ensure the long-term sustainability of our missions.
Once a year, members of the Legacy Society are honored at a celebratory brunch to thank them for their generosity.
Leaving a Legacy Ensuring The Basilica’s future
When you walk through the doors of The Basilica of Saint Mary, you can feel the weight of history—the intricate stonework, the light pouring through stained glass, the echoes of prayer and song that have filled the space for more than a century. But The Basilica is more than a historic building; it is a living community of faith, service, and beauty.
For generations, parishioners have cared not only for one another, but also for the church itself. Today, that legacy continues through the generosity of The Basilica Landmark’s Legacy Society—parishioners and friends who have made the extraordinary decision to include The Basilica in their estate plans. Their gifts ensure that this sacred place will endure, welcoming future generations just as it has welcomed them.
Legacy Society members—Laura Schommer, Daniel and Payton Waddell, and Dan and Carol Frenning—shared their stories, revealing why The Basilica holds such a special place in their lives and why they feel called to protect its future.
Finding Purpose in Service
For Laura Schommer, The Basilica has always been more than a parish. It is a community where friendships have blossomed and where she has lived out her call to serve.
A Young Family’s Commitment
For Daniel Waddell, The Basilica has been both a spiritual home and the setting for some of life’s most profound moments—including the baptism of his first child, Ollie, in early 2025.
A Lifetime of Devotion
Dan and Carol Frenning embody the enduring heart of the community. They joined in 1975, shortly after moving to the Lowry Hill neighborhood in Minneapolis.
Legacy Society News and Announcements
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Legacy Society Members 2025
Legacy Society Brunch Program, Sunday, September 28, 2025. Legacy Society recognizes those that have committed to supporting the future of…
moreMake an enduring gift to The Basilica of Saint Mary.
By including the Basilica in your estate plans, you help preserve its sacred beauty, sustain its ministries, and strengthen its mission for generations to come. Your legacy ensures that our historic church remains a place of prayer, justice, music, and community well into the future.
Through a bequest, beneficiary designation, charitable trust, or other planned gift, you join a community of faithful stewards whose generosity lives on at The Basilica.