Special collection covers needs of aging religious

The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 10-11 in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and most parishes across the U.S.  Now in its 29th year, the collection is coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) and benefits nearly 33,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose religious communities lack adequate retirement funding.
 
The appeal raised $30.7 million in 2015, the sixth-highest total in its history.

The NRRO distributed $25 million to 401 religious communities across the county. In the Archdiocese of New Orleans last year, Catholics contributed $292,682.

In the archdiocese, local religious communities received $531,219 in support from last year’s collection.

“I continue to be inspired by the generous response of the people of God in our archdiocese,” said Sister of Mount Carmel Beth Fitzpatrick, executive director of the archdiocesan Department of Religious. “Religious are profoundly grateful and pray for those whose care of us is a manifestation of God’s own provident love. You have a permanent place in our hearts.”

Communities use this assistance to bolster retirement savings and subsidize such day-to-day expenses as prescription medications and nursing care. Throughout the year, additional funding is allocated for religious congregations with the greatest needs. A portion of the proceeds also supports education in retirement planning and elder care delivery.

“The ongoing generosity toward the needs of senior religious is truly heartwarming,” said Sister Stephanie Still, a member of the Sisters of the Presentation and the newly appointed executive director of the NRRO.

The U.S. bishops initiated the Retirement Fund for Religious in 1988 to address the significant lack of retirement funding among religious communities in the U.S. Proceeds are distributed to eligible communities to help underwrite retirement and health-care expenses. Since the collection began, Catholics have contributed more than $785 million. Almost 95 percent of donations directly support senior religious and their communities.

Despite this generosity to the collection, many religious communities continue to struggle to provide for aging members. Of 550 communities submitting data to the NRRO in 2015, only 8 percent were adequately funded for retirement.

Religious communities are financially autonomous and thus responsible for the care and support of all members. Historically, Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests – known collectively as women and men religious – ministered for small stipends. As a result, many religious communities now lack adequate retirement savings. Compounding the funding shortage are the rising cost of care and the substantial loss of income that has resulted from the declining number of religious able to serve in compensated ministry.

“Donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious enable our office to provide financial assistance, educational programming and resources that help religious communities reduce funding deficits and plan for long-term retirement needs,” said Sister Stephanie. “Religious communities are profoundly grateful for this support and are careful stewards of each dollar received.” 

More information is available at www.retiredreligious.org.