PORTLAND---On the weekend of December 8-9, parishioners in the Diocese of Portland donated $106,168 during a special collection held in Maine Catholic churches for the Retirement Fund for Religious.
The annual appeal conducted by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) benefits over 30,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests (known collectively as women and men religious). In total, the collection in U.S. parishes in December generated over $28 million in donations. Religious communities combine these funds with their own income and savings to help meet expenses such as prescription medications and nursing care.
“Our mission is to provide financial support and educational assistance that enable religious communities to meet eldercare needs while developing long-range retirement strategies,” said Sister Stephanie Still, PBVM, the NRRO’s executive director. “We are profoundly grateful to the donors across the nation whose generosity and prayers sustain these efforts.”
In 1988, Catholic bishops of the United States launched the Retirement Fund for Religious to address the significant lack of retirement funding among religious communities. Traditionally, women and men religious served for very low wages that did not include retirement benefits. Today, hundreds of religious communities lack adequate retirement savings.
In addition to helping with day-to-day needs, collection proceeds underwrite initiatives to help religious communities address the factors underlying their retirement shortfalls. These efforts have facilitated solutions such as collaborative care facilities, strategic partnerships with providers of healthcare, and numerous cost-saving measures.
The Church in Maine has been touched by the many women and men in religious life who have offered prayers for the people of the diocese and ministered in education, healthcare, social services, pastoral ministry, and religious education within parishes, healthcare facilities, schools, and social service agencies.
“With the commitment of their lives, these women and men have chosen to follow Jesus and we are constantly renewed by the lives of those who continue to witness,” said Bishop Robert P. Deeley. “I want to express my profound thanks to them for responding to the call of the Lord to serve the Church as well as to all of the donors who contributed to this important fund.”
“We are overwhelmed by the ongoing generosity toward the annual appeal and by the love and thanksgiving for the service of our elder religious,” said Sister Still. “Our office is committed to stewarding these funds in ways that help religious communities care for older members while continuing to serve the People of God.”