The 30th appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious will be
held Nov. 11-12 in the Diocese of Arlington. The annual collection is
coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) and benefits
some 32,000 aging Catholic sisters, brothers and priests in religious orders.
Catholic bishops of the United States initiated the collection in
1988 to help address the deficit in retirement savings among the nation’s
religious congregations. Proceeds are distributed to eligible congregations to
help underwrite retirement and health-care expenses. Roughly 94 percent of
donations aid elderly religious.
“We continue to be amazed and grateful for the outpouring of
support for senior religious and their communities,” said Presentation Sister
Stephanie Still, the NRRO’s executive director.
The 2016 appeal raised more than $30 million. The NRRO
distributed $25 million in financial assistance to 390 religious communities
across the country. Religious communities combine this funding with their own
income and savings to meet a host of eldercare needs, including medications and
nursing care. Throughout the year, additional funding is allocated to provide
expanded assistance to religious communities with significant
retirement-funding deficits. A portion of the proceeds also supports education
in retirement planning and eldercare delivery.
Proceeds from the collection underwrite financial assistance, educational
programming and hands-on consultation that help religious communities reduce
funding deficits, enhance eldercare and plan for long-term needs. “Our goal is
to help religious communities meet today’s retirement needs while preparing for
the ones to come—so that religious young and old can continue to serve the
People of God,” said Sister Still.
Find out more
Go to retiredreligious.org.
