The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection, coordinated
by the National Religious Retirement Office, will be held in the diocese Nov.
9-10. The parish-based appeal benefits some 30,000 senior Catholic sisters,
brothers and religious order priests.
Last year, the diocese donated $464,322.20 to the collection and
the appeal raised $27.7 million nationally, funding 360 religious congregations
across the nation.
“We are humbled and profoundly grateful for the countless
Catholics who honor the service and witness of senior religious through their
prayers and generosity,” said Presentation Sister Stephanie Still, NRRO
executive director.
The appeal began in 1988 to help address the lack of retirement
savings among U.S. religious communities and has since raised $872 million.
Proceeds from the annual collection allow the NRRO to offer assessment tools,
educational programming, services and resources that enable communities to
evaluate and prepare for long-term retirement needs. The NRRO also coordinates
an extensive network of volunteer consultants, including experts in eldercare
and financial planning, to help congregations lower costs while enhancing care.
“Donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious enable our office
to provide financial assistance for an array of direct needs,” said Sister
Still. “They also underwrite education and resources that help religious
communities stretch retirement dollars and plan for the future.”
Find out more
Go to retiredreligious.org.
© Arlington Catholic Herald 2019