On behalf of more than 33,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who benefit from the Retirement Fund for Religious, please accept my prayerful thanks for your diocese's tremendous support of the 2014 collection. The Diocese of Charlotte donated $310,075.52, its highest total ever. Since the collection was launched in 1988, total diocesan contributions have amounted to $5,027,952.96.
Your generosity, combined with that of Catholics across the nation, enables our office to distribute critical funding to help religious communities meet the day-to-day needs of senior members. It also enables us to provide education, resources, and consultative support to help religious communities plan for long-term retirement expenses. The good we are able to do is in direct measure to the good we have been given. For this, we offer abundant thanks. May our loving God bless you.
— Sister Janice Bader, avowed with the Sisters of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, is the executive director of the National Religious Retirement Office.
Deacon James Toner, in concluding Aug. 5 his column “Just call me ‘Bob’,” posed the question, “so should we show respect for the sacred office of priest and for him who is privileged to hold that office, by referring to him, not as ‘Bob,’ but as ‘Father Smith.’
Does that then show an increased level of respect for the person, position or office? Sometimes it is difficult to separate the person from the position held. Our life experience shows that having a title doesn’t always equate to respect.
Like Deacon Toner, I was in the military and then entered a career in law enforcement for almost 30 years. I found over the years that respect is something which is earned and doesn’t automatically come with any title. I do have great respect for those who enter the priesthood and religious life. It is a great act of love and sacrifice that should be respected and honored.
Referring to my parish priest as “Father Bob” or “Father Smith” certainly in my mind does not diminish the respect I have for him.
Jim Healy lives in Charlotte.
Related: Deacon James H. Toner: Just call me ‘Bob’