CHARLOTTE — The 34th annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be taken up in parishes across the Diocese of Charlotte Dec. 11-12.
Coordinated by the U.S. bishops’ National Religious Retirement Office, the national appeal assists hundreds of religious order communities in providing for the ongoing needs of elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.
The U.S. bishops initiated the collection in 1988 to address the significant lack of retirement funding among U.S. religious orders. Distinct from retired priest collections held in respective dioceses for the care of retired diocesan priests, this annual collection benefits eligible religious orders to help underwrite retirement and health-care expenses for nearly 26,330 aging religious.
The 2020 appeal raised $20.7 million, and this past June, the NRRO distributed $25 million in financial assistance to 321 religious communities across the nation. The Charlotte diocese contributed more than $176,019 to the collection last year.
“While this (2020) amount represents a decrease compared to previous years, we are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support – especially in such difficult times,” said Sister Stephanie Still, PBVM (Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary), who serves as the NRRO’s executive director. “For me, these gifts are a beautiful expression of the appreciation U.S. Catholics have for the service and witness of our elderly sisters, brothers and religious order priests.”
The religious order communities that benefit from the NRRO collection combine that funding with their own income and savings to help furnish day-to-day necessities, including medications and nursing care, and the distributions may be applied toward immediate retirement needs or invested for future eldercare expenses.
The retirement-funding deficit is rooted in low salaries and changing demographics. Traditionally, Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests – often known collectively as “women and men religious” – engaged in ministry for little to no pay. As a result, many of their religious communities lack adequate retirement savings. Elderly religious are also living longer and, according to NRRO data, outnumber younger, wage-earning religious by nearly three to one.
Like many other Americans, religious communities struggle with the ever-rising cost of health care. The total cost of care for religious past age 70 exceeds $1 billion annually. COVID-19 has compounded this already difficult situation.
Through the annual collection, the NRRO helps religious communities address their funding deficits. In addition to direct financial aid, donations make possible resources and services that assist communities in evaluating and preparing for long-term retirement needs.
“As we move forward from this pandemic, remember that all gifts big or small combine to provide generous support for our retired religious,” noted Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, in an annual appeal letter to the faithful.
“Please consider making a gift and pray for the retired religious who have given us so much and changed so many lives throughout the United States.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter. The USCCB and the National Religious Retirement Office contributed.
Learn more
At www.retiredreligious.org: Learn more about the Retirement Fund for Religious collection and who it supports
CHARLOTTE — As Advent quickly approaches, so does a day of great generosity. Save some money after shopping Black Friday and Cyber Monday to give back to Catholic-related charitable efforts on Tuesday, Nov. 30.
The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has become known as “Giving Tuesday.” Catholics can focus their charitable giving on this day in numerous ways.
Campaigns such as #iGiveCatholic, originally launched in 2015 as a 24-hour fundraiser to benefit the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, have grown into a broader social media movement that resonates with people who want combat the commercialization and consumerism that has attempted to overtake the true meaning of Christmas.
There are several local Catholic-related charitable efforts you can consider giving to this season, including Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. Thanks to your support, Catholic Charities helped almost 18,000 participants of all ages across the 46 counties in the diocese last year through more than a dozen services and programs to strengthen families, build communities and reduce poverty - including food pantries, mental health counseling and veteran services. Find ways to help and donate to Catholic Charities at www.ccdoc.org/donate.
Another option to consider is St. Joseph College Seminary, which hopes to focus its Giving Tuesday efforts on funding a special piece of artwork for its future permanent chapel. Father Matthew Kauth, rector of the college seminary, has been working with Chiara Perinetti Casoni, an Italian artist from Siena, Italy, on creating a large multi-paneled screen, called a reredos, to adorn the Blessed Sacrament. The artwork will feature original images depicting the life of St. Joseph, an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, and depictions of other saints. On Giving Tuesday, the college seminary hopes to raise $30,000 through its #iGiveCatholic campaign for this project. To donate, visit www.stjcs.org/donation and select “Special Projects.”
Another option is the Airport Chaplaincy at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. While the chaplaincy is non-denominational in its mission to serve airport travelers and employees, deacons of the diocese are closely involved in its work. The ministry has organized nearly 300 Masses and prayer services, ministered to 1,375 visitors and prayed hundreds of prayer requests from employees and travelers this year. Chaplains volunteered more than 2,600 hours ministering to people who travel and work at the airport, one of the nation’s busiest, and their work has been especially critical in response to the economic impacts caused by the pandemic. Consider donating to this ministry by going online to www.cltairportchapel.org.
Other options to “give Catholic” on Giving Tuesday include:
- Catholic Campus Ministry
- Catholic Schools
- Catholic Conference Center improvements
- Charlotte Catholic High School’s capital campaign
- Christ the King High School’s capital campaign
- Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA)
- Eucharistic Congress
- Priests’ Retirement & Benefits Collection
- Seminarian Education
- Donate a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift to your parish
Find links to donate at www.charlottediocese.org/development/ways-to-give
— Kimberly Bender, online reporter