The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 10 and 11 in the Diocese of St. Cloud. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office, the parish-based appeal benefits nearly 33,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose communities lack adequate retirement savings.
The St. Cloud Diocese contributed $68,060 to the 2015 collection. In 2016, St. John’s Abbey received financial assistance made possible by the Retirement Fund for Religious. Women and men religious who serve or have served in the diocese but whose communities are based elsewhere may also benefit from the annual appeal.
“We are humbled by the love and support that Catholics across the nation share with our senior religious,” said Sister Stephanie Still, a member of the Sisters of the Presentation and newly appointed NRRO executive director.
The Catholic bishops of the United States initiated the collection in 1988 to address the significant lack of retirement funding among U.S. religious communities. Proceeds help underwrite retirement and health-care expenses. Nearly 95 percent of donations directly support senior religious and their communities. Throughout the year, additional funding is allocated for congregations with the greatest needs. Visit www.retiredreligious.org for more information.