CHARLOTTE — Without support from the faithful, thousands of consecrated religious seniors will lack resources for health care and other needs in retirement. The Diocese of Charlotte hopes to help bridge the gap with its participation in the Church’s annual Retirement Fund for Religious second collection, slated for Dec. 10-11.
Coordinated by the U.S. bishops’ National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), the national appeal assists hundreds of religious communities in providing for the ongoing needs of elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.
Since the late 1800s, western North Carolina has been home to hundreds of religious priests, brothers and sisters whose orders have sent them here to serve
Catholics in this ever growing diocese. Upon retirement, many religious return to their monasteries, friaries, motherhouses or headquarters of their orders to live their vocation in a retirement setting until their passing.
“Many of these retired religious were instrumental in building up the Church in western North Carolina and gave of themselves, not for financial gain, but to selflessly serve the faithful and our community,” said Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, in an appeal letter to the faithful.
The U.S. bishops started the collection in 1988 to address a significant lack of retirement funding among U.S. religious orders. Distinct from retired priest collections that dioceses must pay for the care of their retired diocesan priests, this annual collection benefits eligible religious orders to help underwrite retirement and health-care expenses for nearly 25,000 aging religious.
The 2021 appeal raised nearly $28.5 million, and this past June, the NRRO distributed $30 million in financial assistance to 271 religious communities across the nation. The Charlotte diocese contributed more than $232,452 to the collection last year.
“I think it is appreciation for the service and witness of senior religious that inspires such a heartfelt response to the annual collection,” said Sister Stephanie Still, PBVM (Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary), executive director of the NRRO. “Ultimately, our success rests not in strangers but in the brothers and sisters in Christ who share our vision of ensuring all religious can enjoy a secure retirement.”
The religious 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. The funds may be applied toward immediate retirement needs or invested for future eldercare expenses.
Monsignor Winslow enjoins the faithful to, “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. 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.