Retirement Fund for Religious Anual Appeal

Join our brothers and sisters throughout the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Sunday, December 12, 2021, by supporting the annual appeal for Retirement Fund for Religious (RFR) collection. Please join me in offering it your prayerful and vocal support.

Pope Francis often highlights the role older adults play in conveying faith from one generation to the next. Recently, he noted that “there is no retirement age from the work of proclaiming the Gospel.”1 As we approach the annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection—an appeal that benefits some 26,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests—I am reminded that senior religious never retire from their vows.

Instead, the prayer and ministry of older religious are an ongoing witness to the Gospel. In their younger years, they laid the foundation for Catholic schools, hospitals, and works of mercy. Today, many serve in volunteer ministry. Others are frail and need assistance. Yet all remain wholly committed to their vocations, accepting the limitations of aging and embracing the opportunity to spend more time praying for our Church and world.

Most senior religious worked for little pay, and now their religious communities do not have enough retirement savings. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious offers support that helps religious communities provide loving care for older members while ensuring younger ones can continue the good works of their elders.

I recognize you may be experiencing your own financial difficulties. I ask only that you give what you can. Most importantly, please join me in praying for God’s continued blessing on our nation’s elderly sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. Please join me in offering your prayerful and vocal support of this annual campaign.

More information about the Retirement Fund for Religious can be found at www.retiredreligious.org.

An envelope for the Retirement Fund for Religious is included in the December envelope packet. Please make sure your check is made payable to the parish church, clearly marking in the memo (RFR) (4030.400).  If you use online giving, you can make one-time or recurring gifts using debit cards, credit cards, or eChecks (ACH) St. Boniface Parishioners Make a Gift Here  |  St. Meinrad Parishioners Make a Gift Here.

The Need

Across the United States, hundreds of religious communities lack financial resources sufficient to meet the retirement and health-care needs of aging members.

• Lack of Funds

  Many elder religious worked for years for small stipends, leaving a large gap in retirement savings. At the same time, fewer religious are able to serve in compensated ministry.

• Rising Costs

  Like many Americans, religious communities face the monumental challenge of funding eldercare.
   

• Changing Demographics

  Today, retired religious outnumber wage-earners by nearly three to one.