Special collection will help our religious sisters, priests, brothers retire
Aging women and men religious have offered a lifetime of service while maintaining a vow of poverty. A special collection taken up this weekend will allow our religious sisters, religious order priests, and brothers to retire.
Since 1988, the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), an organization launched by the Catholic bishops, has helped the religious transition into retirement after decades of service. On Dec. 9-10, the annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will take place in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Newark.
SUBSCRIBE TO JERSEY CATHOLIC NEWSLETTER
For most of their lives, religious work for little to no pay and without 401(k) plans or pensions to fund their retirements. Most didn’t see the money they earned because it went into the common pot of the house. The average annual Social Security benefit for a religious is $7,679, whereas the average U.S. beneficiary receives $21,902 according to data from the Retirement Fund for Religious.
“We are privileged to support those who have dedicated their lives to tireless service, and we are immensely grateful for the continuing generosity of U.S. Catholic donors to this vital cause,” John Knutsen, director of the NRRO, said.
Full lives, late retirement
“In the past, those serving in religious life traditionally received minimal compensation because of their vow of poverty, so by donors giving to the retirement fund, it shows appreciation for their work and provides them with a sense of security in their old age,” said Father James Day, 77, a member of the Trinitarians in Sykesville, Maryland.
He said he attended Catholic schools where he was taught by sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pennsylvania, who provided him with a witness to religious life.
Father Day made his final vows as a member of the Trinitarians in August 1967 and was ordained on Dec. 2, 1972.
After his ordination, he spent three years in formation work, training young men religious, and then spent 18 years as the pastor of a parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He then spent 29 years in the ministry of Catholic education, with 27 years at DeMatha Catholic High School, where he continues today as president.
Father James is very devoted to Padre Pio, and his life’s motto is “pray, hope, and don’t worry.”
Sister Brenda Cherry, 84, is a member of the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Halethorpe, MD.
Sister Brenda attended Catholic schools and was taught by Oblate sisters.
“I was just impressed, the way they were around for me to talk to. They were so different, which impressed me,” Sister Brenda said.
She entered the Oblates on Sept. 8, 1957. She has spent her entire ministry in education, teaching students of various ages in schools throughout Baltimore, Washington DC, and New Orleans. During that time, she spent 16 years as a principal.
Even today, Sister Brenda still works at the Mount Providence Child Development Center, which is run by the Oblates and caters to children aged six weeks to five years old. She loves her job and feels that working with children keeps her young and active. Her favorite Psalm is Psalm 100, which she learned in a public school in the 4th grade and has recited every day since.
“It is important to support our elderly sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who have dedicated their lives to serving others,” sister said.
Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have selflessly served for decades without significant financial compensation. However, due to escalating health-care costs, numerous U.S. religious communities face a substantial gap between their elderly members’ needs and the financial resources available for their care. Many religious orders currently experience insufficient retirement savings.
Only 6 percent of the religious communities providing data to the National Religious Retirement Office are adequately funded for retirement; 42 percent have 25 or fewer members. Many small communities struggle to care for elder members due to a lack of financial resources and personnel.
Today, religious past the age of 70 outnumber religious younger than 70 by nearly three to one.
Overall, the 2022 appeal raised $27.6 million and provided financial assistance for retirement needs for 297 U.S. religious communities.
Last year, Archdiocese of Newark parishioners contributed $367,435 to the collection. From this collection, the Dominican Nuns, Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, and the Sisters of St. Dominic received a combined total of $171,430 in financial support made possible by the Retirement Fund for Religious.
For more information, visit retiredreligious.org.
