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Sister Stephanie Still, a Presentation Sister of San Francisco, is NRRO executive director. “The generosity of U.S. Catholics enables us to continue our ministry for aging women and men religious,” said Sister Stephanie in a statement.
Catholic San Francisco
Nov. 5, 2020
The annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious will take place in parishes at Masses on Dec. 12-13, 2020. The appeal assists elderly sisters, brothers, and priests in religious orders. Nearly 30,000 senior religious benefit from the proceeds. In 2019, the Archdiocese of San Francisco donated $125,331.34 to the collection.
The National Religious Retirement Office coordinates this annual appeal and distributes the funds to assist eligible U.S. religious communities with their retirement needs. Presentation Sister Stephanie Still is NRRO executive director. “The generosity of U.S. Catholics enables us to continue our ministry for aging women and men religious,” said Sister Stephanie in a statement. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude.”
The fund was established in 1988 by U.S. bishops to help address the deficit in retirement funding among U.S. religious congregations. Each congregation is responsible for the care and support of its members.
Financial distributions from the collection are sent to a congregation’s central house and may be applied toward immediate expenses including medications or nursing care or invested for future eldercare needs. Among the fund’s more recent works is an online webinar offering professional guidance on adapting care protocols to address issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic.
Historically, women and men religious served for little to no pay. Today, many religious communities lack sufficient retirement savings. Of 531 communities providing data to the NRRO, only 29 are adequately funded for retirement. Rising health care costs and a growing number of senior members compound the challenge to meet retirement expenses.
“During these trying times, we know the best way to support senior religious is to continue helping their communities address retirement and eldercare challenges,” Sister Stephanie said. “Our grateful prayer is with all whose love and generosity sustain this mission.”
The 2019 collection raised $26.2 million, and in June, the NRRO disbursed $25 million in financial assistance to 341 religious communities.
The Archdiocese of San Francisco is blessed today with the ministry of 37 orders of women religious and 34 orders of men religious.
Visit retiredreligious.org to learn more.