Across the United States, hundreds of religious communities lack financial resources sufficient to meet the retirement and health-care needs of aging members.
Of 547 communities providing data to the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), only 23 are adequately funded for retirement. Historically, Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests—known collectively as women and men religious—received small stipends that just met the needs of the day. Any surplus funds were reinvested in ministry and the education of younger members. As a result, hundreds of U.S. religious communities lack adequate retirement savings.
At the same time, the income available to support older religious is decreasing. Currently, earnings from the ministries of younger religious cover a significant portion of eldercare expenses, but the number of religious able to serve in compensated ministry is rapidly diminishing.
The annual appeal for the Retirement Fund for the Religious is December 8 and 9, and is your chance to give back to those who have put our welfare ahead of their own.
The Retirement Fund for Religious collection is an opportunity to say "thank you" to those who have put our welfare ahead of their own. Please give at SEAS December 8 and 9, or click here for other ways to help. For more information on the Retired Religious, click here for their website.