The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection is scheduled to be taken up at parishes throughout The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington on the weekend of Dec. 7-8.
In 2023, parishioners in the archdiocese contributed $390,349.00 to the collection. From this collection, Carmel of Port Tobacco, Little Sisters of the Holy Family, Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, Piarist Fathers, Religious of Mary Immaculate and Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara received a combined total of $355,756.63 in financial support made possible by the Retirement Fund for Religious.
John Knutsen, the director of the National Religious Retirement Office, expressed gratitude for the “profound generosity” of U.S. Catholics, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the “comfort and dignity” of those religious who have served tirelessly. “As we prepare for this year’s collection,” Knutsen stated, “we invite all Catholics to join us in honoring the legacy of these dedicated women and men by contributing to their well-deserved care.”
Escalating healthcare costs and a lack of traditional retirement plans have created financial challenges for many religious communities. The Retirement Fund for Religious addresses this need, supporting more than 20,000 religious over the age of 70. In 2023, the average annual cost for their care was roughly $59,700 per person. With skilled nursing care, the average cost was $90,700.
Since its establishment in 1988, the collection has raised over $1 billion, with nearly $870 million distributed for direct care and over $103.5 million allocated to self-help projects.
In 2023, the appeal raised $29.3 million, providing financial assistance for the retirement needs of 286 U.S. religious communities. Beyond financial aid, the collection supports educational programs, empowering religious communities to plan for their long-term needs.
The National Religious Retirement Office coordinates the annual national appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious and distributes financial assistance to eligible religious communities. It is sponsored by the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
