Care of elderly religious ensured by Retirement Fund for Religious appeal

The Benedictine admonition to "Let Mercy Triumph" is the theme of the 16th national collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious, which will be taken up in Catholic parishes nationwide December 13-14, 2003. The annual appeal helps retired sisters, brothers, and religious order priests, who spent their lives in church ministries such as education, health care, and social services. This year's campaign highlights how religious women and men continue diverse ministries despite their growing need to care for frail, elderly members.

The unfunded retirement liability of the nation's religious orders is estimated at $6.1 billion. Last year the fund collected more than $28 million, and provided assistance to more than 500 religious orders. "American Catholics have responded most admirably to the aging of religious," says Sister Andree Fries, a Sister of the Most Precious Blood of O'Fallon, Missouri, and executive director of the National Religious Retirement Office. "They recall what religious did for them in the past; but they also know that the aging of religious women and men foreshadows many issues that face the nation.

"The United States now has more people past age 65 than Canada has people," Sister Andree says. "Since 1996, 10,000 Americans have turned 50 every day. Our society is asking how best to live with and care for a large aging population. Religious institutes, by sharing the wisdom they've gathered about aging and caregiving, by continuing the work they love despite their age and infirmity, and collaborating with others to alleviate need, help develop a spirituality of aging that will serve the nation."

Of the 63,205 women religious in the country, more than 54 percent are now past 70; of the 13,815 men, more than 37 percent are past 70. Total cost of care last year in independent, assisted living, and skilled nursing homes was more than $837 million. The annual Social Security benefit received by an individual religious is less than $4,000. Since the appeal was established in 1988, the Religious Retirement Fund has collected more than $400 million, making it the most successful regular collection in the history of the church in the United States. Last year's collection of $28 million included a $1 million contribution from the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The Religious Retirement Collection was launched in 1988 by the US. bishops and leaders of national associations of religious orders.

Please give generously to the Religious Retirement Collection in your parish December 13-14, 2003.