Parishes across the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland will hold the annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection this weekend, Dec. 7-8.
Last year, parishioners throughout the diocese contributed $318,127.78 to the collection. Among the local beneficiaries are the Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity, known as the Trinitarian Sisters, who operate Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid, and are active in other ministries. St. Andrew Abbey, home of the Benedictine Order of Cleveland, is another beneficiary. The monks, who operate Benedictine High School, recently celebrated their centennial of service in the diocese. Combined, the two religious communities received $99,076,89 in support made possible by the collection.
John Knutsen, director of the National Religious Retirement Office, expressed his gratitude for the “profound generosity” of Catholics in the United States, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the “comfort and dignity” of those who have served tirelessly.
“As we prepare for this year’s collection, we invite all Catholics to join us in honoring the legacy of these dedicated women and men by contributing to their well-deserved care,” Knutsen said.
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 age 70 and older. In 2023, the average annual cost for their care was roughly $59,700 per person. With skilled nursing care, the average cost jumped to $90,700.
Since its establishment in 1988, the collection has raised more than $1 billion, with nearly $870 million distributed for direct care and more than $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 NRRO 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 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
For more information, visit retiredreligious.org, or contact Robin Cabral, campaign director, at 508-685-8899 or by email at robincabral@retiredreligious.org.