Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Numerous Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests past the age of 70 benefit from the Retirement Fund for Religious collection. Donations to this special collection provide funding that helps religious communities care for their aging members.
On the weekend of November 6, all parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis will take up the annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious.
Senior religious were influential in establishing Catholic parishes, schools, hospitals, and charitable agencies throughout our archdiocese and the United States. They initiated programs to promote social justice and ministered to the neediest among us. Many of our senior sisters,brothers, and religious order priests served with little to no pay.
Today, many religious communities do not have enough retirement savings, and struggle to provide for a growing number of elder members. Increasing health care costs and decreased income make it difficult to provide necessary medical care, costly medications, and basic services. Covid-19 has only increased the challenge to provide adequate care.
Please consider making a financial gift to assist with the care of our senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. Many thanks for considering this request.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski
Archbishop of St. Louis