Share in the Care - Retirement Fund for Religious

Sister Jean M. Thompson

Please, "Share in the Care."

For more than twenty years, the religious congregations of women and men who serve in the Diocese of Buffalo, as well as other congregations with headquarters throughout the United States, have been blessed by the generosity of those who have contributed to the Retirement Fund for Religious. One Sister recently remarked, "The assistance that has been given to our congregation has made a huge difference in the quality of life for our retired members."

It has become well known during these past two decades that throughout most of the twentieth century religious women and men worked for very modest stipends that did not include pension benefits. What is less known is that today the average annual Social Security benefit for religious is about $4,402, whereas the average for other Americans is $12,113. What is also unknown is that many members of religious congregations continue to serve the poor, disabled, and elderly in ministries that receive little or no compensation.

In the past, members of religious congregations often benefited from caring relationships with generous Catholic health care professionals and from prudent negotiations with Catholic health care institutions which provided health care. The complex health care system of today has greatly reduced these benefits and has required many religious congregations to expend a large percentage of their funds on health insurance, health care, and services for their elderly and disabled members. Renovating existing buildings to accommodate the needs of their aging members has also been necessary in many situations.

Members of the religious congregations in the Buffalo Diocese and throughout the nation are again asking for your generous contribution to the Retirement Fund for Religious so that the essential needs of those who served the needs of the Church and God's people so faithfully for so many years may be met adequately and with dignity. In return for your generosity, these women and men continue to prayerfully remember both those whom they have served in the past, and those who support them in the years when they cannot any longer serve in a more active way.

On behalf of all those who will benefit from your generosity, I thank you for "Sharing in the Care."

Sister Jean M. Thompson, OSF
Coordinator for the Retirement Fund for Religious/Vicar for Religious