Annual Collection Assists More than 20,000 Elderly Men and Women Religious
WASHINGTON – The faithful have an opportunity to support the more than 20,000 elderly religious sisters, brothers and religious order priests who have devoted their lives to service in the Church. The annual collection benefiting retired religious across the United States will occur in participating dioceses on the weekend of Dec. 7-8. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), this collection provides crucial financial aid to qualified religious institutes, enabling them to address the growing needs of their retired members.
These men and women religious who taught in schools, served in parish ministries and helped provide social services for the Church selflessly devoted their lives to serving others, often for little to no pay. As they age, many religious communities face a significant gap between the cost of care and available resources. The rising cost of healthcare, coupled with the fact that religious past the age of 70 outnumber those younger than 70 by nearly three to one, has exacerbated this challenge. In 2024, 71% of religious communities providing data to the NRRO reported a median age of 70 or higher.
Launched in 1988 to address the lack of retirement funding for religious, the collection remains vital. In 2023, it raised $29.3 million, yet the annual cost to support senior religious exceeds $1 billion. The average annual cost of care for each religious is roughly $59,700, with skilled nursing care averaging $90,700 per person. The average annual Social Security benefit for a religious is only $8,551.
“The selfless dedication of these religious has enriched countless lives,” said NRRO director John Knutsen. “Your generosity ensures they receive the care they deserve in their retirement. Supporting our aging religious is a shared responsibility and an opportunity to express our gratitude for their lifelong service. By contributing to the Retirement Fund for Religious collection we ensure they receive the care and dignity they deserve while also upholding the values of compassion and solidarity within our faith community.”
Since its inception, the collection has distributed more than $973 million, supporting day-to-day care and self-help projects. It also funds educational programs for long-term retirement planning. Every dollar donated provides essential care and dignity.
For more information, please visit retiredreligious.org.
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