Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
May God bless you during this holy Advent season! This weekend our parishes will take up the collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious.
Reflecting on the fruits of the Year of Mercy, I cannot help but recall the example of thousands of now elderly women and men religious who, for so many, were a living sign of God’s mercy. These women and men — Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests — were indeed the hands of Christ as they educated the young, cared for the sick, and ministered to the neediest among us.
Through their service and witness, they modeled the compassionate love of Jesus and showed us that we, too, could be instruments of peace and mercy.
Today, many senior religious continue to be vessels of mercy, serving in a wide range of volunteer and prayer ministries. Others are frail and need assistance. Most older religious ministered for small stipends, leaving a substantial gap in retirement savings.
With the ever-rising cost of health care and the increased number of those needing care, many religious communities struggle to provide for aging members.
Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious provides vital support for medications, nursing care, and more. It also helps religious communities implement long-term retirement strategies that ensure both quality eldercare and continued service to the people of God.
Thank you for considering this request. You and your family are in my prayers.
Sincerely yours in our Lord,
Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.
Archbishop of Louisville
