Parishioners of the Diocese of Trenton were recently recognized for their generosity by the National Religious Retirement Office and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., received on behalf of the Diocese letters of appreciation from the two Catholic assistance organizations.

The Diocese contributed nearly $329,000 to the Retirement Fund for Religious, the entity that supports hundreds of religious communities’ senior retirees throughout the United States.

“We are very grateful to you and your parishioners for this very generous support of our missions,” stated a letter from Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sister Stephanie Still, executive director.

In addition to helping religious communities provide for day-to-day eldercare needs, proceeds from the Retirement Fund for Religious collection also underwrite programming and resources that promote long-term retirement planning.

The Diocese’s March donation to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, of almost $88,700, will go to support programs and services for the more than 300,000 Catholics between the ages of 18-29 on active duty in the U.S. military.

“I am grateful to you and my brother bishops for the approval of this special triennial collection,” stated a letter from Bishop Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the AMS. “The AMS receives no funding from the military or government, and must rely solely on private donors to support its programs and services for people while they are in uniform, including the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, which provides priests for the Church and U.S. military.”

Bishop Broglio asked parishioners of the Diocese to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, as well as for men and women in uniform.