Insufficient retirement savings, rising health care costs and declining income have created a retirement funding deficit for religious sisters, brothers and religious order priests. And the religious who are still employed are greatly outnumbered by those in their golden years, leaving an insufficient workforce unable to support its older members.

With the generosity of the Diocese of Trenton and other dioceses throughout the country, the need is addressed through the annual Retirement Fund for Religious.

“Words cannot express our gratitude for (your parishioners’) generous and prayerful support of our nation’s senior (religious),” wrote Precious Blood Sister Janice Bader, executive director of the RFR, in an Easter letter to Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

The Diocese gave the RFR a donation of over $335,500 for its 2014 appeal. Over the past 26 years, the Trenton Diocese has contributed nearly $9.4 million to this collection.

Since 1989, the National Religious Retirement Office has used its appeal to distribute almost $608 million to help underwrite the day-to-day care of elderly religious. An additional $79 million has been allocated toward self-help projects initiated by religious communities, including collaborative health-care facilities.

“Many communities have made significant progress in stabilizing their retirement funding,” Sister Janice wrote. “We are happy to see that many of the institutes that have participated in our Planning and Implementation process are making significant progress.

“Your personal support … and that of your diocesan priests, staff and local RFR coordinator are essential to the fund’s continued success,” Sister Janice continued. “I once again thank you and the faithful of your diocese for this generosity and prayerful support. May our loving God bless you abundantly!”