Retirement Fund for Religious: Give generously to collection Easter Sunday

March 24, 2005

Dear Friends in Christ,

The celebration of the Triduum, from Holy Thursday evening until Easter Sunday, is truly our privilege. It is our salvation that we celebrate as we gather in faith to renew the event of the Lord's passion, death and resurrection. Its promise encourages us to increase out gratitude for the gift of Christ Jesus. And with the Risen Christ we arise to be his witnesses - by words and actions to make him known.

In our Church in general and particularly in our Diocese, dedicated Women Religious worked lovingly and tirelessly to make Christ known. Their blessings of labor in our Diocese are immense. These women, especially in the past, worked with very modest compensation trusting in the Lord and the generosity of others to provide for them in their advanced years. They had no pension plans and were not eligible for Social Security. This presented a critical problem for the Church in the United States. To remedy this an annual National Collection for Retired Religious is taken up on Easter Sunday. For the past twelve years support for them has made great strides by the generosity of many. Reflecting on the outstanding service that they have given, it becomes not just a matter of charity, but also a matter of justice for us to support these sisters who are now in poor health or retirement.

I call upon all of us in kindness to give generous support to the Retirement Fund for Religious this Easter Sunday. It will continue to help ensure adequate retirement funding for more than 45,000 elderly and infirm sisters. It will also assure them of our love and support as well as our sincere appreciation for their many years of dedicated lives of service, ministry and prayer. I thank you for your expressions of generosity to this special collection to the Retirement Fund for Religious this Easter Sunday.

May the Lord bless each of you and your families as we gather to participate together as God's family in the great mysteries of Holy Week and Easter.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Msgr. Roger J. Augustine
Diocesan Administrator