The U.S. bishops’ Retirement Fund for Religious is widely known for helping sisters, brothers and priests in religious communities who served for decades for little or no pay. Perhaps less recognized are ways the fund helps new religious communities start planning now for retirements that might be years down the line.
“So, there’s a future look to this, not just an expectation from the past,” said School Sister of Notre Dame Lynore Girmscheid, coordinator of the fund in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “And that’s so exciting to me.”
Sister Lynore Girmscheid
Sister Lynore was discussing the fund with Patrick Conley, host of the radio program “Practicing Catholic” on Relevant Radio 1330 AM, for a segment that will debut at 9 p.m. Nov. 19. The show also will air at 1 p.m. Nov. 20 and 2 p.m. Nov. 21.
An annual parish collection for the fund is set for Dec. 11-12 in the archdiocese.
The fund helps religious communities in such creative ways as collaborative health care facilities and other projects that can save money and improve care for those in retirement, Sister Lynore said.
Many people contribute to the fund because they know a religious sister, brother or priest who has served them or their loved ones well, Sister Lynore said. Others give because they recognize a broad need, she said. “And that’s been such a blessing,” she said.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the communications staff of the archdiocese and others also have been generous with their time and resources to assist the needs of religious communities, Sister Lynore said.
To learn more about support across the archdiocese for the retirement fund, and creative ways the fund helps those in need, tune into “Practicing Catholic.” Others on the program are Allison Spies, archives program manager at the archdiocese, who discusses the arduous travel conditions faced by early missionary priests in Minnesota, including the story of a priest who made international news in 1860 because of his harrowing ordeal of being lost in a blizzard. Also featured is Father John Ubel, rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, who discusses the meaning of Advent and ideas for celebrating it well.
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired at
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