Collection for Diocesan Priest Retirement on Ash Wednesday

Our parishes will take up a collection to support the retired priests of our diocese this weekend as well 2/10-21 since many could not make Ash Wednesday mass.

For many years, the parishes of our diocese have generously supported a collection to assist religious com munities (Retirement Fund for the Religious), with the retirement costs of their sisters, brothers and priests.

These funds have gone to religious communities like the Venerini Sisters, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the Assumptionists and the Trappists.  These funds have not gone to support the retirement costs of the priests of the Diocese of Worcester.

We will continue to support the Retirement Fund for the Religious every December, but we ask that you please join us in taking care of our priests this Ash Wednesday as we work to find new revenues to support them in their retirement. We currently have 50 retired priests.  An additional 42 priests will reach the retirement age of 75 within the next nine years.

Over the last two fiscal years, the costs of priest retirement, in cluding housing, health insurance and monthly stipends have ranged from $2.2 - 2.6 million, leading to significant annual shortfalls. Your support of the Ash Wednesday collection will help us meet our obligation to those priests who have faithful ly served us and our families through the decades.  Thank you for your support