The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) invites Catholics throughout the Paterson Diocese, N.J., to support the 2026 Retirement Fund for Religious collection on the weekend of Dec. 12-13.
In 2025, Catholics across the Paterson Diocese contributed $222,988.58 to the collection, primarily through their parishes. The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, also known as the Salesian Sisters; Monastery of Discalced Carmelite Nuns; the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth; the Benedictine Monks of St. Paul’s Abbey; and Xaverian Missionary Fathers received a combined $1,719,725.64 in Direct Care Assistance associated with the 2025 collection.
Nationally, the 2025 collection raised a record-breaking $37.1 million. The latest grant cycle provided $40 million in Direct Care Assistance to 261 religious communities. These funds help cover health care, housing, and daily living expenses, strengthening communities’ ability to provide care in the years ahead.
The need remains substantial. Nearly 19,000 aging religious depend on this support. In 2025, their average annual cost of care was approximately $62,000 per person, while skilled nursing care averaged more than $102,000. The average annual Social Security benefit for a religious was $9,390, compared with $24,856 for the average lay beneficiary.
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“When we give, we thank them for a lifetime of service and make sure they can grow old in peace, dignity, and prayer,” wrote John Knutsen, NRRO director.
Since the collection began in 1988, Catholics have contributed more than $1 billion to the Retirement Fund for Religious. In addition to financial assistance, the NRRO offers educational programs, consultation, and retirement-planning resources to help religious communities address long-term needs.
The NRRO coordinates the annual national appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious and distributes financial assistance to eligible religious communities. The Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sponsor it.
For more information, visit retiredreligious.org or call 508-685-8899 or email campaign@retiredreligious.org.
Honor religious service by supporting retirement care and needs #Catholic –
The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) invites Catholics throughout the Paterson Diocese, N.J., to support the 2026 Retirement Fund for Religious collection on the weekend of Dec. 12-13.
In 2025, Catholics across the Paterson Diocese contributed $222,988.58 to the collection, primarily through their parishes. The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, also known as the Salesian Sisters; Monastery of Discalced Carmelite Nuns; the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth; the Benedictine Monks of St. Paul’s Abbey; and Xaverian Missionary Fathers received a combined $1,719,725.64 in Direct Care Assistance associated with the 2025 collection.
Nationally, the 2025 collection raised a record-breaking $37.1 million. The latest grant cycle provided $40 million in Direct Care Assistance to 261 religious communities. These funds help cover health care, housing, and daily living expenses, strengthening communities’ ability to provide care in the years ahead.
The need remains substantial. Nearly 19,000 aging religious depend on this support. In 2025, their average annual cost of care was approximately $62,000 per person, while skilled nursing care averaged more than $102,000. The average annual Social Security benefit for a religious was $9,390, compared with $24,856 for the average lay beneficiary.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“When we give, we thank them for a lifetime of service and make sure they can grow old in peace, dignity, and prayer,” wrote John Knutsen, NRRO director.
Since the collection began in 1988, Catholics have contributed more than $1 billion to the Retirement Fund for Religious. In addition to financial assistance, the NRRO offers educational programs, consultation, and retirement-planning resources to help religious communities address long-term needs.
The NRRO coordinates the annual national appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious and distributes financial assistance to eligible religious communities. The Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sponsor it.
For more information, visit retiredreligious.org or call 508-685-8899 or email campaign@retiredreligious.org.