Special collection planned for retired sisters, brothers, and priests
GREEN BAY, Wis. (Dec. 6, 2023) – The weekend of Dec. 9-10, Diocese of Green Bay parishioners will have the opportunity to support the retirement needs of sisters, brothers, and priests through the Retirement Collection, which includes the Diocesan Priests’ Retirement and the National Retirement Fund for Religious. “The lives of many throughout the diocese have been impacted by the faithful and tireless work of sisters, brothers, and priests in our Catholic parishes, schools, and hospitals,” said Father Mark Vander Steeg, vicar for priests and pastoral leaders for the Diocese of Green Bay. “These selfless women and men serve with great dedication, but often with little financial compensation. Many serve well into their later years and continue to inspire and model what it means to follow Jesus Christ. Our support through this collection shows our care and appreciation for them and their life-long service.”
The retirement needs are significant. Today, there are 31,000 members of religious orders in the United States over the age of 70. By 2028, retired religious are projected to outnumber wage-earning religious by more than three to one.
Since the inception of the Retirement Fund for Religious in 1988, Catholics around the country have been very generous, and the Diocese of Green Bay has been a national leader in contributions. Last year, through the generosity of many, $207,378 was given to the National Retirement Fund for Religious and $212,990 to our own Diocesan Priests' Retirement Fund.
Parishioners are able to donate to this Retirement Collection at their parish on the weekend of December 9-10, or a gift may be made through the Catholic Foundation online at www.catholicfoundationgb.org/give. For more than 25 years, the Catholic Foundation has been impacting lives within the 16 counties of northeastern Wisconsin which make up the Diocese of Green Bay. During this time, the Foundation has distributed nearly $50 million to support Catholic schools, parishes and other Catholic organizations. The Catholic Foundation encourages financial stewardship and generosity through faith-based giving. The Foundation focuses on supporting Catholic parishes, schools and ministries through endowment funding. To learn more, please visit www.catholicfoundationgb.org or contact us at 920-272-8181 or
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Catholic Foundation Contacts: Josh Diedrich, Executive Director, at 920-272-8197 or
Diocese of Green Bay Media Contacts: Justine Lodl, director of communications & marketing, at 920-272-8213 or