National Retirement Fund for Religious Collection

Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 - Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025

Location: All Parishes - Nationwide
Contact: Stewardship and Development Office
Phone: (501) 664-0340

This special collection is taken up in all parishes nationwide. In the Diocese of Little Rock, it is collected Dec. 6-7. In 2024, Catholics across the diocese contributed $195,670.63 to the collection, mostly through their home parishes. From the collection, the Benedictines of Subiaco Abbey and Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Little Rock received a combined $131,493.97 in financial assistance.

“The generosity of U.S. Catholics continues to make a profound difference in the lives of aging religious,” said John Knutsen, National Religious Retirement Office director. “This year, we invite all Catholics to help provide the care and dignity these women and men of faith so richly deserve.”

Rising health-care costs and the absence of traditional retirement plans have placed a significant financial strain on many religious communities. The Retirement Fund for Religious helps address this need, supporting more than 21,000 religious over the age of 70. In 2024, the average annual cost of care was about $56,600 per person, with skilled nursing care averaging $96,000.

Thousands of elderly sisters, brothers and religious order priests have spent years working in Catholic schools, hospitals, parishes and agencies — often for little pay. Their sacrifices leave their religious communities without adequate savings for retirement and eldercare. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious collection helps provide prescription medications, nursing care and more. Please give to those who have given a lifetime. For more information, contact the Stewardship and Development Office at (501) 664-0340.