PROVIDENCE — The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) invites Catholics throughout the Diocese of Providence to support the 2026 Retirement Fund for Religious collection on Dec. 12-13.
In 2025, Catholics across the Diocese of Providence contributed $178,559.47 to the collection, primarily through their parishes. The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny received a combined $560,919.75 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 over $102,000. The average annual Social Security benefit for a religious was $9,390, compared with $24,856 for the average lay beneficiary.
“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.
