DATE: November 15, 2001

                                                             NEWS RELEASE
                                                                                  For Immediate Release
                                                                                  For More Information, Contact:
                                                                                  Bud Bunce (503) 233-8373
                                                                                  bbunce@archdpdx.org

COLLECTION FOR RETIRED RELIGIOUS SET FOR WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 8-9

        The annual collection for retired religious will be taken up in Catholic parishes on
the weekend of December 8-9. The theme of this year's collection is "Share in the Care."
This collection helps retired members of religious orders - sisters, brothers and priests -
who served the church in such ministries as education, health care, and social services.

        The Retirement Fund for Religious is in its 14th year. The fund is working to help
offset the unfunded retirement liability of the nation's religious orders, which is estimated
at $6.1 billion. The crisis in unfunded retirement became evident in the early 1970's for
Catholic religious orders. Salaries and stipends to religious had been earmarked for good
works and new ministries. Until recent decades, the care of elderly members of religious
institutes was ensured by younger members, who entered religious life in sufficient
numbers to provide financial and human resources to care for all members. Today,
retired members of religious orders far outnumber wage-earning members.

        The National Religious Retirement Office reports that of 67,294 women religious,
53 percent, more than 35,000, are past 70 years old, and 27 percent are older than 80.
It is also noted that more than 5,000 men in religious orders are over the age of 70, or
35 percent of the total. Twelve percent of men religious are over the age of 80 years.

        As a result of the year 2000 collection, the Retirement Fund for Religious was
able to distribute Basic Grants to 496 religious institutes. The religious institutes in
Oregon receiving Basic Grants were: Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon ($31,192), Trappist
Abbey - Our Lady of Guadalupe ($32,777), Benedictine Sisters of Mount Angel ($35,984),
the Society of Jesus [Jesuits] ($85,075), and Benedictines of Mount Angel Abbey
($33,105).

        Last year Catholics in the United States contributed $32.6 million toward the
support for retired religious. Catholics in the Archdiocese of Portland contributed
$192,942 in support of retired religious. Catholics are again asked to be generous in
their support for these dedicated retired members of religious orders, who have so
faithfully supported the Church through their prayer and ministry for many years.
                                                      ###

Archdiocese of Portland
FACT SHEET
Contact: Bud Bunce bbunce@archdpdx.org
503-233-8373
 

Religious Orders in the Archdiocese of Portland
Women Religious:

Adores of the Holy Cross (MTG)
Benedictine Sisters of Mount Angel (OSB)
Carmelite Sisters, Discalced (OCD)
Oblates of Saint Martha (OSM)
Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, NJ (OP)
Dominican Sisters of Edmonds, WA (OP)
Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose (OP)
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows (OSF)
Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist (FSE)
Holy Spirit Sisters (ALCS)
Missionaries of the Rosary of Fatima (MRF)
Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, MI, (RSM)
Servants of Mary (OSM)
Sisters for Christian Community (SFCC)
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM)
Sisters of the Good Shepherd (RGS)
Sisters of the Holy Cross of Notre Dame, IN (CSC)
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM)
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Omaha Region (RSM)
Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Province (SP)
Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. (SP)
Sisters of Reparation of the Sacred Wounds of Jesus (SR)
Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron, Ohio (OP)
Sisters of St. Dominic, Blauvelt, NY (OP)
Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque (OSF)
Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity (OSF)
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia (OSF)
Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio (OSF)
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace of Bellevue, WA (CSJP)
Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO)
Sisters of Social Service (SSS)
Society of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ)
Vietnamese Holy Cross Sisters
 

Religious Orders in the Archdiocese of Portland
Men Religious:

Apostolic Life Community of Priests— Holy Spirit Fathers (ALCP/OCCS)
Augustinian Community (OSA)
Benedictines (OSB)
Brigittine Monks Order of the Most Holy Savior (OSsS)
Brotherhood of People of Praise
Brothers of the Christian Schools
Conventual Franciscans (OFM, Conv.)
Discalced Carmelite Friars, (OCD)
Dominicans (OP)
Franciscan Friars (OFM)
Holy Cross Fathers and Brothers (CSC)
Jesuits (SJ)
Missionaries of the Holy Spirit (MSpS)
Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI)
Paulists (CSP)
Servite Friars (OSM)
Society of Christ (SCH)
Society of Mary (SM)
Trappists (OCSO)

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