Archbishop Flynn says retired religious ‘need our help’

Last updated on: December 5, 2012 at 7:30 am by CNA Daily News

Archbishop Flynn says retired religious ‘need our help’ 2012-12-05T07:30:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Dec 5, 2012 / 12:30 am (CNA).- Archbishop Harry J. Flynn has called on U.S. Catholics to help support retired religious brothers and sisters, voicing his deep appreciation for “the sacrifices that they have made in order to serve God’s people in our country.”

“I have thought, and thought often, as to where the Church would be if it were not for the women religious and the men religious,” said Archbishop Flynn, the archbishop emeritus of St. Paul-Minnesota. “Where would the Church be in the United States without them?”

Archbishop Flynn recalled the role religious sisters played in his life.

“My father died when I was six years of age. My older brothers were away in the military service in September of 1945. I was home alone with my widowed mother,” he recalled.

“On the day after Labor Day I woke up to begin my seventh grade at St. Columba School in Schenectady, New York. That morning is very clear in my memory. I found my mother dead,” Archbishop Flynn wrote.

With all of his family dead or away from home, he relied upon Sister William Edmund, a Sister of St. Joseph at St. Columba School in Schenectady, N.Y.

“She received me warmly and shepherded me through that seventh grade,” the archbishop said. “I often wonder how I would have made it without her tender caring.”

He also remembered the work of Mother Maris Stella, the principal of his high school and superior of a convent with over a dozen nuns. She encouraged him to take the necessary exams to secure a New York State Regent’s Diploma.

“She was outstanding in her generosity and I think of that generosity to this day,” he said.

Archbishop Flynn recounted how religious men and women have dedicated themselves to works of charity, teaching in schools and service in hospitals in a Dec. 4 post on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ blog.

He asked Catholics to respond to their generosity and help meet their current needs.

“They do not have the numbers coming into the religious life to support the elderly who need care. They worked for small stipends and any other surplus income was reinvested in community ministries,” he said. “As a result they need our help now and they need it badly.”

The archbishop shared his story ahead of the Catholic Church’s 25th annual collection for retired religious which is taking place the weekend of Dec. 8-9.

The collection supports the National Religious Retirement Office, whose website is www.retiredreligious.org. The office raises funds for retired religious and helps religious institutes assess and implement retirement planning.

The office says that by 2022, vowed religious over age 70 will outnumber those under age 70 by nearly four to one. By 2023, religious orders could face more than $20 billion in unfunded retirement liabilities.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 5, 2012

Lila Rose spreading her US pro-life work to Europe

Next Post

December 5, 2012 Duchess of Cambridge's illness could save lives, author says

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the name of the field bought with Judas' betrayal money?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Potter's Field Field of Blood Golgotha Aceldama