You Can Help

Pray. Speak. Give. Ask your employer about matching gifts. Donate stock. Read on for details about how you can support women and men religious who have given their lives to prayer and ministry.

Pray
Elder sisters, brothers, and religious order priests dedicated their lives to service. These women and men—more accustomed to giving rather than receiving, to serving rather than being served—accept the inevitable challenges of aging with grace, humility, and wisdom. Their habits of prayer sustain them, and many find new ways to minister, even at advanced ages. Please pray for God's continued blessing on those who have faithfully served our Church and world.

Speak
During the national appeal, which is held in most Catholic parishes on the second Sunday of Advent, time may be set aside during or after Mass for short testimonials about the appeal. In each diocese, a local
coordinator (PDF) helps to schedule speakers and may organize a Retirement Fund for Religious (RFR) committee. This committee designs an effective local appeal through media placements, advertisements, and designated speakers. Volunteer at your local Catholic parish to talk about how a sister, brother, or religious order priest influenced your beliefs, values, decisions, or career choice. For assistance in preparing your talk, please see our Speaker's Guide under Campaign Materials.

Give
Religious institutes have invested primarily in ministry to others, and many have limited retirement savings. Through your donation, you share in the actual care of these selfless, dedicated women and men. Give at your local Catholic parish. If you donate by check, please write RFR on the memo line. Or mail your donation to:

Donation form to accompany your gift.

Online Giving
At present, the Retirement Fund for Religious does not accept online donations, but you can make a secure, electronic contribution at the Diocese of Buffalo's Share in the Care site. All donations made through the Diocese of Buffalo are forwarded to the National Religious Retirement Office.

Ask your employer about matching gifts
Your employer may have a Matching Gift Program for the RFR appeal. Be sure to ask for a matching gift form to send in with your donation. If your company is not already enrolled, ask how this program can be established in your workplace.

Donate stock
The most efficient method for donors and their stockbrokers to transfer gifts is by direct transfer of the stock to the trust account of Retirement Fund for Religious, which is held at State Street Bank and Trust. State Street is a member of a national clearinghouse (DTC), which allows for direct transfer of stock between brokers.

You must advise State Street Bank, in advance, that a transfer is being made so that authorizations will be in place for its acceptance. Please contact Steven Pinto at State Street Bank: phone, 617-985-7720; fax, 617-786-2272; email at spinto@statestreet.com.

Make a bequest
To make the National Religious Retirement Office or the Retirement Fund for Religious a beneficiary in your will, in estate planning, or to make a restricted gift, please use the following language:

(The term "religious orders" includes religious communities, congregations, institutes, orders, etc., of women and men.)

United Way
If you work for a company that participates in the United Way, ask your coordinator about designating the Retirement Fund for Religious to receive your donation.

Gifts from religious communities
Religious institutes that decline RFR assistance redirect funds to communities with greater needs. They also help to ensure the accuracy of the National Religious Retirement Office database, particularly regarding resources and need. A list of communities that decline assistance can be found in the Congregation Contributions (PDF).