CSA supplements priest’s retirement benefits By Fr. Elvin Sunds
JACKSON – “Tu es Sacerdos ad eternam,” you are a priest forever, or “once a priest always a priest.” In past years many people assumed priests never retired. Priests were supposed to just keep on serving until they were no longer able because, “once a priest always a priest.”
However, like most dioceses, the Diocese of Jackson permits a priest to retire at 70 years of age. But “retirement” may be a misnomer.
“More relaxed ministry” is perhaps a better term since most retired priests continue to minister as long as their health permits, but in a more relaxed manner. Although they may not have an official pastoral assignment, most continue to minister on a limited basis.
What does a priest in “more relaxed ministry” do? Most fill in for priests who are on vacation. They also fill in when a priest is ill or away for studies. Without the help of these retired priests, some parishes would be without Mass when their pastor is on vacation or is ill. Some retired priests also continue to visit the sick or help out in other ways on a limited basis.
Rather than having to worry about finance councils, pastoral councils, endless other meetings, paying the bills, fixing roofs, etc., retired priests enjoy helping out around the diocese at their own pace while having the leisure time to do the same things any other person in their 70s would enjoy. Some pursue hobbies like woodworking, photography, golf, cooking, reading, gardening, fishing, and writing.
Some enjoy traveling, visiting former parishioners, and spending more time with family and friends than they were able to when they worked full time. They enjoy the same things any other retired person in their 70s or 80s would enjoy.
We now have 15 diocesan priests who are officially retired. One is in a nursing home. The remainder either live in rectories or live on their own. Their average age at retirement was 72. Their present average age is 77. These 15 priests served the church an average of over 46 years each, or a combined total of 697 years! And most are continuing to serve the church in a “more relaxed” way.
We also have two priests who are in their 70s and will retire with the permission of the bishop within the next few months. So in less than a year, we will have 17 retired priests.
Retired priests rely upon a modest pension from the diocese, Social Security benefits and whatever personal retirement savings they have been able to accumulate over the years.
However, since a priest’s salary in the Diocese of Jackson has always been pretty meager, the opportunity to save for retirement has always been limited. Consequently, their retirement benefits are supplemented by the Catholic Service Appeal.
We all want our retired priests to be able to live out their retirement years with dignity and a modest level of financial security.
All will agree they deserve at least this much after so many years of personal sacrifice and faithful service to the church.
Each year a portion of the Catholic Service Appeal (CSA) is allocated to help support our retired priests. As their number increases over the coming years, this will become increasingly important.
On behalf of our retired priests and on behalf of the other worthy programs supported by the Catholic Service Appeal, it is important we all respond generously to this year’s appeal. The people of the Diocese of Jackson have responded very generously in past years, and will no doubt respond generously again this year.
(Father Elvin Sunds is vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Jackson.)
