Express gratitude to retired priests through Easter collection

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

As Catholics celebrate the joy of the risen Christ at Easter, for those in the Diocese of Sioux City it’s also a time to express appreciation for priests who have served them through the years.

The Retired and Infirm Priests Collection will be held in the diocese on Easter weekend, April 19-20.

According to John Schmitz, diocesan director of stewardship and development, there will be a second collection to benefit retired priests of the diocese.

“Some of these men dedicated more than 50 years of their lives to caring for and ministering to others,” he said. “Even in retirement, these priests continue to give of themselves in countless ways of service and we are most grateful.”

Lexa Hawkins, manager of donor services, pointed out that as more priests move into retirement the collection has been a blessing.

“The funds raised by this collection go into our Priests Pension Fund,” she explained. “While active priests are supported by their parish, it is the diocese’s responsibility to ensure that retired priests receive the care they need in retirement.”

Between the second collection in parishes and individual gifts received throughout the year, Hawkins said just short of $275,000 was raised last year.

In addition to funding monthly pensions for retired priests, she pointed out it helps with special health care needs of all diocesan priests. The Welfare Fund also supports the position of diocesan liaison to the retired priests.

“Deacon John Rudd is the diocesan contact and support to all our retired priests,” said Hawkins. “He connects with our priests living both in and out of our diocese by journeying with them through the stages of retirement. He visits our retired priests, addresses needs and concerns, advocates for them and even will help them with pesky technology concerns.”

Given that retired priests are no longer supported by a parish community, Schmitz said donations to the Retired and Infirm Priests Collection is a way to show gratitude to these men who have cared for and ministered to communities throughout the diocese. 

“The faithful can make a small sacrifice to make certain that our priests will have financial security in retirement and/or while dealing with health challenges,” he said.

Priests thankful for fund
In a recent episode of Illuminating Catholics podcast, co-hosts Dawn Prosser and Karmen Bower interviewed retired priests Father Craig Collison and Father Merlin Schrad about their pastoral assignments through the years and their current busy ministry schedules in retirement.

“Just think of all the lives you two have touched much less other retired men we support as well,” said Prosser in the podcast. 

Despite their busy schedules even now, the two priests commented that partaking in pastoral ministry was when they felt most fulfilled.

Father Collison spoke of the importance of the fund given that while in active ministry expenses such as housing, food and so on were taken care of by the parish but now falls on them.

“Once we are on our own and a priest is on his own in retirement … I could not afford at all what I have now and I am very, very appreciative,” he said of support received through the priest’s pension. “Thank you to everyone who supports this collection for those of us who are retired now.”

Father Schrad acknowledged that once he retired and all of the regular bills started coming he was a bit shocked by all of the expenses. Thanks to the pension, along with Social Security, he added that the priests are able to have a decent life in retirement.

“The scary thing about it is we realize we are getting older. We can run around now but it might not be that way next year,” said Father Schrad. “If we for some reason get infirm or have some accident, this collection helps to provide the means to keep us going at least mentally in case we lose our physical abilities.”

You can find this and all episodes of Illuminating Catholics at by CLICKING HERE.

For parishioners who donate to the Retired and Infirm Priests Collection, they can be assured that all of the money stays right here in the diocese to help the men who have ministered to them.

“Priests are builders, teachers, counselors and friends. They are with us during all phases of life from birth to death,” said Hawkins. “Many of our ‘retired’ priests remain active in providing sacramental ministry in our parishes, schools, hospitals and nursing homes. They give us so much; we should support them in their retirement years.”

Ways to give?

• Easter Weekend Collection
• Online at scdiocese.org/ripc
• Mailing a check to: Diocese of Sioux City, PO Box 3379, Sioux City, IA  51102
• Grain, stock, charitable gift annuity (CGA), qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from an IRA or through a donor-advised fund (DAF)
• Remembering the retired and infirm priests in your estate plan