Supporting Retired Priests
Although priests continue to assist in administering the sacraments of God as long as they are able, elderly priests eventually retire from active ministry and administrative responsibilities.
Priests who belong to a religious community are cared for according to the arrangements made by their order.
Diocesan priests typically have three living arrangement options after retiring.
Reside in a parish rectory with brother priests (but not at the parish they were last assigned as pastor), where they continue to assist in serving mass and hearing confession.
Move to a diocesan retirement home. However, for dioceses that have one, there is often a very limited number of priests that can be served.
Move to a skilled nursing facility, particularly for very elderly priests or for priests whose health is declining.
Ways to support our retired priests:
Consider finding out what happened to your old pastor or other priests you care about.
Consider making arrangements to visit them, or remembering them around Christmas, Easter, or Father’s Day.
They have no children but us.
