Priests' retirement fund officials are hoping for a repeat of last year's outstanding response to the annual special collection for retired priests taking place at all Masses May 19-20.

"The people in our church are very, very generous," said Msgr. Robert Gallagher, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood and chair of the priests' pension board. He noted donations received in 2006 amounted to nearly $900,000 augmented by a matching gift which brought the total collection to $1,381,978.

Msgr. Gallagher said he hopes archdiocesan parishioners will consider the priests' retirement fund special collection this weekend as "among those worthwhile charitable endeavors" such as the annual appeal for retired religious.

"We're in the same spot as the religious," he said. "Very little money was put in for us in social security" because, although benefits such as room and board were provided, salaries for priests and religious were low. Whereas the average retired lay person can usually expect well over $1,000/month in social security benefits, retired priests and nuns can count on only $400-500, he explained.

Started in 1993, the priests' retirement fund supplements social security payments for 145 retired archdiocesan priests. The additional income frees priests from financial concerns in their twilight years after years of parish ministry.

Priests in large urban and suburban parishes shouldering many administrative responsibilities especially benefit from knowing their future retirement is financially secure, contributing to their overall psychological health, noted Msgr. Gallagher.

Parishes benefit because the retirement fund takes the financial burden of paying for the retired priest's room and board away from the parish. By 2012, nearly 300 archdiocesan priests will reach retirement age; by 2017, over 350 priests will be eligible to retire based on age.

Msgr. Gallagher pointed out that the vast majority of the priests continue doing pastoral work in retirement. He noted St. Charles Borromeo's deceased pastor emeritus, Msgr. Thomas Kiefer, who died last year, didn't retire till he was 80 years old and for several years presided at Sunday Masses.

Cardinal Roger Mahony spoke of retired priests' generosity in a written reflection in last week's Tidings. "They offered their lives in faithful service to the parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and as the number of active priests decreases, retired priests continue to come forward to help with parish Masses and Sacraments.

"I ask that you join me in supporting this important annual appeal which provides for the needs of our dedicated retired priests, who, for so many years, have ministered and continue to be 'Ambassadors of Christ.'"