The Diocese of Scranton

Collection for the Care and Education of Priests
to Begin in Parishes

At weekend Masses June 20-21, the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time, announcements will be made about a new monthly Collection for the Care and Education of Priests.

Coincidentally, June 21 is also Father’s Day, a civil observance respected but never interfering with Catholic liturgical celebrations. Nonetheless, pastors will be advising their parishioners on this Father’s Day about the Diocesan costs for the “Fathers” who are serving and have served the faithful as priests of the Diocese of Scranton.

Costs are increasing for the formation of new priests and the continuing education of current priests who must be prepared to deal with complex issues as they minister in today’s society, and for priests’ medical and post-retirement care.

These circumstances are posing serious challenges to the Diocesan budget. Thus, the faithful in the Diocese will be asked to assist through this new collection.

This will be a second collection to be taken up at Masses over the first weekend of every month beginning in July. Special envelopes have been or eventually will be provided to parishioners as part of their envelope sets.

Bishop Joseph F. Martino, after consulting with the Diocesan Finance Council and the Council of Priests, has concluded that he is obliged to institute this second collection.

“We have an obligation to care for the priests who have served us so faithfully throughout the years. And we also must ensure that we have a well-trained contingent of clergy to serve us in the future,” he said. “The costs of fulfilling these obligations are enormous.”

Bishop Martino said the ordinary revenues generated for the Diocesan budget are simply not sufficient to cover these costs. The challenge is illustrated below with figures from the 2008-09 Diocesan budget:

Parishes contributed $2,897,135 to cover the health insurance premiums for active priests. However, the Diocese has incurred an additional cost of $1,125,116 for clergy support and medical assistance that is not covered by insurance. As the priest population continues to age, these costs are expected to increase.

Parishes contributed $741,361 toward the cost of operating the Villa St. Joseph retirement home for priests. The actual cost is $779,316.
Parishes contributed $696,000 toward the cost of providing health care for retired priests. The actual cost is $1,454,734.
Parishes contributed $1,187,500 toward the pensions for retired priests and the future pension obligations for active priests, as required by law. Also, the Diocese has incurred an additional expense of $1,235,072 to cover a small increase in the monthly pension benefits paid to retired priests. The Priests’ Pension Plan is approximately 70% funded, but still has an unfunded liability of $4,529,687. Each year the Diocese contributes $100,000 from the Collection for Retired Religious and Priests to assist in reducing this unfunded liability.
The Diocese is fortunate to have almost 200 priests who serve full-time in the parishes and in other ministries. They are assisted on a part-time basis by most of the 88 priests who have retired but still celebrate Mass, dispense the sacraments and perform other services in our parishes.
This year’s cost for seminary and clergy education is $263,119. This expense will increase significantly in the 2009-2010 budget. As priests retire, other priests must be readied to assume necessary functions. For example, every diocese must have priests trained in Canon Law. Other priests must be prepared to teach courses for the Pastoral Formation Institute, to instruct men studying to be permanent deacons, and to lead continuing education seminars for all priests.
$1,250,000 from the Diocesan Annual Appeal is allocated toward all of these costs. The total amount contributed for clergy care and education by the parishes and the Appeal is $6,771,996. The actual expenses are $8,629,837. This leaves a shortfall of $1,857,841 in the current Diocesan budget.
As it stands today, clergy care accounts for 60% of the Diocesan budget. Given the fact that medical, pension and educational costs continue to increase, this figure will most certainly become even more in the years ahead.

“As you can see, this new monthly collection is absolutely essential in order to fund the ever increasing costs associated with the care and education of the clergy,” Bishop Martino said. “Given the current assessment burden on our parishes and my reluctance to add to this burden, this collection seems to be the most effective and understandable way to meet our obligations to the clergy.

“I also believe that our parishioners will recognize that we need their help to make sure that the needs of their priests are met, now and into the future. Knowing the goodness of our people, they will respond generously.”