CHARLOTTE — The annual diocesan collection to fund the Priests’ Retirement and Benefits Plan – “Honoring Our Faithful Shepherds” – will be taken up in all parishes the weekend of Sept. 19-20.
This collection provides for the future pension and retiree health benefits of the 147 priests from our diocese, other dioceses and religious order priests serving the Church in western North Carolina. An additional 25 retired priests benefit from this collection now, while there are 27 priests who will be eligible for retirement within the next 10 years.
In his annual letter announcing the collection, Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., recalled Jesus’ reminder in John’s Gospel that “the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
“Throughout my years as a priest and now as your bishop, I have witnessed countless examples of that faithful love in the lives of our priests,” he wrote. “They have celebrated our joys, comforted us in our sorrows, proclaimed the Gospel, and faithfully offered the sacraments that nourish our lives in Christ.”
He urged parishioners to “Think for a moment about the priest who helped shape your faith. Perhaps he baptized your child, prepared you for marriage, visited a loved one in the hospital, or celebrated the funeral Mass of someone dear to you. Our priests have walked beside us during life’s most sacred moments.”
This collection is “an opportunity for us to express our gratitude in a tangible way by caring for those who have spent their lives caring for us,” he wrote.
Contributions will help fund the Diocese of Charlotte Priests Pension Trust, the Diocese of Charlotte Retired Priests Health Plan Trust, and the retirement programs of the religious orders and other dioceses that are providing priests to serve in our parishes.
The 2026 goal for the collection is $2,194,000. Of the funds raised, 77% will go toward pension contributions to diocesan priests’ retirement plans and retirement benefits expenses for retired diocesan priests’ health plans, 17% for pension contributions for religious order priests’ retirement plans, 3% for administrative fees and 3% for fundraising costs.
The amount assessed each parish is 3% of its annual offertory income.
Many people contribute to this collection during the offertory at Mass, but people can also give online, mail in their donations or drop them off at their parish office.
— Trish Stukbauer
Donate online
At charlottediocese.org/giving/priests-retirement-benefits-collection: Donate through the diocesan website, where gifts will be credited to your parish