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WASHINGTON (September 1, 2005)—The National Religious Retirement Office,
founded to address the retirement crisis affecting members of religious
orders in the United States, is offering to help relocate elderly
religious who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
NRRO staff took the action after learning that “a considerable number of
religious communities that have been displaced by the hurricane,” said
Sister Janice Bader, project director of the NRRO office and coordinator
of the relocation effort. “We have received second-hand news that some
of them have been able to find places to relocate their sisters and
brothers. We suspect that there still may be a need to find suitable
places to relocate others, particularly the elderly,” she said
The NRRO will serve as a clearing house to assist religious in finding
housing and has asked religious communities throughout the United States
to indicate if they can house some of the religious displaced by the
hurricane.. Those who can help are asked to indicate:
1. The number of rooms / beds available
2. The level of care they can provide (independent, assisted living,
nursing care)
3. The gender of persons they can house
4. The approximate length of time they may be able to offer housing
since the need may exist for months, not just days or weeks.
The NRRO also requested information about religious who are seeking
places for their members.
The National Religious Retirement office, which is supported by a
collection taken up annually in parishes across the country for retired
religious, also said it may be able to assist with emergency funds to
help cover the costs of the relocation if that is necessary.
Information should be sent via e-mail (jbader@usccb.org) or by phone
(202) 541-3465. Sister Bader also can be reached over the weekend by
cell phone at 240-606-4094.
The National Religious Retirement Office was established by the U.S.
Bishops and organizations for men and women religious in 1987. Since its
foundation it has provided over $ 452 million to as many as 750
religious orders of men and women to address retirement needs. There are
over 30,000 retired religious in the United Sates.
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