December 17, 2025 There are currently 37 retired priests along with 11 active priests aged 70 and older, receiving pension benefits from the Priests’ Retirement Fund. These priests will be direct beneficiaries of the generosity of Catholics in the North Country who contribute to their parishes Christmas collection. This Christmas, parishes will contribute 75% of their Christmas collection to the Priests’ Retirement Fund. Parishes will keep the remaining balance of the Christmas collection. Your gift this year will help support not only priests currently receiving support from the Priests’ Retirement Fund but also priests who will be retiring in the future. Actuarial studies are performed annually to assure the diocese is preparing for its future obligations to retired priests. The firm of Frank J. Walters Associates, Inc. has determined that adequate provisions are being made in 2025-26 to fund the Plan. It is the diocese’s goal to provide an annual pension increase when able to do so. On July 1, 2025, an increase of $30 in the monthly benefit paid to retired priests of the diocese became effective. Estimated pension payments for the 2025-26 fiscal year are $985,000. In addition, 100% of the cost of health insurance for retired priests is funded through the Plan. The 2025-26 fiscal year estimate for this benefit is $320,000. Retired priests of the diocese also receive pensions from the Social Security Administration. Because priests’ income is typically modest, their Social Security benefits are not large, and most priests rely heavily on their diocesan pension for a good portion of their financial support. The value of investments in the Priests’ Retirement Fund decreased over a one-year period from $8,440,586 on June 30, 2024, to $8,297,974 on June 30, 2025. The diocese’s Investment Advisory Committee, diocesan administration, and the investment portfolio’s investment managers closely monitor monies invested in support of the Plan. The Priests’ Retirement Fund of the diocese is also assisted through extraordinary gifts. Information about gift opportunities to benefit the Priests’ Retirement Fund is available from the diocese’s Executive Director of Development, Scott Lalone. Scott can be reached in Ogdensburg at (315) 393-2920 or by email at slalone@rcdony.org. Your personal generosity to the Christmas collection in your parish will support all retired priests of the diocese and will benefit in the longer term the diocesan religious priests serving you today. Your priests, retired and active, will appreciate your support tremendously! Mark T. Mashaw
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