The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch
Clergy and Seminarian Support
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Chair Department of Clergy Insurance and Retirement
The first steps toward a retirement plan became possible through a grant from The Order of St. Ignatius. Priests would accrue a “housing allowance” in retirement based on the length of time they had served in the Archdiocese. Over the years it became possible for a retired priest to receive a maximum of $800/month in retirement, and his widow would continue to receive 75% of his allowance. It was widely recognized that this allowance was inadequate, but it was a beginning.
It was also recognized that the Retired Clergy Housing Allowance Fund was insufficient to meet the need. The Archdiocese was growing quickly, the number of priests was increasing, and the cost of living was diminishing the value of the housing allowance; therefore, a new system was necessary. The Order again stepped forward, and since 2013 has provided the means by which each priest would control his own retirement account, funded in three parts - by his contributions, by a matching gift from his parish, and by a grant from the Archdiocese through an annual subsidy from The Order. As a result, the clergy of the Archdiocese now control in excess of $17 million in retirement savings.
The clergy and their families are deeply grateful to The Order and its members for their continuing and generous support.
