ATLANTA—The 2014 collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious (RFR) will be taken during Masses the weekend of Dec. 13-14 in the Archdiocese of Atlanta during the second collection.

The Retirement Fund for Religious enables senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests to enjoy the dignified care they deserve as they continue to devote their lives to prayer and service.

This annual appeal benefits some 35,000 senior sisters, brothers and order priests—women and men who have consecrated their lives to serving God and the church. Donations to the RFR pay for prescription medications, nursing care and help bolster retirement savings.

By 2024, it is projected that religious past age 70 will outnumber those younger than 70 by four to one.

In 2013, parishes in the Archdiocese of Atlanta collected $294,587 for the fund. Distributions in Georgia included $31,879 in direct care assistance to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. The Carmelite monastery in Savannah received $2,405.

Donations may also be sent to: Retirement Fund for Religious, National Religious Retirement Office, P.O. Box 96988, Washington DC 20090-6988

Donors may print a donation form at www.retiredreligious.org to accompany gifts sent by mail.