One priority in the Come to the Light pastoral plan of early 2007 is to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life. When those people, especially diocesan priests, wish to retire, where will they obtain the cost of an apartment or other housing, food, insurance and other necessities?

The Diocese of Helena has had retirement benefits for them for many years, in the form of the Clergy Senior Status and Security Trust.

Currently, the diocese is paying retirement benefits for 28 senior status priests who receive monthly benefits in this range: $1,500 for the men at age 70, and $2,900 for those at the age of 75. They receive gradually more as they work beyond the age of 70 up to when they retire, said Pete McNamee, diocesan director of financial services.

The latest actuarial report shows an unfunded liability of $978,547 for the diocese. These benefits have accrued by past services not covered by current assets of $4.8 million.

One goal of the capital campaign is to pay off the unfunded liability, McNamee said. Another goal is to look at various avenues of funding to provide dignified retirement. That would include an ability to provide increased benefits every year.

Funding for this plan comes from the Diocesan Offertory Program, dues paid by parishes with resident priests, donations and bequests, plus interest income. Fund-raising programs, such as a capital campaign, also provide funds for the priest retirement benefit.

This trust is a legal entity separate from all other entities in the Diocese of Helena and is strictly for the priest retirements. Bishop George L. Thomas is the Trustee and Msgr. Joseph Harrington is the current chairman of the Trust Board.

The cost of payments to beneficiaries is approaching $700,000 each year, McNamee said.

Monsignor Harrington, a senior status priest who taught at Carroll College for many years, said that Bishop Elden F. Curtiss established the current retirement plan not long after he became Bishop of Helena in the late 1970s. He asked the priests what they wanted and needed in a new retirement system, and built up the Trust little by little.

The previous retirement system was not very helpful, the monsignor added.

The Trust board includes five priests – elected by the diocesan priests – three staff members, a plan administrator and an investment manager.

There is also a Special Assistance fund, financed by the DOP, to help clergy who need psychological, emotional or long-term medical assistance not covered by insurance.

Bishop Curtiss’ successors have continued the Trust and how it is managed, Monsignor Harrington said. “Bishop Curtiss started a good thing and the others knew it.”

The monsignor also said that he visits the retired priests – there are only a few – “and they are very pleased with the Trust.”


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 24, No. 9, September 19, 2008.