Retirement for a priest looks very different from other retirees.
When priests retire, they don’t have hefty corporate golden parachutes or wealthy stock portfolios to draw cash for a later life filled with fancy vacations and golf courses.
Senior priests receive a modest pension, and some are fortunate to have assistance from extended family, but many are challenged with finding affordable living after giving their life to the Church.
In the spring of 2022, Monsignor Tom Fryar faced the daunting transition into retirement.
The Scottsbluff, Neb. native didn’t have family in Denver. His family were the people from the many parishes he worked for during nearly 45 years of selfless service for the Archdiocese of Denver.
“I didn’t grow up in Denver and I didn’t have any place to go after parish life,” said Fryar, whose last appointment was at St. Thomas More Church.
The archdiocese created the Retired Priest Fund to help aging priests address increased costs of living and affordable housing. As he approached retirement, Fryar decided to move into Prophet Elijah House, which offers affordable apartments for up to 12 retired priests.
“It provides a bit of community,” Fryar said. “We’ve had similar experiences, common hopes and dreams. It allows us to not just recede into the background as we retire.”
Father Bob Fisher retired eight years ago before the opening of Prophet Elijah House and he lives in his own apartment. However, he meets with his fellow retired priests once a month at Elijah House and appreciates the financial safety net that the Retired Priest Fund gives him.
Fisher was a professional chef before being called to become a priest in Denver.
“I still took orders…just from above,” Fisher said humorously.
Fisher uses his cooking talent for the monthly meetings that enable the priests to socialize, pray and reflect. Most are still busy even in retirement and continue to fill in to serve Mass at parishes throughout the diocese.
The Retired Priest Fund assists priests like Fisher in case of extraordinary medical needs or surgery recovery and other expenses that can unexpectedly occur during the aging process, Fisher said.
Most importantly, the Retired Priest Fund and Elijah House provide a shared supportive community for these religious men who dedicated their lives to other people.
“The priests are still very active in serving the faith community and are a strength and support to one another in that special setting,” Fryar said. “I am glad that I still have the opportunity to live in a community of those who have shared in the type of life committed to serving the Lord and His people.”
Please consider letting our priests know they are not forgotten with a gift today to the Retired Priests Fund at archden.org/retiredpriests.
