Retirement Fund for Religious

In February, the National Religious Retirement Office team traveled to Los Angeles to photograph members of religious communities for the upcoming 2026 Retirement Fund for Religious collection, which will be held in most (arch)dioceses on December 12–13.

Above: Jim Judkis (right) photographs members of the Missionaries Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit in Los Angeles, CA. Standing, from left: Sr. Maria Teresa Aguinaga, Sr. Maria Guadalupe Saldana, and Sr. Aida Sansor. Sitting, from left: Sr. Senorina Alba, Sr. Maria Rodriguez, and Sr. Emilia (Irene) Lara.

All the senior religious pictured here receive essential support provided by generous donations to this nationwide appeal. Thanks to people like you, we can help ensure our aging sisters, brothers, and religious order priests receive the care and dignity they deserve in their retirement years.

If you would like to make a gift today to help senior religious like these, you may now give online through iGiveCatholic.

Learn more about how your donations are used.

We thank all of the participating communities in Los Angeles for their warm welcome, generosity of time and spirit, and the joy they shared with us during our visit.

Above:

Photo one: Lovers of Holy Cross of Los Angeles sisters. Back row, from left: Sr. Mary Bernadette Tran, Sr. Stella Kim Le, Sr. Mary ToNga Nguyen, and Sr. Theresa Phan. Front row, from left: Sr. Anne Lanh Tran, Sr. Ann Mai Phan, Sr. Miriam Xuyen Vu, and Sr. Cecilia Lan Nguyen.

Photo two: Photographer Jim Judkis (left).

Photo three: Discalced Carmelite Friars: California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph. From left: Fr. David Costello, Fr. Gerald Werner, Fr. Bernard Perkins, and Fr. Paul Koenig.

©2026 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC • All rights reserved • Photographer: Jim Judkis