2024 impact report
A MESSAGE FROM BOARD LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mr. Mark L. Vachon
Very Rev. Richard W. Fitzgerald
Very Rev. William P. Joy
Rev. J. Michael Lawlor
Very Rev. Linh T. Nguyen
Rev. Thomas S. Rafferty
Mr. Charles I. Clough, Jr.
Mr. Paul T. Currie
Mr. Joseph Gelly
Mr. David Hegarty
Ms. Maureen Joyce
Mr. James MacDonald
Ms. Sharon McNally
Mr. Kevin C. Phelan
TRUSTEES EMERITI
Rev. Gerard Petringa
Mr. C. Michael Daley
Ms. Jean Tempel
Dear Friends,
The Clergy Trust is different.
This entity was established so that there would be an entire team dedicated to the healthcare, benefits, retirement, and overall wellness support for active and senior priests in good standing. This team is overseen by a majority lay Board of Trustees that brings the expertise and leadership of clergy and laity together to ensure our priests are getting the best care possible in a fiscally-responsible way.
Clergy Trust’s care and support of priests is unique to our Archdiocese. Because the Clergy Trust acts as a separate entity, the care of our priests relies on the goodness and generosity of our benefactors. In this report, you will see examples of the impact that the Clergy Trust has on the lives of our priests.
We could not do this important work without you.
In our ongoing effort to provide the best support possible, we welcome questions, comments, and suggestions at any time. Thank you for your continued prayers and generous support.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees,
Mark L. Vachon
Chair
Very Rev. Richard W. Fitzgerald Vice Chair
Chair
Vice Chair
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I am incredibly proud of the Clergy Trust team and the care and support we provide our priests who do so much for so many every single day. As a part of this report, I thought I’d share with you five interesting facts about the Clergy Trust:
The way we care for our priests is different.
In most dioceses, priests’ healthcare and retirement needs are handled internally as a responsibility of the (arch)bishop. Here in our Archdiocese, Cardinal Seán O’Malley established and delegated this responsibility to the Clergy Trust as an independent entity, overseen by a majority lay Board of Trustees to ensure quality care, full transparency, and fiscal accountability. This unique model allows us to offer our priests a team completely dedicated to their care.
We don’t receive funding from the annual Catholic Appeal
While the independence of the Trust is a strength in many ways, it also means that it is funded independently and does not receive any funding directly from the Archdiocese. Primary funding comes from parish assessments, the three parish collections throughout the year, and the annual Celebration of the Priesthood dinner each September.
Clergy Trust’s Regina Cleri Residence supports all priests
Regina Cleri is mainly a home for our senior priests, but there are also six guest rooms dedicated for the respite care of any priest recovering from surgery or other medical issue, as well as for any priest in need of space for a personal retreat. Later in this report, you’ll see highlights from Regina Cleri’s 60th anniversary celebration that took place in June 2024.
We are on the leading edge of care for priests in the U.S.
The overall support we provide our priests is vast and multi-faceted to ensure they can continue their vocation in an effective and meaningful way. We offer innovative programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle, as well as preventative programs to address common issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight management. Recognizing the growing need for emotional wellness support, we maintain a network of professionals who specialize in the care of clergy. The Care Team that creates, implements, and maintains our wellness programs and oversees Regina Cleri includes a Registered Nurse, a Certified Wellness Coach, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.
Our Team acts as an extension of family for many of our priests
Our team is made up of business and healthcare professionals with deep experience and domain knowledge who genuinely care for the priests they serve. Members of our team who work directly with the priests become more like an extension of their family, often accompanying them on medical appointments, checking in on them and helping them navigate health issues, and working with their family or healthcare proxies to ensure proper care and recuperation.
Providing for the needs of our priests is one of the most important things we can do as a Catholic community. Especially in today’s world, being a priest can be somewhat lonely, particularly when it comes to personal matters involving physical and emotional health. Our Clergy Trust Team serves as a comprehensive system of support for any and all needs that our priests may face.
Our priests help us live our faith, they bring Christ’s presence to our communities, and they are there for us whenever we need them. Through your generosity, you help Clergy Trust be there for them. Thank you.
With gratitude,
Mike Scannell
IN MEMORIAM
We keep in our prayers the priests who have been taken home to the Lord since our last report was published in 2023. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
Reverend Robert J. Butler
Reverend Francis E. Daley
Reverend Thomas P. Donohoe
Reverend Ronald A. Gomes
Reverend James T. Kelly
Reverend Charles R. Kinsella
Reverend Daniel J. Mahoney
Reverend John W. McElroy
Reverend Richard E. McQuade
Reverend John R. Mulvehill
Reverend William T. Pearsall
Reverend James F. Rafferty
Reverend Paul T. Ryan
Reverend Charles E. Salamone
Reverend Albert J. Sallese
Reverend William F. Salmon
Reverend John E. Schatzel
Reverend John L. Sullivan
Reverend Corey Bassett-Tirrell
ST. JOHN VIANNEY
GIVING SOCIETY
The St. John Vianney Giving Society recognizes both active and senior priests who make an annual gift to Clergy Trust. Their generosity is an investment in their health and that of their brothers in Christ, and serves as a sign of their appreciation to the laity who support their needs throughout the year.
Anonymous (2)
Right Rev. John J. Ahern, Jr.
Rev. Michael A.J. Alfano
Rev. Shawn W. Allen
Rev. Jeffrey S. Archer
Rev. Ronald A. Barker
Very Rev. David J. Barnes
Rev. Robert M. Blaney
Rev. Joseph K. Boafo
Rev. Charles E. Bourke, Jr.
Rev. Thomas F. Bouton
Rev. James G. Burke
Rev. Allan L.W. Butler
Rev. Eric F. Cadin
Rev. David P. Callahan
Rev. Joseph T. Canavan
Rev. Kenneth V. Cannon
Rev. Msgr. George F. Carlson
Rev. Walter A.M. Carreiro
Rev. William R. Carroll
Rev. Peter J. Casey
Rev. Brian M. Clary
Rev. Francis J. Cloherty
Rev. Msgr. Peter V. Conley
ST. JOHN VIANNEY
GIVING SOCIETY
Rev. Sean M. Connor
Very Rev. Robert L. Connors
Rev. Francis M. Conroy
Rev. Richard C. Conway
Rev. William D. Coughlin
Rev. Ronald D. Coyne
Rev. Daniel J. Crowley
Rev. Richard P. Crowley
Rev. Msgr. William F. Cuddy, Jr.
Rev. Robert J. Cullen
Rev. John P. Culloty
Rev. Francis J. Daly
Rev. Kevin J. Deeley
Rev. Donald R. Delay
Rev. Richard S. DeVeer
Rev. Thomas S. Domurat
Rev. Richard M. Erikson
Rev. Scott A. Euvrard
Rev. Msgr. William P. Fay
Rev. Daniel J. Finn
Rev. Patrick J. Fiorillo
Rev. Thomas S. Foley
Rev. Msgr. Paul V. Garrity
Rev. Jonathan M. Gaspar
Rev. Vincent J. Gianni, Jr.
Rev. John J. Grimes
Rev. R. Michael Guarino
Rev. Matthew J. Harrington
Rev. John J. Healy
Rev. Msgr. William M. Helmick
Rev. Joseph M. Hennessey
Rev. Paul K. Hurley
ST. JOHN VIANNEY
GIVING SOCIETY
Very Rev. William P. Joy, Jr.
Rev. Msgr. Francis H. Kelley
Rev. Walter F. Keymont, Jr.
Very Rev. Brian R. Kiely
Rev. Paul E. Kilroy
Rev. J. Michael Lawlor
Rev. Kevin P. Leaver
Rev. William T. Leonard
Rev. Msgr. Joseph G. Lind
Rev. Anthony V. Luongo
Rev. Arthur T. MacKay
Rev. Leo E. Martel
Rev. Francis X. Mawn, Jr.
Very Rev. Brian J. McHugh
Rev. Martin J. McNulty
Rev. Paul G. McPartland
Rev. Anthony J. Medairos
Rev. Vincent P. Mellone
Rev. B.W.T.A. Linus Mendis
Rev. Paul E. Miceli
Rev. Robert T. Milling
Rev. John F. Mulloy, Jr.
Rev. John A. Murray
Rev. Robert W. Murray
Very Rev. Thomas F. Nestor
Rev. Joseph Chinh Nguyen
Rev. Henry P. Nichols
Rev. Michael L. Nolan
Rev. Mark L. Noonan
Rev. John W. O’Brien
Rev. Louis R. Palmieri
Rev. Bryan K. Parrish
ST. JOHN VIANNEY
GIVING SOCIETY
Rev. Gerard Petringa
Rev. Bertrand L. Proulx
Rev. Kenneth B. Quinn
Rev. Peter F. Quinn
Rev. Joseph K. Raeke
Rev. James F. Rafferty †
Rev. Thomas S. Rafferty
Rev. Redmond M. Raux
Rev. Thomas J. Reilly
Rev. Daniel J. Riley
Rev. Edward M. Riley
Rev. Paul L. Ring
Rev. James J. Ronan
Rev. Charles E. Salamone †
Rev. Msgr. Stephen E. Salocks
Rev. Joseph F. Scorzello, Jr.
Rev. Frank J. Silva
Rev. Eugene P. Sullivan
Rev. Kevin G. Toomey
Most Rev. Peter J. Uglietto
Rev. John J. Unni
Rev. Thomas J. Walsh
Rev. Matthew J. Westcott
Rev. David P. White
Rev. Walter J. Woods
Rev. Thomas F. Wyndham
Rev. Stephen P. Zukas
as of September 30, 2024
† denotes deceased
CELEBRATION OF THE PRIESTHOOD
The 2024 Celebration of the Priesthood dinner was the most successful ever! More than $3M was raised for the care of our priests, and the event attendance reached pre-pandemic numbers, with nearly 1,500 gathering at the Omni Seaport Hotel in Boston. This included 78 parishes and more than 220 priests – a record on both counts!
Thank you to our event committees and all who made this year’s event such a success, especially Joe Nolan and the late Jack Connors, who co-chaired the dinner together.
The St. Joseph the Worker Award, presented annually at the dinner, was established to recognize the efforts of those who labor in the background on behalf of our priests. This year’s award went to Fr. Robert Kickham, who embodies the characteristics of St. Joseph the Worker in every facet of his being. As Cardinal Seán O’Malley’s secretary for the past two decades, he has been an “unsung hero” in countless and far-reaching ways, a tireless advocate for his brother priests, and a fervent supporter of Clergy Trust.
Richard Barrett
Judy and Artie Boyle
Carolyn and Joe Campanelli
Ann Carter and Phil Jameson
Janet and C. Michael Daley
Dinner Committee
Michael Devlin
Eileen and Gerry Foley
Lynne and Joe Gelly
Christine and Brian Golden
Mary Beth Grey
Priest Committee
Rev. Shawn Allen
Rev. Paul Aveni
Rev. Christopher Bae
Most Rev. Cristiano Barbosa
Rev. Paul Born
Rev. James Burke
Very Rev. Robert Casey
Rev. John Currie
Very Rev. Robert Deehan
Very Rev. John Delaney
Rev. Marcos Enrique
Rev. Scott A. Euvrard
Very Rev. Richard Fitzgerald
Rev. Pablo Gomis
Rev. Paul Hurley
Rev. Msgr. Francis Kelley
Rev. J. Michael Lawlor
Rev. Joseph M. Mazzone
Lynne and David Hegarty
Sharon McNally
Julie and James Shea
Karen and Mark Vachon Cole Young
Rev. Thomas F. Nestor
Rev. Linh Nguyen
Rev. Bryan Parrish
Rev. James Ronan
Rev. Gerald Souza
Rev. John J. Unni
Rev. Matthew Westcott
During filming for the 2024 Celebration of the Priesthood dinner event video, priests were asked what the support of Clergy Trust means to them.
Here are just some of their answers...
“It means someone has my back. It means someone is there for me. So that I can focus on my ministry and being there for those who need me without having to worry about ‘what if I have a problem, what if I become sick?’”
- Fr. Godfrey Musabe
“It’s the difference between me being a nervous wreck of ‘How am I going to cope with this illness?’ to being surrounded by the financial resources and the team of the Clergy Trust to help and support me through this process.”
- Fr. John Mulloy
“I think it’s a wonderful gift of love in action to the priests from the people of Boston. That they love priests so much that they continue to give to this Trust so that they can take care of us in a more tangible, visible way. Not only now but also for the future.”
- Fr. Linh Nguyen
To view this year’s Celebration of the Priesthood event video – as well as a hilarious blooper reel – scan the QR code or visit clergytrust.org/celebration.
2024 REGIONAL MEETINGS
This past spring, the Clergy Trust Team hosted luncheons in each of the five regions of the Archdiocese to update priests on their benefits and resources, check-in about their health and wellness, and provide reminders of the many programs they have access to in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Each meeting featured a Q&A with a guest priest about various topics related to their wellness journey. It was a great chance for priests to share insight, experience, and advice with their brothers. One of our favorite moments was when Fr. Robert Murray, pictured above, spoke about the importance of exercise and shared that he walks around Salem every day, and to make it more meaningful, says prayers for each of the homes he walks by!
The Clergy Trust is dedicated to being on the leading edge of care for our priests
Our Care Team includes a Wellness Coordinator (Kate Marshall, INHC, CPT, MA) and a Senior Care Manager (Amy Nash, LICSW, MA) who work directly with both active and senior priests, accompanying them on medical appointments, checking in on them and helping as they navigate health issues, and working with their family/healthcare proxies to ensure proper care and recuperation.
FY24 Care Team
REGINA CLERI RESIDENCE CELEBRATES
60TH ANNIVERSARY
This past June, a special celebration was held at Regina Cleri with residents, priests, and benefactors to recognize sixty years of serving our senior priests.
In 1964, Cardinal Richard Cushing opened Regina Cleri, located in Boston’s West End, with the vision for a permanent residence for senior priests that would provide them with a real home, basic care, and the opportunity to continue priestly ministry while aging in place. Today, with Regina Cleri at full capacity, this vibrant community continues to carry on Cardinal Cushing’s vision and fulfill his mission.
A plaque blessed during the evening’s program is inscribed with a quote from Cardinal Seán O’Malley, “Regina Cleri is not just a home for our senior priests, it is a community of prayer, fellowship, and fraternity.”
FINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Clergy Trust Finance & Audit and Committee is appointed by the Clergy Trust Board of Trustees and functions as both a Finance Committee and an Audit Committee.
This committee reviews the effectiveness of the internal financial control environment, the external auditor’s qualifications, performance and independence, the process for monitoring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and applicable laws or regulations affecting financial reporting, and monitors ongoing financial and operational activities. The committee is also responsible for maintaining free and open communications as well as effective working relationships among the Committee members, external auditors, and management of the Clergy Trust.
FINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Reverend Thomas S. Rafferty (Chair)
Michael K. Devlin, CPA
John Ferraro, CPA
David J. Hegarty, CPA
James MacDonald
James Mullaney, CPA
ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY
Our Board of Trustees and Management Team are committed to providing our priests with the best care possible, and all the support they need to be healthy, while remaining fiscally responsible. Donors who make a gift to Clergy Trust can be confident knowing that $.89 of every dollar goes directly to the care of our priests.
The Clergy Trust’s external auditors have issued an unmodified opinion on the financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, which are available in full on the Clergy Trust website.
$16,333
