The dedication of clergy like Father Jeffrey Waldrep, a priest of our diocese for over 34 years, and the critical support provided through programs like the Catholic Service Appeal (CSA) highlight the profound importance of caring for our priests who have devoted their lives to serving others. Ensuring that retired and active priests have access to comprehensive healthcare and assistance honors their commitment and strengthens the communities they serve.

Clergy Healthcare: A Vital Priority
Father Jeffrey underscores the importance of comprehensive healthcare provided to diocesan priests, especially retirees like Father Sam Messina. Father Jeffrey said, “Now that I oversee Father Sam’s care, I had no idea of the costs of staying on top of a retired priest’s every day and long-term healthcare needs.” The CSA allocates $400,000 to support this effort, ensuring that priests like Father Sam receive essential care.

Clergy Assistance: Beyond Healthcare
In addition to supplementing clergy healthcare needs, the $400,000 also supplements other forms of clergy assistance. One of the substantial needs is keeping up with documentation for our foreign priests faithfully serving in our diocese. Father Jeffrey noted, “It can get substantially costly and tedious keeping up with the latest documentation the US requires from different countries our foreign priests have originated from.” Clergy Assistance also extends to helping some of our retired priests with living expenses, a vital aspect of their care.

A Call to Action
By contributing to the CSA, Father Jeffrey invites donors to actively participate in this mission of care and gratitude. The appeal is not merely a request for financial support but an invitation to join in expressing appreciation for our clergy’s lifelong service. The impact is heard every time Father Sam tells Father Jeffrey, “Thank you for taking care of me.”
Father Jeffrey stated, “Supporting the initiatives of CSA allows us to give back to those who have given so much. It is an opportunity to ensure that the physical, emotional and practical needs of our priests are met, enabling us to continue our mission with dignity and peace of mind.”