Dear Bishop Neary,

I taught at St. Mary’s School in Alexandria, MN for over 23 years, sometimes part-time and sometimes full time.  My husband and I were farmers and lived on a small farm just outside of Alexandria. When my husband past away almost 5 years ago, I sold off the building site on the farm to have enough money to purchase a condominium in Alexandria.

At this time, I receive from Christian Brothers the amount of $469.96 per month.  From Social Security, I receive $1,156.00 per month. My cash rent is about enough to cover my taxes and my Association fees.  You can easily see that I have very little left for medical, dental, vision, auto, food, clothing, etc. My fees for vision are astronomical, as I have advanced Glaucoma.  This past year they completely replaced a drain in my right eye. Insurance does not totally cover the surgeries (I had 3 this past year) nor the cost of drugs needed.  

Without the income from my Christian Brothers Retirement Fund, small as it is, I am going to need to find another source of income.  Getting a real job is out of the question as I am 82 with all the vision problems and arthritis that go along with old age.  I walk with a cane and only drive during the daytime.  

My son, who is an attorney in CA, tells me that there are laws that make it illegal for these retirement funds to shut their doors, so to speak.  Has our attorney checked into this?  Where has the money gone?

I sincerely hope that this problem can be solved for everyone as quickly as possible.  

Helen Johnsrud

Former teacher at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Alexandria, MN.