Dear Bishop Neary,

Thank you for your guidance over the Diocese of St. Cloud. Your ministry is appreciated.

I write to you with a heavy heart as I think about my friends and colleagues whom I spent 25 years of my life with as a teacher in the St. Cloud Diocese.  These friends are hurting….many of them spending over 40 years of service in our Catholic schools.  These are good people who worked so hard for little pay.

Now, after working so hard, many are facing losing their retirement money.  For many, their Christian Brothers income is the majority of their retirement income.  Years of low salaries make their social security income almost non-existent even after 40 years of work!  Something must be done to assure that these teachers are given the retirement they deserve and earned.  Please find some way to make this right. I would start by listening to their stories. 

Being a part of Catholic education in the ‘80s and ‘90s was a highlight of my teaching career. I loved my colleagues, students and parents.  Thankfully, I transferred to the Prep School for my final years of teaching so this retirement fund disaster is not hitting me as hard. Please take care of my friends and colleagues who so desperately need these funds. 

Sincerely ,

Mary Anderson

25 years of service