Serving Retired Priests With A $50,000 Donation

"It is a privilege to make a donation to the Orange Catholic Foundation with the intent of benefiting the Diocese of Orange Priests Pension Plan.

I watched my brother, Father John R. Keller (Father Rod), serve multitudes of the faithful for nearly 60 years---offering daily Mass at 6:30 A.M. well into his 80's---only to become a worried watcher of the bottom line as he juggled expenses during retirement.

And while our family helped ease his financial burden, I know many priests do not have the resources to be relieved of the costs of retired living, including housing, medical bills and well-deserved recreational pursuits.

Ordained in 1954 at St. Vibiana's Cathedral in Los Angeles, Father Rod died in 2013, after receiving the Last Rites from Bishop Kevin Vann in his room at St. Bonaventure Church in Huntington Beach.

His parting words: "I leave this life in overwhelming gratitude to God and to all: family, friends, and those I have been privileged to serve. To serve is to reign. Praise be Jesus Christ.""

--ANN KELLER CONWAY

The Orange Catholic Foundation Board of Directors and staff thank Ann for her generosity and compassion toward our priests here in the Diocese of Orange. Ann's support provides the proper care for our priests to live comfortably once they retire from their parish duties.

For more information on ways to give, please contact the Orange Catholic Foundation at 714.282.3021 or [email protected].

(Photo caption: Father Christopher Smith is joined by Ann Conway, center, Lynn Hearn, left, and Christa Chavez at Christ Cathedral's dedication gala in July of 2019.)