September 10, 2019

NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros met with leaders of the Archdiocese Benefits Committee Monday, Sept. 9, in his office at the Archdiocese. His Eminence initiated the meeting with Fr. James T. Paris, Chairman of the ABC; Fr. James Greanias, Vice-Chairman of the ABC, and Mrs. Anna Vrettos, Director of the ABC.

The Archdiocese Benefits Committee oversees the Pension and Health Care Insurance of the Clergy and Lay Employees of the Archdiocese of America.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the funding and deficit of the Pension Fund of the Clergy and Lay Employees of the Archdiocese of America. From the time of his enthronement in June of 2019, Archbishop Elpidophoros has expressed active and loving concern for the welfare of the Clergy, lay employees and their families.

Confronting the deficit of the Pension Fund has been a combined and concentrated effort of the ABC and the Archdiocesan Council in working together to discuss ways of strengthening the program. The ABC representatives briefed His Eminence on the options under study through the extensive analysis of the ABC consulting firm, Mercer Inc. His Eminence offered his own thoughts, direction and expressed his unbridled support to the ABC to better enhance the security and welfare of the Clergy and their families for the betterment of the whole of the Archdiocese of America.

The meeting was exceptionally positive and productive lasting over an hour. His Eminence agreed to partake in the upcoming semi-annual meeting of the ABC to take place at the Archdiocese, Nov. 12 and 13.

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