Father Bill Gubbins is among roughly 220 retired priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Of course, the term “retired” is relative. Gubbins, pastor emeritus of St. John Berchmans Parish, and former pastor of Queen of Martyrs in Evergreen Park, lives at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills and celebrates daily Mass, baptisms and funerals and teaches in the fifth grade at Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School. He describes his schedule as “having my foot in parish work, but at my own pace.” After 55 years of priesthood and 10 of retirement, he is among those who will benefit from a second collection June 13-14 at the end of the Year for Priests. The Fund for Retired Priests, administered by the Priests’ Retirement and Mutual Aid Association, provides pensions, health care and other benefits for the priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Started two years ago Until two years ago, it was paid for by an assessment on parishes. But its investments took a beating in the economic downturn, said executive director Alex Becker, and it found itself having to dip into capital to pay its expenses, including $2.8 million a year in pensions and ever-increasing health care costs. But parishes were hit hard at the same time, so rather than ask them for more money, the fund began an annual second collection, Becker said. In each of its first two years, the collection raised more than $1 million. “The response has shown a great affection for the retired priests,” Becker said. The second collection for retired priests is in June, to make sure it does not compete with the December collection for retired members of religious congregations. Different position Retired diocesan priests are in a slightly different position than the retired religious, Becker said. They do not take vows of poverty, and often have some retirement savings, in addition to Social Security and their pensions. Normally, they retire at 70 years old. But they are different from most lay retirees, because when they retire, their expenses go up. “For many of them, they have to get an apartment or condo or whatever,” Becker said. “All their expenses that used to be paid for — cleaning, utilities, whatnot — they have to pay for.” Fewer than a fourth of the retired priests live in rectories; more than 10 percent are living in two retirement homes specifically for priests. Including health care, nursing home and other costs, in addition to pensions, the fund spends more than $5 million a year to support retired priests. Still ministering Gubbins said he intends to keep up his active retirement. One of the “lasting joys” of his past seven years in retirement has been his involvement with a large group of faithful parishioners who attend a Little Rock Scripture Study at St. Elizabeth Seton. Gubbins gives the “wrap-up,” clarifying theological and other questions. They’ve covered a lot of Scriptural territory together, both Old and New Testament. Their deep spiritual friendship and bonding helped persuade Gubbins, who had already traveled to the Holy Land a number of times, to lead 40 of them on a pilgrimage there in 2009. He calls it his “biggest joy of retirement.” This retired priest’s next adventure is taking a group of pilgrims to the passion play in Oberammergau, then on to Prague, and Krakow, Poland.