The THRIVE wellness program is rooted in faith and a commitment to nurturing the whole person. We believe that when we care for our own well-being, we strengthen our ability to care for others. We empower you to Live Well—with purpose, resilience, and hope—and to Serve Well through empathy, stewardship, and meaningful connection.
Guided by five core pillars – Emotional, Physical, Financial, Social and Spiritual – THRIVE offers a comprehensive approach to a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Complementing our employee benefits, the program provides resources, tools, incentives, and a supportive community to help you grow and live your purpose each day!
An EAP is a free service that provides access to counselors and resources to help employees and their household members with everyday problems and questions.
How do I access the EAP?
You can access the EAP 24 hours a day either online or via phone, and there is never any need to make an appointment first.
Online, you have access to articles, checklists, webinars, online classes and other helpful tools. Navigate to www.anthemeap.com/aoc.
Via phone, 800.865.1044, EAP counselors are able to assist with setting up one of your four (4) free counseling sessions* with a licensed professional. They are also able to direct you to professionals and experts able to consult with you on various topics.
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati 401(k) Plan became effective January 1, 2011. This Plan is an important benefit intended to help employees in their retirement years as a supplement to their personal retirement savings, Social Security benefits, the frozen Archdiocese of Cincinnati Pension Plan for Lay Employees and the terminated Archdiocese of Cincinnati 403(b) Plan.
Eligible participants can: (1) make their 401(k) elective contributions; (2) receive Archdiocese base contributions; and (3) receive favorable tax advantages through either traditional or Roth 401(k) elections.
Specific 401(k) account details, investment options, and additional retirement readiness tools are attainable through the Empower Retirement participant website – empowermyretirement.com
Accessing and Managing Your Account
The Plan offers flexible account access options that help you stay connected, manage your account, and make the most of your plan benefit so you can look to the future with confidence.
- Website: empowermyretirement.com
- Mobile App: Empower Retirement
- Empower Retirement Participant Services Line: 1-866-467-7756
- Retirement Representatives: weekdays 8:00 am -10:00 pm ET and Saturdays 9:00 am – 5:30 pm ET
Beneficiary Designation
Ensure your retirement assets end up in the hands of those intended.
Keep your beneficiary information up to date:
Log on to your account via empowermyretirment.com and follow these easy steps:
1. Go to > Accounts
2. Select > Beneficiaries
Empower Education Series
Join Empower during the month of March for a live webinar: Maximize Your Savings with an Experience Built Around You
- A look at your savings
- Saving in you plan
- Resources designed for you
Register for the live virtual session of your choice via this link: www.learningfromempower.com
Follow this link for a listing of all the webinars scheduled during 2026.
Empower Education Series
Join Empower during the month of May for a live webinar: Sandwich Generation
- Caring for both aging parents and your own children at the same time
- Maintaining balance and juggling the needs of parents, children, and yourself
- Plus how to prepare financially
Register for the live virtual session of your choice via this link: www.learningfromempower.com
Follow this link for a listing of all the webinars scheduled during 2026.
As you begin to plan for retirement below are considerations to keep in mind:
There is no application form to be completed to retire from a location within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It is not necessary to notify the Pastoral Center at the Archdiocese of your upcoming retirement, however, the Benefits Office is available to answer questions when you are navigating through the process. Learn more by downloading an FAQ informational flyer.
- Be sure to touch base with your Parish/School/Agency business manager so they are aware of your intent to retire.
If your employment occurred prior to December 31, 2010 you might be vested in the frozen Lay Employees defined pension plan. Contact UMR, Administrator of the Lay Employees Pension Plan at 1.888.640.1700.
If you are an eligible participant in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati 401(k) plan contact the Customer Care team at empowermyretirement.com, 866.467.7756, for information on rollover and/or withdrawal options.
Effective December 31, 2016, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati terminated its Supplemental Retiree Health Insurance Plan and Retiree Dental Plan for Post-65 lay retirees. Effective September 1, 2016, the Pre-65 Retiree Health Plan and Pre-65 Retiree Dental Plan were frozen and no longer accept any new participants.
All Archdiocese of Cincinnati lay employees, retirees, and their spouses can benefit from the RetireMed program. RetireMed is a completely free resource that provides expert guidance as you transition from employer health coverage to Medicare or Marketplace plans. Their team of licensed advisors is dedicated to making this process simple, stress-free, and tailored to your unique needs. What sets RetireMed apart is their lifelong support—once you enroll, their team remains available to answer questions, review your coverage annually, and help you navigate any changes in your health care needs. Whether you’re planning for retirement soon or just want to understand your options. Please follow the link by clicking here if you’d like more information or to schedule a consultation.
If you haven’t already done so it is important to begin the process of applying for Medicare Parts A & B. Follow this link for Medicare information.
Age Well. Leave Well. Protect Your Loved Ones. Save Your Family
Aging Checklist:
- Preplan & prefund cemetery arrangements and memorialization – Gate of Heaven offers 10% discount for AOC employees
- Preplan & prefund funeral/cremation arrangements – through a reputable funeral home that guarantees policies
- Contact your church to understand options – logistics, song and reading selections, costs, etc.
- Appoint a trusted representative to oversee your final wishes – Appointment of Representative form
- List all accounts, account numbers, usernames, passwords, pin – keep in a secure place and share with your representative
- Update beneficiaries on ALL accounts. Consider adding a child(ren)/representative to accounts
- Keep a “Funeral” file with funeral home/cemetery documents, photos, Mass of Chrisitan Burial details, people to contact, etc.
- Communicate your final wishes to your representative, and family
- Meet with a Financial Advisor – make sure finances are in order
- -Retirement planning, insurance, tax implications, charitable giving, and financial guidance
- Meet with an Estate Attorney – make sure legal affairs are in order
- -Wills, trusts, estate documents, Living Will, Power of Attorney
- Understand Medicare and Medicaid benefits – consult a Medicare expert, for Medicaid consult an estate attorney
- Purge and declutter items from your home – consider downsizing, simplify life, protect your family
- Connect with a senior living or nursing care advisor in advance of need
When Death Occurs:
- If death occurs at home, and hospice not involved, call the police. Secure pets, property and valuables
- Call the funeral home where funeral prearrangements were made – they will guide you through the process
- Meet with Funeral Director, Church Bereavement Contact, to finalize arrangements and logistics
- Notify family, close family, executor/trustee, employer, attorney, financial advisor and other affiliations/clubs
- Take care of Yourself! Eat, sleep, socialize, stay active – seek help if needed
- Days/weeks following Funeral & Burial…..
- Cancel unnecessary services and subscriptions – TV, internet, magazines
- Contact banks, Social Security, insurance, utilities, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, etc.
- File claims, close accounts, pay debts
Did You Know:
- Preplanning alleviates the burden and stress on loved ones, saves families, locks in today’s priced, and more!
- Wills, trusts, and life insurance are great, but they are not the right tools/vehicles for cemetery and funeral planning
- Traditional, whole-body burial is still the preference of the Catholic Church, but cremation was accepted in 1963
- Cremated remains can be buried in the ground. Graves may be shared as long as one placement is cremation*
- *potentially 2 or 3 descendants. Current policy of Gate of Heaven. If burial already exists, there are additional caveats/regulations
- Different sections, property options, and offerings cost different amounts. It’s best to meet with an advisor
- Gate of Heaven offers discounts to service veterans, Archdiocese of Cincinnati clergy and employees and infant burials
- The only way to guarantee property adjacent to loved ones is to purchase at the same time
Contact:
Gate of Heaven Cemetery – 513-489-0300
Jeff Meyrose, Family Services Advisor – [email protected] or 513.927.6972
AB Casey Social Media
The Catholic Church is God’s gift to you.
You are God’s gift to the Catholic Church.
