YOUR PARISH FINANCES

Parish Finance Councils as Defined in Canon Law
Each parish is to have a finance council which is regulated by universal laws as well as by norms issued by the diocesan bishop; in this council the Christian faithful, selected according to the same norms, aid the pastor in the administration of parish goods with due regard for the prescription of can. 532.
 
In 1983, the Code of Canon Law was revised and enhanced to describe the responsibilities of the parish pastor, administrator, or parish life coordinator to establish a finance council to assist and advise in the fiscal matters of the parish. In particular, Canons 532 and 537 require that a finance council be established.
 
 Canon 532 
 In all judicial matters, the parish priest acts in the parish, in accordance with the law. He is to ensure that the parish goods are administered in accordance with canons 1282 – 1288.
 Canon 537 
Each parish is to have a finance council which is regulated by universal law as well as by the norms issued by the diocesan bishop; in this council the Christian faithful, selected according to the same norms, aid the pastor in the administration of parish goods with due regard for the prescription of Canon 532.
 Canon 1282 
 All clerics or lay persons who through a legitimate title take part in the administration of ecclesiastical goods are bound to fulfill their duties in the name of the Church and in accord with the norm of law.
 

The Code of Canon Law (Canon 537) mandates Parish Finance Councils in each parish. The role of the Parish Finance Council is to assist and advise the pastor in overseeing the financial affairs of the parish, including any schools. The Parish Finance Council is accountable to the Pastor who has the responsibility for final decisions.

Code of Canon Law states that the Parish Finance Council is a consultative body.  Consultative bodies of these types are pastoral in nature. In this format, Finance Councils are not legislative bodies, nor are they administrative bodies. Rather, these councils are convened to engage in prayerful and informed discernment with regard to the pastoral life of the parish. The final responsibility for all parish financial transactions rests with the Pastor.  He may delegate the authority, but not the responsibility.  

The following individuals have been appointed to the Parish Finance Council: 

• Fr. Francis J. Kalapurackal, Pastor
• Sean Kennedy, Chair
• Andrea Welsh
• Emily Brown
• Rick Smith
• John Barbee
• Joe Thompson
• Sheila Schildbach, Staff Accounting 
• Kevin Sweeney, Business Manager 
  Contact Finance Council