The Code of Canon Law introduces the Parish Finance Council as a mandated body having an advisory and consultative role with the pastor.
Canon 537 says, “Each parish is to have a finance council which is regulated by universal law 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 canon 532.”
Every parish therefore is required to have a Parish Finance Council, both by adherence to the Code of Canon Law and by local norms issued by the diocesan bishop.
The Finance Council works closely with the pastor, who is accountable to the diocesan bishop for the administration and stewardship of the temporal goods of the parish. The pastor, according to Canon Law, has among his responsibilities, the responsibility for parish financial and temporal management. The Parish Finance Council is a consultative body appointed by the pastor to assist him in meeting these obligations. While the Parish Finance Council does not have decision making authority, consultation is at the heart of the decision-making process – sharing information, listening, contributing to the discussion, and promoting consensus.
Members
- Richard Pearce – President
- George Banks
- John Greishaber
- James Haley, Jr.
- John Marianelli
Ex Officio
- Monsignor Steven Hurley
- Deacon Frank Quinlan
- Tom Travis – Parish Bookkeeper