FINANCE/GOVERNANCE

The Councils

The Pastoral Council and the Administrative Council

Two groups of people bear with the Pastor the burden of responsibility for the decisions made. They are the Pastoral Council and the Administrative Council. Because I rely on them so heavily and consult with them so extensively, I thought it would be well to share with the whole parish the general thrust of their ministry this year.

The Pastoral Council

The purpose of the Pastoral Council is to focus, guide, and monitor the life and ministries of the whole parish. By ministry life I mean worship, religious formation, pastoral care, justice and charity, administration and, in our case, the parish's school ministry. This role demands that they do long-range planning as well.

The Who

The members of the Council are: Jim Loye, Janis Negratti-Samuel, Ellie Brenny/Jost, Patti Cibuzar, Laura Habegger, Tom Litecky, Leon Rotering, Todd Scott and Kevin Conneely (Trustee, Corporate Secretary). Those who serve have been elected by the parish or the Pastor has invited them on board so that the group mirrors the parish as a whole. Each serves a three year term, renewable once, except for the Trustee, whose position is ex officio. For simplicity's sake, I prepare the agendas and chair the meetings. The meetings are scheduled for about twice per month for ten months.

Tasks for the Year

The major task for the Pastoral Council will be to continue the long-range planning process begun last year. The Council has already completed a new mission statement for the parish, which is on the bulletin cover each week. It has also articulated our fundamental beliefs and is completing a listing of our functions. Its next focus in the planning process will be considerable data gathering so we can get an accurate picture of the parish as it is. That data gathering, and our reflection on and discussion of it, will move the Council toward establishing five-year goals and objectives for OLP.

In addition to its planning role, the Council will continue to monitor the ministries of the parish and its day-to-day pastoral life as well as the ministry of the Administrative Council.

The Administrative Council

The mission of the Administrative Council is to focus, guide and monitor the administration ministry of the parish: parish finances and matters of personnel, law and property. For simplicity's sake, I prepare the agendas and chair the meetings. The meetings are scheduled for at least one per month for ten months.

The Who

The members of this Council are John Baumgartner, Steve Frenz (Trustee, Corporate Treasurer), Doug Mark, Joseph McCullough and Dan Wright. They have either volunteered to serve in these capacities or the Pastor has invited them on board because of their particular expertise in finances, law or real estate. The members have no term of office but serve in mutual agreement with the Pastor. The reason why there are no terms is that the expertise required to serve can be considerable, and many people are reluctant to participate in such technical work.

The Principal and our Director for Finances, Barbara Kiecker, are usually on hand for the meetings as well.

Tasks for the Year

The major task of the Administrative Council will be, as always, monitoring the current budget and planning for the next one. This crucial role is of enormous service to the parish. The Council has helped mightily in clarifying our financial situation during my tenure because of their keen understanding, clear questions and pin-point management and personnel advice.

In addition, this year the Council is sponsoring a Task Force to study the possibility of Our Lady of Peace beginning a ministry of day care and/or preschool. The Principal will head-up this study. We are in the process of assembling the task force during these days. Their tasks will include a demographics study, marketing survey, study of the code and licensing requirements, review of our facilities relative to codes and licensing, shaping potential program(s), and shape potential staff need. The Task Force is a major undertaking

The Council has also authorized this year the establishment of a Development Committee. Its purpose will be to expand the resources of Our Lady of Peace Parish and all of its ministries. Their work will include structuring the annual Sunday Stewardship Appeal, oversight of the Annual Catholic Appeal, a marketing plan for the School Ministry and all of OLP, a yearly financial planning seminar, and structuring effective Alumni outreach. The Principal will also head-up this effort, and I will participate.

If you are interested in either the work of the Task Force for Child Care or the Development Committee, please let the Principal or me know. We would be delighted to have your help.

Thank You

I am deeply grateful to the members of the Councils for their leadership ministry among us. They are essential to our life together and help keep us all focused on the only question that really matters for us as a faith community: what does God wants of us?