Parish Councils

Nature

The Parish Pastoral Council offers counsel to and collaborates with the pastor to provide the long-range planning which will guide the parish toward its future.

Purpose

To facilitate a process by which the mission of the parish is determined and to serve as stewards of that mission.
To build an identity as a parish, creating an atmosphere among the parishioners which values the common good.
To facilitate among the parishioners the development of a unified community of faith.

Membership

Membership consists of those who are ex officio and of registered parishioners who are elected or appointed as delineated in the bylaws.

Officers

1. The pastor presides over the Parish Pastoral Council.
2. Other officers are: the chair, the vice chair, and the secretary.  Note: A recorder may be appointed from outside the membership of the council to take minutes, but s/he is neither an officer nor a voting member.

Chair:
Vice Chair:
Secretary:

Parish Civil Corporations

President: Archbishop Michael O. Jackels, S.T.D.
Vice President: Msgr. Thomas E. Toale, Ph.D.
Secretary: Father Nils de Jesús Hernández

Waterloo, IA
Queen of Peace Parish

Norms for Parish Finance Council
(Promulgated by Archbishop Hanus on March 14, 2008)

I.       Preamble

In the spirit of canon 537 mandating that every parish have a Finance Council, the Parishes of Queen of Peace, Waterloo, IA establishes this Finance Council to work in collaboration with the standing committees of the Cluster Pastoral Council, with the following distinct purposes and responsibilities. This Finance Council is a body appointed by the pastor. The Parish Finance Council presents its recommendations to the Parish Pastoral Council for consideration and final approval.

II.      Purpose

The Parish Finance Council has as its primary purpose to support the parish participation in the fourfold mission of Jesus Christ to celebrate faith, proclaim the Gospel, build community, and serve the needy.

 The Parish Finance Council serves as an advisory body to the pastor/pastoral administrator and the Parish Pastoral Council regarding the administration and stewardship of human resources, parish facilities, and parish finances, including the annual budget and long-range financial development. The Parish Finance Council is a consultative body that enables the parish to live its mission by prudent and lawful stewardship of all resources.

The Parish Finance Council has as its responsibility the obligation of planning, providing for, and supervising the financial affairs and the physical properties of the parish. It is concerned with the budget, stewardship, church support, and the effective utilization and maintenance of the parish plant. This Council provides the necessary administrative and financial skills needed to sustain the mission and ongoing development of the parish community.

The members of the Parish Finance Council work in communion with the pastor and the Parish Pastoral Council of the parish to accomplish the mission of the Church as articulated in the parish mission statement.  The Finance Council assists the pastor in the appropriate administration and stewardship of parish facilities, finances, and personnel for the purpose of supporting the parish and of furthering its mission.

III.     Responsibilities

         A.      To develop policies and procedural recommendations which exercise financial stewardship and insure that the financial policies and procedures of the parish are in accord with civil and canon law, Archdiocesan policies, and the Internal Control Guidelines of the Archdiocese.

         B.      To research, prepare, and submit to the Parish Pastoral Council an annual budget, insuring that financial resources and goals are compatible, based on stewardship and the parish mission.

         C.      To collaborate with local and/or regional boards of education and formation in the development of the education budget in accord with Archdiocesan Board of Education and Formation policies and procedures.

         D.      To provide to the Parish Pastoral Council monthly or quarterly reports on the financial condition of the parish, including the results of operations in comparison to the budget, and to make recommendations as needed.

         E.      To verify that required financial reports are prepared and submitted to the Archdiocese.

         F.      To provide to the parish a printed financial report at least annually and highlight salient points of this report by an oral summary to the parish as needed.

         G.      To develop and recommend parish personnel policies including employment agreements and salary/benefits packages.

         H.      To assist in establishing effective means of raising the funds needed to attain the goals of the parish.

         I.        To develop local procedures for handling and coordinating all fund-raising not part of the regular parishes budget.

         J.       To make recommendations, jointly with the Stewardship Committee, regarding the increase of revenues and the stewardship of resources.

         K.      To propose a long-range plan for capital expenditures which is aligned with the parish mission.

         L.      To propose a long-range plan for risk management and preventive maintenance of all parish properties.

         M.     To periodically inspect all parish properties in order to insure that more immediate necessary repairs and improvements are included and completed.

         N.      To maintain and present to the Parish Pastoral Council a priority checklist and timetable for major repairs, renovations, and construction.

IV.    Membership

         A.      Parishioners who are knowledgeable of and interested in the field of administration and finance are ideal candidates for membership on the Council, such as successful business persons and farmers, lawyers, accountants, bookkeepers, and individuals knowledgeable in fund-raising, financial planning, building maintenance, human resources, stewardship, and construction.

         B.      Three to seven members appointed by the pastor constitute the membership of the Finance Council.

         C.      The term of appointed members is three years. Members serve at the discretion of the pastor, but no member shall serve more than two terms consecutively. Appointments should be staggered to provide for continuity on the Parish Finance Council.

         D.      The officers of the Parish Finance Council are the chair, the vice-chair, and the secretary. Officers are elected annually. The chair is an ex officio voting member of the Pastoral Pastoral Council.

         E.      The Parish Finance Council may establish task forces or committees to assist with the business of the Parish Finance Council (e.g., budget, buildings and grounds, human resources, project committees). Given the nature of the matters handled by the Parish Finance Council, it may often be desirable to have long-term continuity of involvement by certain individuals who possess the skills and intimate understanding of the business and/or financial affairs of the parish.  Accordingly, former Finance Council members are eligible to serve on task forces and committees established by the Finance Council.

V.  Qualities/Expectations of Appointed Members

         A.      Be registered Catholic parishioners

         B.      Possess integrity and maintain confidentiality

         C.      View membership as a ministry of service without any vested or reciprocal interest

         D.      Possess a working knowledge of at least one of the following: financial affairs, building maintenance, construction, law, insurance, human resources, fund-raising, marketing, stewardship

         E.      Have a clear understanding of the parish mission

         F.      Have the ability to be collaborative

         G.      Attend meetings regularly and complete tasks as assigned

VI.    Procedures

         A.      The Parish Finance Council holds regular meetings and convenes for work sessions as needed. A simple majority of the Parish Finance Council shall constitute a quorum. The presence of the pastor is required at regular meetings to hear the discussion and understand the recommendations of the Parish Finance Council.

         B.      Minutes of all meetings are to be properly recorded and duly maintained in the parish archives.

         C.      Recommendations will normally be determined by consensus, except when a formal vote is necessary.

 Following the recommendations for approval made by the Priests’ Council, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, the Archdiocesan Board of Education, and the Archdiocesan Finance Council, these norms are approved and promulgated this 14th day of  March, 2008, with an effective date of July 1, 2008.  Pastors should use their discretion in making the transition from present membership and terms to the new arrangements.  The transition should be completed by June 30, 2010.

Queen of Peace Parish

Waterloo, IA

Cluster Liturgy Committee

Section A.  Purpose

1. To assist the Pastor in facilitating the liturgical prayer of the community.
2. To nourish and give direction to the liturgical worship of the parish, including the elements of spirituality, music, environment, liturgical ministers, and attention to liturgical norms.

Section B.  Membership

1. The Pastor, who in the name of the bishop, is the principal liturgist.
2. Pastoral Minister and staff persons associated with liturgy (liturgist, music director, musicians, RCIA coordinator).
3. Coordinators of various liturgical ministries (readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, musicians, ushers/greeters, altar servers, sacristans, those who prepare the environment).
4. Representation may be solicited as needed from other parishioners whose contributions would be helpful to the committee.
5. The size of the Parish Liturgy Committee is regulated by the committee in order to accommodate efficiency and effectiveness.

Section C.  Functions

1. To engage in its own ongoing formation in order to develop an understanding of liturgical theology and liturgical spirituality.
2. To implement the liturgical guidelines issued by the universal Church and the Archdiocese.
3. To collaborate with the Pastor in order to prepare liturgical celebrations consistent with the theology and practice of the universal Church.
4. To assess liturgical celebrations with a view toward their strengths, weaknesses, and needed improvements.
5. To promote awareness of the liturgical year through various celebrations and prayer services and through aesthetic environment.
6. To identify people qualified for various liturgical ministries of the parish, e.g., extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, all musicians, ministers of hospitality, readers, sacristans, servers, those who prepare the environment, etc.
7. To provide training and scheduling for the various liturgical ministers and to assess their performance.
8. To prepare guidelines for baptisms, weddings, and funerals in collaboration with the Pastor, music coordinators, and those who coordinate their preparation.
9. To communicate the work of the committee to the Parish Pastoral Council via written report or liaison.

Note: At times, the parish may wish to delegate various standing committees to the Cluster Pastoral Council. This is encouraged in order to maximize the gifts and talents of individuals within the parish and to enhance opportunities within the parish.