Councils

Councils are consultative bodies to the pastor. Assumption Parish has two councils: the parish council and the finance council.

The purpose of the Parish Council is:

• To form community as a sign and witness of unity for the larger parish community 

• To provide recommendations for parish priorities, directions, and policies  

• To promote communication and understanding among parish organizations, and between the parish, the Archdiocese and the universal Church.

In forming community, council members are challenged to ongoing renewal through prayer, study, listening, and dialogue. In developing priorities and directions for the parish, the Council is to become the means of achieving full participation by the whole parish in its mission by giving all a voice in guiding and directing parish life.

In fostering communication, the Council encourages and initiates dialogue among parish leadership and organizations and brings the concerns of the larger Church. The Council can be a vehicle to inform the bishop of parish needs and directions.

Participation:

Council members are expected to serve for a specific term, with newest members replacing oldest members on a staggered basis.

The Finance Council assists the pastor by:

• Conducting long-range financial planning in regard to funding operational and capital needs in the parish
• Developing a three-year fiscal plan
• Developing and overseeing a parish budget process which results in an annual parish budget—a process involving the participation of those responsible for parish programs
• Designing the parish budget in such a way as to address the parish priorities and goals determined by the pastor and parish pastoral council
• Providing financial analysis of current fiscal status reports
• Providing fiscal analysis of proposed goals, strategies and programs

While the Finance Council has significant responsibility for the stewardship of parish financial resources, it is not the role of the Finance Council to recommend directions, priorities, or programs other than those related to its delegation: fiscal stewardship. For this reason, the other consultative structures must be in place for Finance Council to fulfill its role responsibly and effectively.

Brian Bonipart 
Maureen Gummersall
Jim Harmon
Shelagh Lustig
Ed Wartelle