From Father Steven - September 11, 2022

​Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
These coming weeks, I would like to bring to your attention some structures that we have in the parish that are fundamental to the governing and the organization of the parish. You may have heard things here and there, but I would like to take this time to go over each one of them. This week we will start with the Finance Council.
 
The Archdiocese of Boston summarizes their role in the parish. “The Parish Finance Council is critical to the sound management of a parish. For this reason every parish is required by the Code of Canon Law to establish a Finance Council, which acts as a consultative body of the faithful to assist the pastor/administrator in the administration of the goods of the parish [that include the monetary goods, besides buildings, etc.] and to ensure accountability to the archdiocesan bishop and parishioners.” Most of the councils are defined by Canon Law, which is the rules that the whole Catholic Church follows all over the world. A bishop may adapt certain regulations to best fit their local church (dioceses). Here in Boston, the finance council is expected to “review and discuss budget and management of income and expenditure; review actual results compared to budgets; consider and consult on operating and capital requirements.”
 
Our mission as priests is to provide spiritual care for the people of God, as well as administer the goods of the Church. Although we receive basic training in best financial practices, most of us have never owned a business nor have dealt with financial analysis. Therefore, the Church envisions the parishioners who are experts in certain areas to offer their expertise to help the pastor in the decision making of these matters. “For this reason, it is important that the Finance Council be composed of individuals who have had experience in the areas of business, finance and accounting. While the Finance Council’s membership should be as balanced as possible (e.g., gender, age, racial/cultural background, etc.) membership must include individuals who have working knowledge in the areas of business, finance and administration.”
 
Our Finance Council is composed of bankers, business owners, financial analysts, lawyer, human resources, and they represent all three communities of the parish. These are the current members of the Council:
 
Mr. & Mrs. Silmar and Lorena Bueno
Mrs. Tracey Carter
Mr. David Chevrette
Mr. Sean Fay
Mr. Steven Pisan
Mr. & Mrs. Luis and Linda Velasquez
 
Please pray for them as they have worked hard through our difficult times in reviewing the Profit and Loss reports, annual financial reports, and give great inputs in the administration of the parish. All their work is always assisted by our Finance & Operations Manager, Helena Siciliano, who is a paid staff member from the parish who helps us in the day to day operations from bookkeeping to creating all sorts of financial reports.
 
God Bless,
Fr. Steven