St. Catherine of Siena Parish Finance Council has been established according to guidelines in Canon 537. The Finance Council advises the pastor in forming good policies for the administration of the parish's temporal goods; for example, its financial resources, buildings, and grounds. The pastor is responsible for all legal, business, and administrative matters of the parish.  Since the pastor has the ultimate responsibility for all juridic matters and is called on to share accountability with the selected laypersons of the parish, Finance Council members should not see themselves as delegates of the community, but rather as collaborators with the pastor.
 
The approval of the pastor is required before recommendations of the Finance Council become policy of the parish.

Responsibilities

 

• Review all new and changes to the parish's banking arrangements, debt instruments, long­ term contracts, and major capital expenditures.
• Ensure compliance with diocesan guidelines of all capital expenditures, particularly those unbudgeted capital transactions over $5,000.00.
• Oversee the accounting of all restricted funds originating from gifts and bequests received by the parish.  Ensure the funds are appropriately segregated from the parish's general operating cash accounts and that the funds are used as intended by the donors.
• Assist in the annual development and/ or updating of a long-term financial plan, focusing on major capital expenditures, including major asset replacements and the repayment of long­ term debt.
• Monitor the parish's compliance with the diocesan guidelines related to wages, salaries, and benefit programs, as well as adherence to all state and federal payroll tax requirements.
• Accept tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the Pastor.

 
Membership

The parish Finance Council is to be composed of the pastor, parish financial administrator and/ or human resources administrator, plus six-to-eight qualified parishioners.  Council chairperson, vice chair, and secretary are to be chosen from the ranks of the qualified parishioners.
 
Members of the Finance Council are appointed by the Pastor and serve at his discretion for a term of three years, renewable for two additional terms.
 
Experience and/ or expertise in financial management, administration, law, and human resources should be considered when selecting parishioners to serve on the Finance Council.  Care should be taken to exclude anyone with an apparent conflict of interest.
 
Orientation for new members will include meetings with the Pastor and the parish Finance Administrator.                             

At these meetings, the new member(s) will review Canon Law as it applies to parish Finance Councils, review the By-Laws of the organization, and review diocesan financial guidelines for all parishes.
 
Any vacancy on the parish Finance Council is to be filled as soon as possible.
 
Meetings

It is recommended that the Finance Council hold four meetings each year, with additional meetings being held as needed. These meetings should include a discussion of the current financial condition of the parish as well as other topics as needed. An agenda, as well as any study materials, will be distributed prior to the meeting.

2022 Finance Council Members: 

Fr. Mark Vyverman, Pastor

Margaret Erich, Chairperson
Scott Betzler
Jim Lewis
Frank Unger

Diocese of Kalamazoo Parish Financial Policies & Procedures