ADMINISTRATION & STEWARDSHIP
ALMS
ALMS are donations given to the parish for use in helping the poor and needy of our parish and our community. Alms given are used for supplying our Food Pantry, providing food and gift cards to the area needy at Christmas and Easter, helping with postage to send religious articles to the missions, and assisting with Food Vouchers administered by Inter-Church Ministries. Alms are also used in emergency housing situations and for emergency needs for babies and small children.
CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL
The CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL (CSA) is an annual assessment levied by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie on each and every parish in the diocese. It is based on the specific parish’s total annual offertory collection. All parishioners are asked to make a pledge, and they have 10 months in which to pay it off. Those who would prefer to make a one-time payment instead are most welcome to do so, as well. After the assessed amount is paid to the Diocese by the parish, EVERY additional dollar collected stays in the parish for its exclusive use. No part of this additional amount is taxed by the diocese. Our parish Catholic Service Appeal funds have been designated for the restoration of our beautiful church, to be completed in time for our 150th Anniversary.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Our parish FINANCE COMMITTEE is comprised of Father Larry and a group of parishioners appointed to their post on the committee. They meet quarterly. The purpose of the committee is to manage the parish finances and make recommendations for the investment and distribution of the funds. Questions about the group may be directed to the Committee head.
HOUPT FUND
The HOUPT FUND, initially set up to provide funds for our school students to complete their Catholic education when the parish school closed, is now designated to provide for education for our children — both in Catholic schools and in the Religious Education program in our parish. Your contribution to this fund assures that our parishioners will always have educational opportunities in the parish.
PROPERTIES COMMITTEE
The PROPERTIES COMMITTEE is comprised of appointed parishioners whose job it is to monitor the physical property of our parish. The group meets quarterly to “walk through” the buildings, assess needs to be met, and then make recommendations for upkeep and upgrading of the property. This group is instrumental in discussing the specific needs for the restoration of our beautiful church, to be completed in time for our 150th Anniversary.
PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL consists of 17 members. Seven of the members are “ex officio,” meaning that they are contributing members to the council, but they have no voting power. These include, the pastor, parochial vicar, deacon, director of ministries, director of Religious Education, music director, and organist. The other ten members represent the different areas of interest in our parish: Education & Formation, Family Life, Parish Life, Social Action, Missions, Worship & Spiritual Life, Evangelization, Administration & Stewardship, Communications, and Finance. It is the job of these members to keep Council aware of the “pulse” of the parish by reporting on groups and ministries in their area and expressing needs they have.