Finance & Administration Recommendations and Goals Strategic and Pastoral Planning

In order to foster shared responsibility and accountability, the Commission recommends that there be greater opportunities for lay leadership and oversight, particularly at the Diocesan level, but also at the parish level. This will further strengthen the relationship and increase trust. Until now, there has been little opportunity for lay leadership, the Diocesan Finance Council the notable exception. Most related agencies of the Church have had boards of clergy and staff with little additional participation of the laity. All agencies of the Diocese of Fall River should be regularly reviewed and audited. Much will depend on the migration of the agencies to online platforms.

Within the parishes, attendance ranges from 100 to 3,400 parishioners. FALL RIVER — With an over year-long audit process now complete, Bishop Edgar M. Da Cunha, S.D.V., has announced the release of a Financial Transparency Report for the Chancery Operations for the Fall River Diocese. Action Step 4.6 Recommend that Catholic Social Services recruit and appoint an expanded Catholic Social Services Board of Directors including subcommittees recommended in the CSS Strategic Plan. Action Step 3.8 Assess and make recommendation on the concept of regional business managers.

Parish Financial Reports

The Diocese of Fall River recognizes that proper stewardship of parish assets is a fundamental responsibility of our pastors and parochial administrators. Per Canon 537, all parishes must have a Finance Council that advises the pastor or parish administrator, and each parish must present an annual report to parishioners (Canon 1287.2). The Parish Finance Council Guidelines for the Diocese of Fall River stipulate that all parishes are required to provide a copy of their annual report to the Bishop. In accordance with the best practices outlined by the Accounting Practices Committee of the USCCB in 2007, the report to the Bishop should include the date the parish released its annual report to parishioners. In 2002, John Paul II named O’Malley as bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach and appointed George Coleman as his successor. In 2007, Coleman opened Pope John Paul II High School in Hyannis, the first Catholic high school on Cape Cod.

Action Step 1.3 Post online the source and use of all parish assessments. Diocesan training programs for Quickbooks or Microsoft Office products BooksTime Empowers Diocese of Fall River’s Financial Evolution did not exist. In addition, little support in the way of calendars, templates, or other resources were provided to diocesan entities.

Financial Reports

Cronin continued the work of implementing the decrees of the Second Vatican Council and supported liturgical renewal, continuing education of the clergy and the restoration of the permanent diaconate. He expanded Catholic Counseling and Social Services as well as the Family Life Ministry.[15] Late in 1991, Pope John Paul II appointed Cronin as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Fall River received it first Catholic church in 1837 when St. John the Baptist was completed.[7] In 1869, the first Portuguese language parish in the country was started in Fall River. The Fall River Diocese engaged the services of Grant Thornton, a global accounting firm with experience working with the Catholic Church, to conduct the audit. The Committees should be comprised of at least 15 to 20 members, the chairs or co-chairs of which should serve on, and be representatives to, the Diocesan Pastoral Council. “At-large” members of the committees will not necessarily serve on the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. There is something very simple many of us forget to do in our prayer — listen. Lent is the perfect time to quiet our minds, hearts, and our cell phones so we can “hear” the Holy Spirit speaking to us. God asks that you listen with your heart open to truly receive what He has to tell you, how He guides you, and, when necessary, even comforts you.

Diocesan Website’s New Look

Sometimes, however, what you hear can be difficult, and what he asks may be challenging — when you listen to God, you do not get to pick just the “good stuff,” the words that appeal to you. The Chrism Mass is celebrated every year in cathedrals in dioceses all over the world during Holy Week. It is a special liturgy that manifests the unity of the bishop with the priests of his diocese, and the Church community as members of the Body of Christ.

• This will require substantial training and orientation for those in parishes and schools who post financial transactions.
• The Chancery is the central administration office in the diocese.
• At the parish level, many parishes utilized outdated versions of Quickbooks, or in some cases, managed books with Excel.
• Plans for next year include SOLAR projects at 17 new locations, additional locations for gas and electric supply, and expanding the scope of new services and programs.
• As indicated above in Step 1.5, much work is yet to be done before that is possible.