“In each parish there is to be a finance council which is governed, in addition to universal law, by norms issued by the diocesan bishop and in which the Christian faithful, selected according to these same norms, are to assist the pastor in the administration of the goods of the parish, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 532.”

Canon 537, 1983 Code of Canon Law

“In all juridic affairs the pastor represents the parish according to the norm of law. He is to take care that the goods of the parish are administered according to the norm of cann. 1281-1288.”

Canon 532, 1983 Code of Canon Law

Mission and Authority

The ultimate mission of Saint Joseph Parish Finance Council is to assist the parish in being good stewards of what the heavenly Father has graciously given us.  The Council accomplishes this by assisting the pastor in administering the temporal goods of the parish according to the laws and procedures set down by the universal Church in its Code of Canon Law as well as those set down by the bishop of the diocese.  The Parish Finance Council is an advisory and not a policy making body.  As mentioned in Canon 532, the pastor is ultimately responsible for administering the goods of the parish.

Membership
According to Diocesan policy, the Finance Council must be composed of at least three members of the Christian faithful “truly skilled in financial affairs and of outstanding integrity.”  Members are to be selected by the pastor for a term of five years which may be renewable.  Members of the Finance Council may not simultaneously be members of the Parish Pastoral Council, nor may they be parish employees or any individual with a conflict of interest serve on the Finance Council.

Responsibilities**
The responsibilities of the Finance Council of Saint Joseph Parish include but are not limited to the following:

• in consultation with the Parish Business Manager to prepare the annual parish budget for the pastor’s approval;
• review the annual school budget as proposed by the Finance Committee of the School Board;
• review the income and expenditures of the budget quarterly;
• review the income and expenditures of the school quarterly;
• advise the pastor regarding salaries and hourly wages for employees;
• advise the pastor concerning the parish balance sheet;
• in consultation with the Finance Committee of the School Board to advise the
  pastor regarding proposed tuition and fees for the upcoming school year;
• oversee and advise the pastor regarding all fund-raising activities within the parish;
• advising the pastor regarding the financial feasibility of proposed capital improvement projects;
• advising the pastor regarding the review and repayment of any parish debt;
• advise the pastor regarding the acquisition or alienation of parish property with an estimated value in excess of $5,000.
• be familiar with all diocesan procedures for banking, fund-raising, building, and accounting and insure that the parish is compliant with them;
• be available as a resource to the Parish Pastoral Council;
• assist the pastor in establishing and managing parish endowment funds;
• review and discuss the report of the regular diocesan audit;
• maintain a record of all meetings;
• provide accurate financial reports to the general parish on a regular basis.

** Taken from: “Diocese of Fort Wayne – South Bend, Guidelines for Parish Finance Councils.”

Meetings
The Finance Council of Saint Joseph Parish meets on a quarterly basis throughout the year.  Other meetings, based upon need, are scheduled accordingly.