Good Shepherd Parish Planning/Finance Councils
The new council began under Fr. Pasala’s leadership as our new pastor, summer 2025. The Parish Planning Council comprised of clergy, staff and active parishioners (2-3 year term) serves Good Shepherd Parish by assisting the Pastor in his leadership role of planning, organizing, initiating, coordinating and reviewing the mission and activities within the parish. The group will meet once per month on a Tuesday, 4:00 pm at the parish center.
Our current members are: Fr. Joseph, Fr. Edivar, staff Beth Mello & Sue Pagliccia, Mark and Sue Clements, Robin and Steven Angelilli (Chairman), Michael Bettencourt, Gail and Walter Burke, Dave Caron, Tim Connelly, Donna Gazaille (Secretary) and Sergio Racigh (Vice-Chairman).
The Code of Canon Law #536 calls for the establishment of a Pastoral Council in every parish; over which the pastor presides and which the Christian faithful, together with those who share in pastoral care by virtue of their office in the parish, assist in fostering pastoral activity. Bishop da Cunha believes strongly that pastors and parishes will find a regular meeting of their Parish Councils indispensable to the life of their faithful communities. The Council serves in an advisory role for the pastor, dedicated to the ministry activities and opportunities of the parish. Members work together to assess the apostolic needs of the parish and, when necessary, propose the means by which these needs may be met. Areas of focus or topics may include spirituality of the parish, evangelization, worship, faith formation, youth ministry, community service, stewardship, fellowship, and leadership.
To be clear, Parish Councils are not decision-making entities; the ultimate responsibility for the parish and the decisions affecting it always remains with the Pastor.
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The new finance council also began under Fr. Pasala’s leadership as our new pastor, summer 2025. The Finance Council also is comprised of clergy, staff and active parishioners. Current members are: Fr. Joseph, staff Beth Mello; Brion McGroarty, Chuck Noonan, Carol Smith (Chairperson), and Wendy Tillman.
According to The Code of Canon Law: “In each parish, there is to be a Finance Council to help the parish priest in the administration of the goods of the parish. It is ruled by Universal Law and by the norms laid down by the diocesan Bishop, and it is comprised of members of the faithful selected according to these norms” (Canon 537).
“The Finance Council is a consultative body which provides the pastor with advice concerning the stewardship of parish fiscal resources. It is to serve the goals and priorities set by the Pastoral Council. It assists the pastor by:
– Conducting long range financial planning with regard to funding operational and capital needs in the parish and developing a three year fiscal plan;
– Developing and overseeing a parish budget process which results in an annual parish budget. This process should involve the participation of those responsible for parish programs. It should be designed in such a way as to address the parish priorities and goals determined by the pastor and parish Pastoral Council;
– Providing financial analysis of current fiscal status reports;
– Providing the parish with periodic (no less than annually) reports on the financial position of the Parish.” (cf. Canon 1287, 2).
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Diocesan Leadership:
The Diocese of Fall River offered in Fall 2021, “Forward Together: A Fall Planning Initiative” https://www.fallriverfaithformation.org/forward-together and a planning guide to help parishes to evangelize https://2779afa7-ed12-4a6b-bffc-8835138183aa.filesusr.com/ugd/a7ebb0_394029ed0e5b44ac9c802f220f0b479b.pdf
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Begun in 2017, this Diocesan-wide parish planning “Rebuilding in Faith and Hope” focused on three major goals: revitalizing our parishes; renewing the ministries of the Diocese; and strengthening support for clergy.
This strategic planning proposal addressed the process that each parish might adopt prior to any decision about its future. Those decisions would be made with the advice and counsel of the individual parish revitalization teams, working in close and facilitated collaboration with other parishes. This strategic planning was designed to engage clergy and laity in the decision-making process, so that they own the outcome – that they have invested themselves appropriately and meaningfully, and are able to make an informed and inspired judgment about the future of their parish.
Successful transition and change must be well managed, and this strategic planning proposal was an opportunity for forging a new vision, and creating a new plan, for the life-changing work of our parishes.
A strategic planning effort had started here and with a pilot group of 10-12 parishes. A three-phased plan had been developed. First–A listening session was held on Island with Fr. Nagle and Marilyn Blanchette back in January, 2018. Phase Two focused on six priority areas: pastoral leadership; “The Sunday Experience;” Life-long Faith Formation and Evangelization; Community Outreach; Campus Care and Finances. Concurrently, Phase Three was funding the plan and with a newly formed finance committee.