A number of opportunities exist to help organize the various functions of the parish.

Parish Pastoral Council

The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body to the Pastor.

The mission of the Parish Pastoral Council is as follows:

• to provide recommendations for parish priorities, directions, and policies through Pastoral planning;

• to promote better communications and understanding between parish organizations and the parish, the diocese and the universal church; and

• to form community as a sign and witness of unity for the larger parish community.

The Parish Pastoral Council carries out its purpose through these functions:

• Sets vision for the parish community by their leadership in the process of articulating the parish’s mission in a statement, which reflects the mission of Jesus and is relevant to the unique circumstances of the parish; and

• Gives direction to the parish community through discerning God’s will for the community, assessing needs, developing priorities, and engaging in planning.

Membership consists of the Pastor as president, four at-large elected parishioners, one or two appointed parishioners, five representatives (one from each of the five commissions), and ex-officio members of the pastoral staff.

Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM.

Communications and Activities Commission

Chairperson and Parish Pastoral Council Representative

The purpose of this commission is to keep parish members informed about activities and events happening within the church, the school and the community. It also has the responsibility to provide certain social activities for parishioners and visitors to aid in better interpersonal communication within the parish community. The commission is accountable to the Parish Pastoral Council. The responsibilities of this group are as follows:

• to establish viable communication whereby the parish community is informed of opportunities to share their gifts of time, talent and treasure;

• to determine the quality of activities whereby the parish community has regular and meaningful occasions to engage in informal social gatherings;

• to study the ministerial value of the activities of the commission’s committees at least every three years or upon request of Parish Pastoral Council;

• to share all information with the committees and the Parish Pastoral Council and;

• to establish committees and task forces as needed.

Membership consists of selected representatives from the committees and persons interested in or skilled in public relations and communications.

Meetings are held as needed.

Finance & Administration Commission

Tom Miller, Parish Pastoral Council Representative/Bob Mehringer, Chair

The commission regularly consults with and advises the Pastor concerning the fiscal position of the parish and its physical plant. It also provides fiscal advice and consultation to facilitate and enhance pastoral ministry, worship, and religious formation/education. This commission is accountable to the Parish Pastoral Council and consults with other commissions in fiscal matters, as may be requested. The responsibilities are as follows:

• to establish fiscal policy in keeping with the goals established by the Parish Pastoral Council;

• to provide the expertise for developing the parish budget with each of the other commissions;

• to study the giving patterns, investments, and development of parish resources;

• to oversee the property, maintenance, renovation/improvement needs and construction of new facilities;

• to study the activities of its committees every two to three years or upon request from the Parish Pastoral Council;

• to assist the committee heads in the appraisal and study of the activities of their committee as is needed for the purpose of meeting the needs of the parish;

• to report the vitality of this committee’s work to the leadership/staff and the Parish Pastoral Council;

• to guide the work of its committees according to the priorities of the parish as established by the Parish Pastoral Council and;

• to establish ad hoc committees and task forces as needed.

Parishioners with financial expertise are selected for the commission. The Business Manager is the staff representative. The Pastor is ex-officio member of the commission. Meetings are held monthly on a Monday evening at

6:00 PM and at such other times as may be required. Contact: Julie Ann Walker, Business Manager - 425-3369, jwalker@evdio.org

Legacy Society: The St. Benedict Cathedral Legacy Society was established as a way to recognize and thank those who have remembered St. Benedict Cathedral in their will or through another planned gift. It is open to anyone who provides for the future of

St. Benedict Cathedral through a planned gift or a current gift to a new or existing endowment which produces perpetual income for carrying out the mission of St. Benedict Cathedral Parish.

Contact Sr. Pat McGuire, O.S.B. – 425-3369 or Deacon Jim Flynn – 204-3627

Gift Acceptance Committee: This subcommittee of the Finance Committee administers established guidelines for the acceptance of certain gifts by benefactors of St. Benedict Cathedral Parish, these gifts include those that are of a kind and character, or when they are given with restrictive terms and conditions that require an appropriate review and the exercise of prudential judgment prior to acceptance of the gifts by the Parish.

Stewardship Committee: This committee is responsible for stewardship awareness and programs, and helps focus our efforts as good stewards, according to the Gospel message. Contact: Deacon Jim Flynn – 204-3627

Liturgy & Worship Commission

Richard Clements, Parish Pastoral Council Representative/

Jeremy Korba, Chair

The purpose of the Liturgy & Worship Commission is to provide quality liturgical celebrations. This commission is accountable to the Parish Pastoral Council and is consultative to the liturgist and liturgical staff. The responsibilities for this commission are as follows:

• to schedule all liturgies, liturgical rites, and sacraments;

• to initiate and implement liturgical, educational, and ministerial training programs;

• to schedule ministers such as lectors, servers, Eucharistic ministers, cantors, musicians, sacristans, and ushers;

• to coordinate all other parish activities with the liturgical calendar and the liturgical celebrations of the parish;

• to recruit persons for the various liturgical ministries;

• to establish ad hoc committees and task forces as needed;

• to identify liturgical needs;

• to study the liturgical life of the parish committees at least every three years or upon request from the Pastor or Parish Pastoral Council;

• to assist the committee heads in the appraisal and study of the principle aspect of liturgical life offered by this committee as called for by leadership/staff or Parish Pastoral Council and;

• to report the vitality and effectiveness of each committee in their effort to enhance the liturgical worship/celebration to the leadership/staff and the Parish Pastoral Council.

The members of the commission represent a variety of liturgical ministries. The liturgist is the staff representative.

Church Decorating: The liturgist and members of the Liturgy Committee plan and provide the decoration for the liturgical seasons and celebrations of the church year. This is a standing committee appointed by the Pastor. Contact: Parish Center - 425-3369

Christian Social Action Commission

Sr. Pat McGuire, O.S.B., Parish Pastoral Council Representative

The purpose of this commission is to motivate the total parish to live out the social message of the Gospel. The commission is a consultative body for parish leadership and parishioners and is accountable to the Parish Pastoral Council. The responsibilities of this commission are as follows:

• to identify the needs of the parish and the surrounding community;

• to channel these needs to the appropriate committee;

• to give direction to its committees in keeping with the mission of the parish as described by the Parish Pastoral Council.

• to assist the committee heads in studying the ministerial value of the activity of its committee as is needed and determined by leadership/staff and Parish Pastoral Council;

• to report the vitality of the committee’s effort to meet social needs of the community to the leadership/staff and to the Parish Pastoral Council;

• to establish ad hoc committees and task forces as needed and;

• to encourage parish groups and committees to become more aware of ways they might sponsor an outreach project for the needy in our community and to support their efforts.

Knights of Columbus: St. Benedict Cathedral Council 7544 meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month in the Holy Family Room of

St. Benedict Hall. A quarterly corporate communion meets at the

8:30 AM Sunday Mass. Contact: Tim Nalin – 457-7629

Spiritual Growth Commission

Missy Parkison, Parish Pastoral Council Representative and Chair

This commission offers religious formation and education for the entire parish. These offerings reflect the liturgical calendar and the needs of the parishioners. It is accountable to the Parish Pastoral Council and is a consultative body for the committee heads listed under this commission. The responsibilities of this commission include the following:

• to identify the religious formation/educational needs of the adults, young adults, and youth of the parish;

• to offer education and spiritual growth opportunities throughout the year such as: materials for prayer and reflection during the seasons of Advent and Lent, scripture sharing and study groups when the need is present, and missions;

• to channel these needs to the appropriate committee head or leadership/staff;

• to study the ministerial effects of the activities of each committee at least every two years or upon request of the leadership or Parish Pastoral Council;

• to consult with some of the committees and report the vitality of their activities to leadership/staff and the Parish Pastoral Council;

• to establish policy for the religious formation and education of the parish;

• to determine the vitality of the activities of each committee at least every two years or upon the request of the leadership or Parish Pastoral Council;

• to establish policy for the religious formation and education of the parish;

to assist the committee heads in providing educational and formational opportunities in the parish and to coordinate their programs with the parish calendar;

to propose a budget for the religious formation and education of the parish and;

to establish ad hoc committees and task forces as needed.

Membership is composed of some of the committee heads, persons from the parish at large with interest and/or expertise in religious formation/education and from the membership of the related areas of the committees. Meetings are held four times a year or as needed at 7:00 PM.

Vocation Committee: This group gathers regularly to support religious vocations. The committee promotes vocations to priestly, religious and ministerial life in the church. Meetings are announced through the parish bulletin. The committee welcomes anyone who would like to take part. Daily, after the 7:00 AM Mass, the Rosary is prayed for the increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Everyone is encouraged to participate. The first Friday of each month is

St. Benedict Cathedral’s Vocation Prayer Day. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is after the 9:00 AM Mass until 5:00 PM. Everyone is invited to spend an hour before the Blessed Sacrament to pray for an increase of priestly and religious vocations. Contact: Louise Mehringer - 473-4929