Thank You for Your Financial Support of Padre Serra Parish

10/10/2024

Thank You for Your Financial Support of Padre Serra Parish

Hello Friends,

It has been just over a year since I joined the parish staff as business manager, and this weekend, I will be reviewing the
parish financial report with you.

A bit of background on how parish finances operate. Many of you know Pam Kingsley, our finance administrator. We
are blessed to have Pam in this role. Pam oversees the parish's day-to-day financial operations, reconciles accounts,
records payments, and generates the financial reports we review with Fr. Patrick and the finance council. She diligently
looks out for the parish's interests and is a joy to work alongside.

The parish finance council is a group of volunteers that advise the pastor on parish finances. Over the last year, Fr.
Patrick, Pam, and I have met with the finance council just about every month to review the income and expenditures
from the prior month. This collaborative effort allows us to examine trends, plan for future expenses, and discuss how to
communicate with the parish. We also review and approve both the year’s budget and the prior year’s financial report to
the archdiocese. We are very fortunate to have good counsel from the terrific group of volunteers who comprise the
finance council. The volunteers on the finance council are:

Joe Loll, retired public accountant, head of the parish council

Laura Meissner, engineer, executive director, and business owner

Gene West, retired lawyer

Kathy Milner, managing director of enterprise risk management

Kevin Hrabovsky, senior vice president and financial advisor

Laurie Milleman, retired senior manager and chief accounting officer

Sean Duffy, certified public accountant

Fr. Patrick has previously mentioned how the canons of the church place financial responsibility on the pastor. The responsibility is Fr. Patrick’s, but he values the advice of the finance council in helping him make key decisions about parish finances. I have also greatly benefited from the creative and thoughtful advice from the finance council. Each of us involved in overseeing parish finances is committed to ensuring we spend wisely, according to the intent of the giver, and in fulfillment of the mission of encountering Jesus and becoming his disciples.