Florida Catholic | Archdiocese Announces Stewardship Priorities

Archdiocese announces stewardship priorities

Financial focus to be on parish life, schools, seminaries

Published: 04.11.08

The Archdiocese of Miami announced April 7 the establishment of its highest priorities for fiscal year 2008-2009, which are to address the growing financial needs of its 120 parishes and missions, 66 schools and two seminaries, including St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach.

During a department head meeting at the Pastoral Center (administrative offices) in Miami Shores, Archbishop John C. Favalora reiterated the Catholic Church’s mission and his stewardship responsibilities.

“In today’s economy and the circle of poverty affecting our community I must be a good steward and can only do what our finances will allow. With the current financial status facing every corporation, institution, organization and family, we too must be financially responsible,” the archbishop said. “Each year a greater number of parishes and programs are seeking our financial help and, therefore, we must prioritize. We can only work with what we have.”

The archbishop spoke of the generosity of the faithful and steady increase of the archdiocesan annual appeal (ABCD) but also noted the growing need of financial assistance to poorer parishes and schools within the tri-county archdiocese.

In order for the archdiocese to accomplish and maintain these priorities, a reduction in the budget at the Pastoral Center will occur July 1, 2008.

“While this is a difficult decision I feel it is the right one,” the archbishop said during the meeting.

The decision he announced follows the recommendation of a pastors’ committee which has met monthly for more than a year to examine the present and future financial and pastoral needs of parishes, schools, seminaries and the archdiocese. The committee’s recommendations were reviewed and accepted by Archbishop Favalora.

While downsizing staff at the Pastoral Center is foreseen, no ministerial office or pastoral office will be closed. Some will function with fewer employees while others will continue at the parish or deanery level. Individual departments will adjust their staffing and expenses for the upcoming fiscal year 2008-09 budgets. The number of employees affected by these decisions cannot be determined until full reviews of individual department budgets have been concluded.

Those employees who leave the Pastoral Center will have the opportunity to seek other employment within the archdiocese. Severance packages will be provided.

A copy of the Archdiocese of Miami financial report, as well as additional information, can be obtained at www.miamiarch.org.

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Archdiocese announces stewardship priorities

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