For Parish Council Minutes and Schedule, click here.
This key group of parishioners was founded more than 30 years ago to encourage lay involvement in the life of the parish. Open to registered members of the parish 18 years and over, the Council develops and implements creative programs relating to the Management and continued growth of Our Lady of Good Counsel - St. Thomas More. Candidates for election are proposed each spring by the nominating committee of the Council, with photos and brief biographies posted on the church bulletin board several weeks prior to the election.
The Council meets monthly from September to June, meeting dates and times are published in the weekly bulletin. Parishioners and volunteers are encouraged to attend Council meetings and to work with the Council through its committees and special activities
The Parish Council, the highest level of Catholic organized laity, continues to grow as an important ministry in serving the needs of our fellow parishioners and the spiritual community.
Parish Council Committees
Administration provides assistance to the Pastor in matters related to financing, maintenance, repair and improvement of the church’s physical plant and communications infrastructure with regard to efficiencies in the operation of all parish facilities and communication system.
Communication oversees the content and presentation on the Parish’s website and social networking links and provides promotional and advertising support to the other Parish Council committees in addressing the mandates of those committees.
Education organizes the selection of guest lecturers on various topics and produces and promotes their programs with the goal of deepening spiritual life and understanding the Catholic faith.
Respect Life works with the respect life community, including representing the Parish in outside meetings and advising the council on outreach programs and events.
Liturgical / Spiritual committee reviews, in conjunction with the priests, various aspects of Sunday and Holy Day masses and the liturgical seasons to enhance the quality of the liturgy, especially Sunday Family Mass and religious education for children, and organizes special spiritual activities such as evenings of recollection.
Youth is responsible for organizing activities for young parishioners such as the Christmas Toy Drive, Family Day and the Crowning of Mary.
Social is responsible for seasonal events at the church including the new parishioner dinner, the potluck dinner, the Christmas coffee hour, the volunteer party and for the weekly coffee hour after the Sunday Family Mass.
Parish Council By-Laws
Approved: September 18, 2017.pdf
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Christopher Baldwin
Paul Saunders
The purpose of the Council is to assist the Pastor with the financial affairs of the parish. The Council works with and provides advice for the Pastor. It is a consultative body. The Pastor makes the final decisions and is responsible for them according to Canons 532, 1281-1288.
Members of the Finance Council are appointed by the Pastor. Members are ordinarily members of the parish, prudent and trustworthy, and knowledgeable in financial affairs.
The Council has between five and eight members. The two Trustees of the parish serve as ex-officio Members of the Parish Finance Council during their term of office because of their fiduciary responsibilities. The other Members serve on the Finance Council at the pleasure of the Pastor for a term of three years, with the possibility of reappointment for a single consecutive term.
The Finance Council assists the Pastor in the preparation of the required annual financial reports for the parish; provides assistance in the development and review of the annual operating budgets for the parish; and reports formally to the Parish Council on the financial condition of the parish. The Finance Council is consulted by the Pastor with regard to expenditures in excess of $20,000. The Pastor must also obtain approval from the Archdiocese for all projects in excess of this amount.
Members of the Finance Council
Rev. Kevin V. Madigan
Maureen Barry
Alicia Damley
William B. Fleming, Sr.
Frank Meade
Brian Otey
Michael Poulos (Finance Committee Chair)