St. Joseph’s Church - Parish Governance

The health and success of any community relies on the active participation and wise leadership of its members. From its earliest days as a parish, St. Joseph’s has had wise, pragmatic and dedicated parishioners who stepped forward-sometimes asked, sometimes moved to volunteer, sometimes summoned! -to work with the pastor and the diocese to create and maintain a parish that provided its members with liturgy, pastoral care, education and opportunities for ministry.

Governance at St. Joseph’s is provided by the board of directors and lay trustees, and the Pastoral and Finance Councils.

Board and Trustees.

Church law in the Diocese of Duluth requires that each parish have a five-member corporate board of directors. The bishop is the president of the board, the parish pastor is the vice president and the vicar general is a member of the board. The remaining two members, lay trustees, are parishioners who represent the broad interests of the entire parish community. They serve two year terms, are appointed by the pastor and approved by the bishop. Current St. Joseph’s lay trustees are Sue Mattson and Jim Hoolihan.

Councils

A community as large as St. Joseph’s, particularly in a rural area such as Grand Rapids, requires the active and dedicated participation of its members. Without the leadership and support that parishioners so generously and wholeheartedly offer in our Catholic community, we would not be able to serve our parishioners as well as we do.

Pastoral Council. The Pastoral Council is an advisory body of parishioners established to consult with the pastor, and to recommend the direction of parish activities in keeping with the vision and mission of the parish. Council members are elected or appointed for three-year terms. The monthly meeting is open to all parishioners.

Membership: Sue Koprowski

Jim Hoolihan, Trustee

Sue Mattson, Trustee

Fr. Jerry Weiss, Pastor

Fr. Thomas Galarneault, Assoc. Pastor

Barbara McDonald, Chair

Bob Behr

Corrine Twaddle

Diane Hodgson

Elaine Yaggie

Bud Schneider

Jim Sura, Deacon

Kathy Hoolihan

Peter Miskovich

Ann Braiedy, CCW Representative

Gary McInerney

Barb Nalan, CCW Representative

Roger Moll, School Board Representative

Pastoral Council Commissions. St. Joseph’s parish commissions are key to the essential functioning of our community of faith. Parish volunteers on these commissions provide many of the parish’s core activities. Commission membership is open to all parishioners.

Liturgy Commission develops spiritual growth and renewal opportunities for the parish. Members work with the pastor and liturgical ministers to plan for liturgical seasons and to prepare liturgical events. Corrinne Twaddle, Chair.

Charity and Justice Commission. When it comes to social action, neither charity nor justice alone is sufficient. The goals of this commission are to educate, inspire, respond, empower and serve. Phil and Jackie Solem, Co-chairs.

Finance Council. Church law requires that each parish have a Finance Council. This Council functions as the financial advisory board to the pastor and the Pastoral Council. It reviews financial performance, and prepares financial projections for parish programs and services. Council members are elected and appointed parishioners.

Membership: Terry LaValle, Chair

Diane Dick, Business manager

Karla Igo, School board representative

Jim Hoolihan, Trustee

Pat Leistikow

Denny Roy

Sue Mattson, Trustee

Mike Miskovich

Fr Jerry Weiss, Pastor

Leanne Retka

Fr. Thomas Galarneault, Assoc. Pastor

Kelly Hain

Jim Sura, Deacon

Tim Adamich

Jim Slater

Finance Council Commissions

Stewardship Commission develops, organizes and directs ongoing efforts to promote parishioners sharing of time, talent and treasure. Mike Miskovich, chair.

Fundraising Commission organizes and coordinates parish fund raising activities to strengthen the parish operating budget and to provide for special needs of the parish. Denny Roy, chair.

Planned Giving Commission helps educate parishioners and communicates opportunities and ways for them to provide for St. Joseph’s parish and school. Kelly Hain, chair.

Endowment Commission organizes opportunities for individuals who wish to invest in St. Joseph’s educational mission. Laura Hoolihan, chair. The Endowment Investment Sub-committee oversees and monitors those endowment funds. Jim Rupert, chair.

Advisory Groups

In addition to the councils and commissions, which are standing leadership groups, the following are current working groups called for special purposes.

Facilities Advisory Committee. Since it was created in 1995 FAC has guided the vision and building of St. Joseph’s new church. With the completion of phase one, FAC is now turning its energies to the important parish work of exploring options for new educational space for the parish.

FAC Membership: Ann Stanley, Chair

Jim Hoolihan

Mary Ives

Mike Kellin

Sue Mattson

Teresa Matetich, Principal

Brian Nicklason

Fr. Jerry Weiss, Pastor

Fr. Thomas Galarneault, Assoc. Pastor

Patricia Fideldy

Steve Wilcox

Ed Zabinski

Terry LaValle

Child Protection Task Force. Formed in the spring of 2002, the Child Protection Task Force (CPTF) seeks to work for protection and healing from childhood sexual abuse within our parish, community and diocese. Gwynne Bobich, chair.

Child Protection Task Force Membership:

Vicki Andrews

Kathleen Blake

Gwynne Bobich, Chair

Kay Furlong

Teresa Matetich

Marsha Miller

Kathleen Nuccio

Lisa Adamich, IAASA director

Mary Richie

Lori Dowling

Diane Dick

Kim Geislinger

Karen Karls

Anna Koller

Sue Mattson

JoAnn Ryan

ENVISION is a broad-based, long-term planning process that is Christ centered, mission focused and results oriented. The heart of Envision is the evangelizing mission of the Church. The mission, rooted in Scripture, is to make disciples of all nations by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people, living gospel values in our lives, and inviting others to join us in doing it.

ENVISION Chair: Gwynne Bobich