Serving Hyde Park’s Catholic Community since 1869


5472 South Kimbark Avenue,
Hyde Park, Chicago IL, 60615-5297
Phone: (773) 324-2626 Fax: (773) 891-0602

Finance Council

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant,
whom his master has set over his household”
(Luke 12:42)

Finance Council is an advisory panel to the Pastor in all financial matters of the Parish, composed of volunteer parishioners who are experts in different areas related to finance, law and general business matters. Consultation is at the heart of the decision-making process – sharing information, contributing to discussion and promoting consensus.

Who we are: We are “faithful stewards” of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Family, with the appropriate expertise and possessing a love for the Church, our parish family and its mission among God’s people in extraordinary variety. We work closely with the pastor, who is accountable to the diocesan bishop for the administration and stewardship of the temporal goods of the parish.

What we do: The Finance Council assists the pastor by providing valuable advice in the execution of his parish financial administration duties, including (but not limited to):

  • preparation of the annual Parish budget (the operating and capital budgets)
  • reviewing all monthly and annual financial statements, revenues and expenditures, and capital projects;
  • establishing financial strategy for the parish, maximizing its financial resources and averting potential financial problems;
  • overseeing the preparation and publication of the annual financial report to the parish,
  • ensuring the submission of the regular financial reports to the Archdiocese.

We meet: Monthly in the Pastor’s Office.

Contact: Paula Jones: (773) 324-2626 ext. 109 / email: pjones@stapostleparish.org

“An active and well-formed Parish Finance Council is an important and necessary support to the parish administrator
in fulfilling his duty of being a good steward of parish resources … and is a key element
for promoting the financial health of a parish .”

(Parish Finance Council Guidelines, Archdiocese of Chicago, 2007)