Parish Councils
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St. Therese Parish Council greatly appreciates the volunteers who serve on the council for three year terms. If you are interested in serving on the Parish Council you may volunteer your name to be considered for future vacancies. Please call the parish office to notify us of your interest.
In American Roman Catholic parishes, the parish council arose after Vatican II in the new era of lay participation in parish decision making. It was a response to the Vatican II Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People (Apostolicam actuositatem, par. 26).
This decree, published in 1965, recommended the establishment of councils at all levels of the Catholic Church (including the parish) with one purpose, namely, to assist in the Church's "apostolate" or mission. The decree also said that such apostolic councils "may coordinate" lay initiatives, so long as they do not interfere with the autonomy of such initiatives. Many Catholics throughout the world interpreted the decree as calling for parish councils that would coordinate parish committees or commissions. This was the genesis of the "Parish Council".
Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council is one of the two advisory bodies to the Pastor/Administrator. Presently the council consists of ten volunteers registered, active parishioners in good standing and two ex-Officio members; School Principal and the Parish Business Manager.
Chairperson
Fr. Jeff Eirvin
Joined: 2022
Secretary
Carmel Delaney
Joined: 2016
Member
Thang Nguyen
Joined: 2018
Member
Jim Swanberg
Joined: 2022
Member
Melanie Reyna
Joined: 2022
Vice Chair
Greg Buhr
Joined: 2011
Member
Titay Schommer
Joined: 2010
Member
Brian Moran
Joined: 2018
Ex-Officio
1. Business Manager
2. School Principal
Finance Council
The Parish Finance Council is one of the two advisory bodies to the Pastor/Administrator. Presently the council consists of six volunteers registered, active parishioners in good standing and two ex-Officio members; School Principal and the Parish Business Manager.
Chairperson
Charles Dhulst
Joined: 1999
Position 3
Steve Schommer
Joined: 1989
Position 5
Sue Buhr
Joined:1983 - 2010,
rejoined 2012
Secretary
Business Manager
Position 2
Margaret Oliphant
Joined: 2010
Position 4
Bob Cornell
Joined: 2010
Ex-Officio
1. Business Manager
2. School Principal