November 30, 2004 - Archbishop Seán P. O’Malley Establishes Committee to Oversee
Reconfiguration Funds
(Boston, Massachusetts) November 30, 2004…The
Archbishop of Boston today announced the establishment of a seven-member Parish
Reconfiguration Fund Oversight Committee to be chaired by David Castaldi. This
committee’s role includes conducting an independent review of the financial
aspects of reconfiguration including monitoring the receipt and spending of
funds from closed parishes, including the sale of parish property, and making
recommendations regarding the integrity used in this process. Joining Mr.
Castaldi on the committee are Maureen Corcoran, Nan-Marie Jaeger, Kathleen
Rabe, Norman Sabbey and Timothy Schiavoni. The final member will be appointed
from the archdiocesan Finance Council and will be chosen from those soon to
be named to work most closely on the Archdiocesan sStrategic
planning effort. Three of the six named committee members are from parishes
being closed in the reconfiguration process.
“Addressing the challenges of this Archdiocese
requires the active involvement of many who love the Church and are willing
to share their time, energy and expertise,” said Archbishop Seán P. O’Malley. “I
am very grateful to the members of this new committee who have agreed to assist
the Archdiocese of Boston staff by applying their professional and financial
expertise in the area of Reconfiguration Fund Oversight and reporting.”
The committee held its third monthly
meeting last week and
will report, at its discretion in the Pilot. The committee’s reports
along side will appear along with the Chancellor monthly
report on the financial aspects of Reconfiguration. This advisory committee
is the third committee
organized by Archbishop O’Malley in recent months to assist him with Reconfiguration
activity in the Archdiocese. In October, the Archbishop formed an external
Reconfiguration Review Committee (chaired by Sr. Janet Eisner, SND, President
of Emmanuel College, and Peter Meade, Executive Vice President of Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Chairman of the Board of Catholic Charities
in Boston) to review the reconfiguration process underway in the Archdiocese
of Boston and make recommendations that will help guide the Archdioceses’ efforts
to serve the needs of the Catholic community going forward. Recently, the
Archbishop also announced the establishment of a Strategic Planning Committee
to assist with the development of a strategic financial plan.
“All of us on the committee are pleased to help
our Church with this important task and are committed to einsuring transparency
in the handling of the assets of closed parishes,” said Mr. Castaldi. “We appreciate
that our Archbishop recognizes the importance of obtaining independent review
and advice from lay Catholics and hope that this serves as a model for our
Church in the future..”,
The reconfiguration of parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston began in January
of 2004, when there were 357 parishes divided into five regions. Since that time, 47 parishes have closed and other parish communities
have welcomed those parishioners. When reconfiguration is completed, it
is estimated that 82 parishes and 66 churches will have been closed, eight
new parishes will have been created and eight churches will remain open as
worship sites. This activity will result in 283 parishes serving the cities
and towns that comprise the Archdiocese of Boston.
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