Wasted Paychecks?

[Crusader]

I’m curious if other parishes are negatively impacted by what I call “wasted paychecks”, particularly within the realm of the liturgy?

For example, at my parish we have a “liturgy committee” that meets at 10:00AM on Tuesday mornings, when most people are working. The meetings notices are posted only within the staff area of the parish office, and they are closed meetings – one must request permission to attend if they are not part of the clique. Neither the pastor nor any other cleric is a member, and it’s never mentioned in the bulletin.

Some members of these “liturgy committee” members are actually paid for what they do (or do not do.) Given the quality and quantity of their work, I have begun to refer to them as “wasted paychecks.”

Wasted paychecks are in no way limited to the “liturgy committee” at my parish, and I’m curious if they exist at other parishes as well? I have never seen more tangible proof of satan than through this “committee” at my parish…

 

[James0235]

Haven’t seen that one. But I am particularly annoyed by the numbers of “pastoral ministers” that are popping up in parishes. When I ask what their job function is I ususally hear things like visit the sick, comfort family members of deceased parishoners, facilitate reception of the sacraments, etc. This is so the priest does not have to do these things. Talk about wasting money.

James

 

[HagiaSophia]

Crusader:

Wasted paychecks are in no way limited to the “liturgy committee” at my parish, and I’m curious if they exist at other parishes as well? I have never seen more tangible proof of satan than through this “committee” at my parish…

An associate pastor of a parish I used to belong to once told me he determined that their main function was to keep Staples selling reams of colored paper and they contributed to the government coffers with the postage they used mailing their printed materials around.

 

[Pug]

My parish is not like that, so there is hope! The pastor is a member of every committee, although he doesn’t always come to each meeting, to say the least. Often 2 meetings are at the same or similar times. The deacons are also spread about as committee members. All meetings are posted in the weekly bulletin. Usually at least the liturgy committee is announced from the podium.

There is a sort of clique-ishness, but that seems more generated by the presence of volunteer types and non-volunteer types in a parish (perhaps people with time vrs those without, etc).

But who am I to talk. I got on one of the committees by being asked to do it, not by volunteering. So maybe I have entered the magic circle. After all, I have always been the volunteering type, but only recently on a committee.

 

[Fergal]

Yup! We have a pastoral co-ordinator at our Parish.
The post was created overnight and she was appointed to this new post which was never advertised. Noone knew about it until it was created and filled. In other words it was made for her. She was employed through the pressure of one of the more liberal Priests in our parish who also happens to be very friendly with her and her family.

She has no job description, and she gets $1,300 a month after tax and is seen only at the more important events in the Parish. She has organised a women only trip to Italy for later this month
Part of the agreement was that she would step down as chairperson to the Liturgy Committee if she was appointed Pastoral Coordinator. When the new job was ‘made’ for her she refused point blank to do so. Now the Liturgy committee is a closed shop and she is making inroads into the Lectors encouraging them to use inclusive language and ignore Canon Law, and is spreading confusion and error everywhere.
She wants to take over filling out the wedding papers, wants to attend the Priests weekly meeting and always parks in the ‘Reserved for Priest on Duty’ spot even when there are plenty of other spots to park in.
What kills me is that my hard earned $'s are helping to pay her wages.

 

[Ray_Marshall]

Crusader:

I’m curious if other parishes are negatively impacted by what I call “wasted paychecks”, particularly within the realm of the liturgy?..

You know, I’d bet that if each of you had two more children, one dedicated for the seminary and the second for a convent, in about 25 years we wouldn’t need all these “wasted paychecks.”

Then too, we could do away with lay participation in the programs of your parishes.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Crusader:

I’m curious if other parishes are negatively impacted by what I call “wasted paychecks”, particularly within the realm of the liturgy?

For example, at my parish we have a “liturgy committee” that meets at 10:00AM on Tuesday mornings, when most people are working. The meetings notices are posted only within the staff area of the parish office, and they are closed meetings – one must request permission to attend if they are not part of the clique. Neither the pastor nor any other cleric is a member, and it’s never mentioned in the bulletin.

Some members of these “liturgy committee” members are actually paid for what they do (or do not do.) Given the quality and quantity of their work, I have begun to refer to them as “wasted paychecks.”

Wasted paychecks are in no way limited to the “liturgy committee” at my parish, and I’m curious if they exist at other parishes as well? I have never seen more tangible proof of satan than through this “committee” at my parish…

The structure of the parish is governed in general by the regulations and policy of the diocese, (Bishop). Call the diocese and explain that you would like and would pay for the costs of reproduction the diocesan policy on Parish “ministries and parish councils and committees”. They should send it to you. If it outlines a “Liturgy Committee” that is to be open to all members of the parish and that it’s meetings minutes are published and available. Then you have something you can go the the Pastor with.

 

[Crusader]

Our new pastor arrived within the last month. Rumor has it that he asked aloud what was he supposed to do given the huge size of the staff.

He came from a similar sized parish where he had a secretary and a religious teacher. Here he has about 20 people on the payroll…

 

[Crusader]

Fergal:

Yup! We have a pastoral co-ordinator at our Parish.
The post was created overnight and she was appointed to this new post which was never advertised. Noone knew about it until it was created and filled. In other words it was made for her. She was employed through the pressure of one of the more liberal Priests in our parish who also happens to be very friendly with her and her family.

She has no job description, and she gets $1,300 a month after tax and is seen only at the more important events in the Parish. She has organised a women only trip to Italy for later this month
Part of the agreement was that she would step down as chairperson to the Liturgy Committee if she was appointed Pastoral Coordinator. When the new job was ‘made’ for her she refused point blank to do so. Now the Liturgy committee is a closed shop and she is making inroads into the Lectors encouraging them to use inclusive language and ignore Canon Law, and is spreading confusion and error everywhere.
She wants to take over filling out the wedding papers, wants to attend the Priests weekly meeting and always parks in the ‘Reserved for Priest on Duty’ spot even when there are plenty of other spots to park in.
What kills me is that my hard earned $'s are helping to pay her wages.

This is sickening.

Where is your pastor in all of this? He needs to do his job.

If what you say is accurate, and if your pastor isn’t going to do anything about it, I would make ever effort (above and below board) to burn this lady once and for all.

No parish needs this sort of cancer.

Finally there is no way I could contribute money if I was faced with this. My donation would go to a worthy Catholic charity of some sort…

 

[Crusader]

Ray Marshall:

You know, I’d bet that if each of you had two more children, one dedicated for the seminary and the second for a convent, in about 25 years we wouldn’t need all these “wasted paychecks.”

Then too, we could do away with lay participation in the programs of your parishes.

I have yet to meet a priest, brother, sister or nun that was a wasted paycheck. This title seems almost unique to laity.

 

[Crusader]

HagiaSophia:

An associate pastor of a parish I used to belong to once told me he determined that their main function was to keep Staples selling reams of colored paper and they contributed to the government coffers with the postage they used mailing their printed materials around.

That priest will make an excellent pastor one day…

 

[kmktexas]

Our parish has not had this, yet. We have a Finance Committee and the Parish council and Father attends all of their meetings. This was a shock to the members of these committees when Father first came to our parish.

The only one in our parish who draws a salary is the pastor and he’s paid by the diocese. We have a DRE, a secretary, a bookkeeper and a music leader but all are volunteers.

Of course we are a tiny parish (400 families).

 

[Crusader]

kmktexas:

Our parish has not had this, yet. We have a Finance Committee and the Parish council and Father attends all of their meetings. This was a shock to the members of these committees when Father first came to our parish.

The only one in our parish who draws a salary is the pastor and he’s paid by the diocese. We have a DRE, a secretary, a bookkeeper and a music leader but all are volunteers.

Of course we are a tiny parish (400 families).

That’s still awesome…