Parish Council

“A parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful established on a stable basis within a particular church; the pastoral care of the parish is entrusted to a pastor as its own Shepherd under the authority of the diocesan bishop.” (Canon 515)

A pastoral council acts as a consultative body in assisting the pastor in maintaining the Christian life of the parish community. Parish council members are representative of the various constituencies that form the parish family and have a vested interest in the life and development of the parish.

The council only meets from 4 to 8 times a year but its effect on the parish is important. For more information about the council see the March 2017 Pastoral Council Guidelines for Mary, Mother of Mercy.

Please feel free to contact any of the following council members whose terms began on July 1, 2024.

Officers (parish council officers, with the pastor, form the executive committee):

• Tim Davis, chair
• Leo Kawczenski , vice chair
• Susan Guydosh, secretary

Word committee (evangelization and education): Tim Housknecht (chair), Cheryl Hine, and Duane Porterfield

Worship committee (liturgy): Barb Willers (chair), Marc Albanese, and Sharon Dal Cero

Witness committee (outreach): Karen Salino (chair), Bill Carroll, Adele Jay, and Eddie Koh

Fellowship committee (social and communications): Russ Wedemeyer (chair), Liz Coats, Pat Dickerson, Jackie Leidenfrost, and Sheila Ryan

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Parish Council Members 2024–2025
for the Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy
(as of July 1, 2024):

• Marc Albanese
• Bill Carroll
• Liz Coats
• Sharon Dal Cero
• Tim Davis
• Susan Guydosh
• Adele Jay
• Leo Kawczenski
• Jackie Leidenfrost
• Sheila Ryan
• Karen Salino
• Russ Wedemeyer

Alternates:

• Eddie Koh
• Patricia Dickerson
• Barbara Willers

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The diocese highlighted the parish and the chair of the pastoral council in their Spring 2017 newsletter, vol. 5, issue 1.

Minutes for Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish Council