“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. Pastoral 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, 2018.
Officers (parish council officers, with the pastor, form the executive committee):
- Barbara Willers (bdwillers1@gmail.com), chair
- Gerry Frank (gfrank@ottcmail.com), vice chair
- Kathleen Rourke (kerourke8@gmail.com), secretary
Word committee (evangelization and education):
- Andrew Morpurgo (amorpurgo@twcny.rr.com), chair
- Tim Davis
- Laurenda Denmark
- Susan Guydosh
Worship committee (liturgy):
- Tom Duff (tomduff2@gmail.com), chair
- Marc Albanese
- Jacqueline Leidenfrost
- Charles Mullins
Witness committee (outreach):
- Leo Kawczenski (lkawczenski123@gmail.com), chair
- Lynne Stager
- Richard Pell
- Thomas Perry
Fellowship committee (social and communications):
- Janice McLaughlin, (janmo2007@aol.com), chair
- Scott Hamula
- Nancy McGourty
Minutes and agendas of the Mother, Mother of Mercy Parish Council’s meetings are available here. Dates for upcoming meetings: November 14, 2019; January 9, March 12, May 14, and June 11, 2020. All meeting begin at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Francis Solanus annex.
Parish Council Members 2019–2020
for the Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy
(as of July 1, 2019):
Tim Davis
Tom Duff
Laurenda Denmark
Gerald Frank
Susan Guydosh
Scott Hamula
Leo Kawczenski
Fr. Bernard Maloney, pastor
Nancy McGourty
Janice McLaughlin
Andy Morpurgo
Charles Mullins
Richard Pell
Kathleen Rourke
Lynn Stager
Barbara Willers
Alternates:
Mark Albanese
Jacqueline Leidenfrost
Thomas Perry
The diocese highlighted the parish and the chair of the pastoral council in their Spring 2017 newsletter, vol. 5, issue 1.
