BRIDGEPORT—The Diocese of Bridgeport has released its new Parish Administrative Manual, a guide to the key processes and procedures required for use in the day-to-day and long-term operations of parishes.
Bishop Frank J. Caggiano formally promulgated the new Parish Administrative Manual in a decree issued on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary. The manual was issued ad experimentum, effective for one year.
“I am pleased to present the final Parish Administrative Manual which applies to all parishes and quasi parishes of the Diocese of Bridgeport,” said Bishop Caggiano. “I pray that it will help us become the loving family of God’s people who rejoice not only in our holy work but in the companionship of those who work with us.”
The bishop thanked pastors and administrators who provided valuable input, feedback and changes that have been incorporated within the manual.
In his decree, the bishop states that over the past year the curial offices of the Diocese of Bridgeport have spent much effort to revise the manual “in order to offer necessary enhancement and updates for the best practices need for proper and transparent administration of parish resources.”
The new manual replaces the original Parish Administration and Finance Manual promulgated by Bishop William E. Lori, Fourth Bishop of Bridgeport on February 15, 2008. Since that date, parish administrators have been served by the valuable provisions the manual offered, the bishop said in his decree.
Deacon Patrick Toole, episcopal vicar for administration, who coordinated the effort, said the manual serves as a baseline for administrative processes at the parish which are mandated by the diocese.
The 141-page manual provides parishes with direction and support on several topics including Safe Environments, Employment and Personnel, Sacramental Records, Parish Governance and Legal Administration, Communications, Technology and Development.
Deacon Toole said a general calendar follows the table of contents in section one and provides an overview of key dates. A checklist is also included at the beginning of each section to highlight salient points in the narrative that follows.
