God created everything and the whole universe belongs to Him. We are blessed to enjoy all that He has created but with that blessing comes the responsibility to be good stewards of all the gifts that God has given us.

Below is an overview of the the Stewardship Commission, Finance Commission, and Administration Commission and the various committees and organizations which they cover. Watch this page for future feature articles about our stewardship activities here at St. Gabriel and how you can be a good steward of all that God has given you.

Stewardship Commission
The Stewardship Commission has the task of helping us to grow in our understanding, and appreciation of that everything we have and are God has first given to us. Our response to this must be gratitude. Stewardship mast become a way of life.

• The Stewardship Committee -- Carries on activities all year long. But the primary focus is the fall of each year (October- November) when our parish participates with the whole Archdiocesan Church in an annual commitment drive. Each year we are ask to renew our pledge to give of our time, talent and treasure. Making an annual commitment is an important part of being an active member of the community. This Committee oversees this effort and the data entry of all the information.
• Legacy of Hope Follow-up -- We all remember the exciting days of our Legacy of Hope Capital Campaign. It will be important that we all fulfill our pledge, and that new parishioners be given an opportunity to join this exciting effort. This Committee oversees this effort.
• Welcoming Committee -- Once a person or family has joined our parish it is important that they feel a part of the family. Our Welcoming committee tries to find out what peoples needs are and how they can be active members of the community.

Finance Commission
A Finance Commission enjoys a special relationship with a pastor. The Finance Commission is the one Commission that is called for in Church Law. Other forms of governance (Parish Pastoral Council, etc.) are recommended, but not mandated. In reality all commissions work together with the parish staff to create a harmonious whole that is responsible for being good stewards of people's time, talent and treasure.

Our Finance Commission has recently undergone reorganization. It has expanded its membership. There is now a person on the Commission who is responsible for the budget and fiscal management of each of the other eight commissions. In addition the Commission now has three officers: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary. The Vice-Chair will succeed to chair upon the resignation of the chair.

The function of a Finance Commission is to be good stewards of the parish's treasure.

• Budget -- The commission makes a recommendation to the Parish Pastoral Council regarding the annual budget. The proposed budget they present to the Council is the result of many months of preparation - seeing input from all the various commissions, organizations and activities. So the proposed budget is in fact the work of and owned by the whole parish organization. They oversee the administration of that budget and other fiscal responsibilities during the year.
• Fundraising -- The Finance Commission now has a Ways and Means Committee under it. It will be the role of the Ways and Means Committee to manage all fundraising activities in the parish. Formerly there were individual fundraising activities e.g. selling trash bags, fish frys, etc., but no overall management of such activities. Following policies outlined by the Parish Pastoral Council they will determine what is the appropriate way for people to give of time and talent in this area and will supervise all activity in this important aspect of parish life.
• St. Gabriel Catholic School Foundation -- The other important change was moving the St. Gabriel Catholic School Foundation to the supervision of the Finance Committee. Formerly, the Foundation was under the School Commission, but there was no clear or direct oversight. Now there is a person on the Finance Commission named to be responsible for oversight, and for a more aggressive development and growth of this foundation.

Administration Commission
Among the newly formed commissions is the Administration Commission. There are three permanent committees under this Commission: Building and Grounds Planning and Personnel.

• The Building and Grounds Committee -- This committee is responsible for the on-going maintenance, upkeep and preventative maintenance of our buildings and the grounds.
• The Planning Committee -- This committee is responsible for the oversight of on-going parish planning. We now have goals for our parish for the next year; we have one-year objectives. It is now the responsibility of the Planning Committee to - see that all groups, committees and organizations stay on task, if they fall behind to know why and what will be done to correct - they help committees to evaluate the work accomplished - then they start the process over with new objectives.
• The Personnel Committee -- This committee helps the pastor with his supervisory duties. In a parish the pastor is the court of last resort. There needs to be some way that employees that are directly accountable to him have some recourse regarding personnel issues. The Personnel Committee is someone who has experience in personnel work and is willing to have a sympathetic ear if necessary.
• Legacy of Hope Projects -- Currently the committee that will oversee the remodeling of the school next summer is also under the Administration Commission. When we, in due time, form the committee for our new church, that group will be under the Administration Commission.