September 5, 2007

Bishop Kmiec approves Central Administrative Offices budget

The Central Administrative Offices of the Diocese of Buffalo begin the 2007-08 fiscal year on Sept. 1 with a balanced budget. Expenses for the fiscal year are projected at $17,055,000 while revenues are expected to total $17,069,000. Last year, the diocesan budget deficit totaled $2.1 million. Income and expenses in fiscal year 2006-07 were estimated at $10.8 million, and $12.9 million, respectively. A significant addition to the budget is $6 million for the Catholic Elementary School Funding Plan which will support 13 regional schools, subsidies to schools for students attending parish schools, and $250,000 for tuition aid. Excluding the school funding initiative, expenses have been reduced $1.8 million.

“In a time of great change for the diocese, we have put together a responsible spending plan,” said Bishop Edward U. Kmiec. “We have made some difficult yet necessary decisions in order to balance the budget.”

A number of ministry and personnel changes have been made at the diocesan central offices in downtown Buffalo. The Diocesan Service Corps has been merged with Catholic Charities Service Program and three offices, the Permanent Diaconate, Office of Church Ministry, and the Music Office, have been transferred to Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora. The Office of Central Buffalo Ministries and the Hispanic Apostolate will merge to form the new Office of Cultural Diversity.

A number of positions and ministries have also been eliminated, including:

· Buildings & Properties: project manager;

· Chancery: archivist/receptionist;

· Charismatic Renewal: director and assistant;

· Communications: editor, Catholic Directory;

· Hispanic Apostolate and Central Buffalo Ministries: one director and two administrative assistants;

· Insurance Services: administrative assistant;

· Newman Centers at Erie Community College city, north campuses will be closed;

· Pope John Paul II Residence house of discernment will be closed;

· Purchasing: director will assume additional responsibilities at Diocesan Cemeteries;

· Tribunal: auditor (retirement – position will not be filled);

· Vicar for Religious: associate vicar;

· Western New York Catholic: layout and design artist;

· Youth Department: Southern Tier Youth Coordinator position will be eliminated

Since 1986, staffing levels at the diocesan central office have been reduced by approximately 30 percent. There were 200 people working at the Catholic Center in 1986. Today there are 140.

Balancing the budget would not have been possible without the efforts and total commitment of diocesan departments according to Msgr. David S. Slubecky, vicar general of the diocese. “Every area of the central offices was reviewed and many were asked to make difficult sacrifices,” he said. “As a result, we have reduced operating expenses and reallocated resources to support as many ministries as possible.”

The budget is supported by the following revenue sources:

· Catholic Education Funding Plan Assessments: 35 percent;

· Parish assessments: 28 percent;

· Bishop’s Fund for the Faith: 22 percent;

· Investment income: 9 percent;

· Self insurance and other income: 6 percent;

Areas of the budget that will decrease significantly are: subsidy to high schools by $700,000; emergency support to elementary schools $500,000; and campus ministry $115,000. “The diocesan commitment to education remains strong, including lifelong faith formation along with elementary, secondary, and graduate level study at Christ the King Seminary,” added Bishop Kmiec. ”Approximately 55 percent of the budget is dedicated to educating the Catholic leaders of tomorrow.”

As part of the strategic plan for the “Journey in Faith and Grace,” two new positions have been added to the Central Administrative Offices. Those posts will be filled by current employees. Kathleen Heffern, director of the Office of Church Ministry, will now direct the Office of Parish Life while Mary Beth Coates, former director of religious education, becomes director of the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation.

Bishop Kmiec added, “These new offices will help with the spiritual revitalization of our faith communities, ensuring that our parishes have the membership, leadership and resources for vibrant parish life. We will also be able to assist and facilitate parish-based faith formation at all levels.”

Due to the increased demands on his time, Msgr. Jerome Sullivan has relinquished his duties as pastor of St. Mary of the Lake Parish in Hamburg and will become the full-time director of the Office of Priest Personnel. Msgr. Sullivan’s responsibilities include working with Bishop Kmiec to assign priests to parishes. When parishes merge, pastors must submit their resignations and the positions are then open for application.

Some of the initiatives over the past 10 years to strengthen diocesan-wide ministries include the establishment of the diocesan development office to support development efforts of Christ the King Seminary, parishes, schools and the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo; modification of the Campaign for Catholic Education to return 100 percent of the funds raised to parishes, and establishment of the St. Joseph Investment Fund to increase parish and other institution investment income.

Fiscal year 2007-08 for the Diocese of Buffalo runs Sept. 1 through Aug. 31.

- 30 -