The Diocese of Bridgeport Uses Best Practices, Century ... · Case Study: The Diocese of Bridgeport Uses Best Practices, 21st Century Technology to Further Good Stewardship In the

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Case StudyThe Diocese of Bridgeport

Uses Best Practices,

21st Century Technology

to Further Good Stewardship

www.osvoffertory.com | 800-348-2886 2

Case Study: The Diocese of Bridgeport Uses Best Practices, 21st Century Technology to Further Good Stewardship

Index

Introduction............................. Pg3

In the beginning....................... Pg4

The age of change................... Pg5

The age of technology............. Pg5

The information age................. Pg7

Change is good....................... Pg9

The fi nal analysis...................... Pg10

Appendix................................... Pg11



IntroductionThelatePopeJohnPaulIIiscreditedwithbringingthenewevangelizationtotheCatholicChurch,andwithit,theuseofmoderntechnologytoproclaimthegospel.Hesimplystated,“Thefuturestartstoday,nottomorrow.”TakingthebelovedPope’swordstoheart,DeaconBillKoniershasspenthisentirelifeasabusinessmanandservantoftheChurchbringingthenewevangelizationtolight.

Asanordainedmemberoftheclergy,DeaconBillfindsdoingtheLord’sworkbothfulfillingandrewardingHealsoenjoysusinghistalentstoleveragetechnologyandassociatedprocesses,andputthemtouseintheCatholicChurchaspartofthecultureofchangethatispermeatingthroughouttheChurch.

DeaconKonierswasordainedbytheDioceseofBridgeport,Conn.,fiveyearsago.HenowservesasthefinancedirectorofParishFinanceServices,whereheisoverseeingaprojectofmonumentalproportions.Forthelastthreeyears,hehasbeenworkingwiththeclergyandthelaitytoimplementasystemofstandardizedfinancialcontrolsandaccountingpracticesdesignedtoimprovefinancialreportinginthe87parishesoftheDiocese,enablegreatertransparency,sharebestpractices,andassistPastorswiththemanagementofparishresources.

ItisundertheleadershipofBishopWilliamE.Lori,S.T.D.,thefourthbishopofBridgeport,thatthediocesehasgainednationalrecognitionforitsforward-thinkingsuccessesinparishandChurchfinancialreportingpractices.

BishopLorirecruitedaqualifiedteamofmenandwomenfromthebusinessworldtochampionhisprogram.Throughtheirefforts,combinedwiththeworkofthepastorsandtheirlayleadership,allparisheshavebeenabletomakeaquantumleapintheirfinancialreportingtoparishioners.

OneofthoseteammemberswasDeaconKoniers.“Wesetouttostep-upcomputerizationintheparishesandschoolssothatinformationcouldbemorereadilyaccessedbyPastors,Principalsandlayleadership.Inthisway,decisionscouldbemadewithallthepertinentfinancialinformationathand,”henotes.

BishopLoriisquicktosaythathisprimarymissionandresponsibilityinthedioceseisthatofspiritualleader.However,healsounderstandstheday-to-dayneedsthejobrequires.“Whilemostofuswhoarebishopswouldnotdescribeourselvesasbusinessmen,nonethelessthereisanaspectofourministrythatrequiresustooverseetheproperstewardshipofthetemporalgoodsoftheChurchwhichhelptosustaintheChurch’slifeoffaith,worship,andservice.”

Thereare87parishes,39Catholicschools,26CatholicCharitiesprograms,16Catholiccemeteries,and600unitsofaffordablehousingforseniorsintheDioceseofBridgeport.BishopLoriunderstandshisroleasleaderinvolvessurroundinghimselfwithpeoplewhohavethebackgroundandexpertisetohelpmanagethehumanandmaterialresourcesnecessarytomeettheneedsofallhisconstituencies.

“Iwaslookingforpeoplewhocouldbringvisionandskillcombinedwithstrongfaith,”saysBishopLori.Fortunately,FairfieldCountyishometomanyFortune50companies.OftenconsideredasuburbofNewYorkCity,manyofthemenandwomenwhomakeupthenearly500,000CatholicsintheDioceseofBridgeportareprofessionalswhogenerouslybringtheirgiftstotheserviceoftheChurch.“It’simportantforabishoptosurroundhimselfwithpeoplewhoaregood,”BishopLorisays.“I’mveryblessedwithCatholicswhoarestrongintheirfaithand,atthesametime,areskilledinallkindsofareas,includingcharitable,educational,andsocialservices.

“Iwaslookingforstrongfaithandco-workerswhowouldsupportmeinmymission,andGodkeepsbringingthesepeopletome,”headds.

Deacon Bill Koniers & Bishop William E. Lori, S.T.D.

St. Pius X



In the beginningThebishop’smissionisnosmallundertaking.BishopLoritakeshisresponsibilityasshepherdoftheBridgeportDioceseseriously.“Therearethreeprimeresponsibilitiesforeverybishopandpastor,”heexplains.“Firstandforemost,weproclaimthegospel.Second,wegatherthepeopleinGod’scareintoasacramentallife.Andlastly,wearecalledtogovernandguidetheChurchgiventoourcare.”

Thebishopsaysthethreeareasinvolvetakingtheministries,thehumanandmaterialresources,andusingthemintheverybestsense:forthemissionoftheChurch.Asstewardofnumerousparishes,schools,CatholicCharities,andotherministriesunderhiscare,BishopLorisaysit’simportantthatwhenfinancialsupportisgiventotheChurch,donorsknowwheretheirmoneyisgoingandhowitisbeingused.

“Stewardshipisabouttakingtheresourceswehaveandharnessingthemforthemission.AstewardintheGospelisnotsomeonewhoistheservantorthemaster,butaloving,committedcaretaker;someonewhotreatsitasifitwerehisorherown.”

TheparableofthestewardisnotsomethingtheBishoptakeslightly.Oneofhisfirststepstowardprocuringamoresecure,transparentprocessforstewardshipwasbringingNormWalkertothedioceseaschieffinancialofficerin2005.

AccordingtoWalker,hewasn’tinitiallyinterestedincomingtothediocese.AsaretireeofPriceWaterhouseCooperswithmorethan30yearsinaccountingandfinance,hethoughthewouldmeetwiththebishop,offersomesuggestions,andmoveon.

“WhenIsatdownwithBishopLori,Iwasgoingtotellhimwhatneededtobedone,”Walkerremembers.“Instead,hetoldmewhathewanteddone.HegavemethespeechIthoughtIwasgoingtogivehim.”

Walkerwassurprisedwhenhereviewedthefinancialsystemsandreportingstructurewithinthediocese.Hesaysthatsomeoftheexistingprocessesandpracticesneededsubstantialupdatingtokeepupwiththecomplexitiesofthemodernworld.Forinstance,inseveralparishes,reportingandrecordkeepingwereaccomplishedmanually.Inadditiontonon-standardizedreports,therelackedtherequiredleveloftransparencyoraccountabilitythatBishopLoriwasseekingtoachieve.

Thatquicklychangedhowever,withtheadditionofDeaconKonierstothestaff.Together,WalkerandDeaconKoniersworkedwiththepriestsofthediocese,businessmanagers,financecouncilmembers,andotherstoestablishandthenimplementwhattheDioceseofBridgeportcallsthe“SixKeyElements”(seeAppendix)forenhancingfinancialcontrolsattheparishanddiocesanlevels.TheadoptionoftheSixKeyElementsledtothedevelopmentofaParish Administration & Finance Manualforuseinallparishes.

“TheChurchneededtocatch-upandbuildonitsstrengths,”Walkersays.“Andweneededouradministrativeprocessestotakeadvantageofsome21stcenturytoolsandpractices.”administrativeprocessestotakeadvantageofsome21stcenturytoolsandpractices.”

stewardintheGospelisnotsomeonewhoistheservantorthemaster,butaloving,committed

Bishop William E. Lori, S.T.D.

Deacon Bill Koniers



The age of changeMovingtheChurchforwardwasadreampositionforDeaconKoniers.Asasuccessfulexecutivewithglobalexperienceinfinanceandbusinessprocessre-engineering,hewasrecruitedbyBishopLoritohelpimplementthenewfinancialprocessesthroughoutthediocese.“Godmeantformetobeachangemanagementguy,”thedeaconsayswithasmile.

BishopLorisaysashegottoknowDeaconKoniers,herealizedthathewas,indeed,thepersonthedioceseneededtochampionthetaskathand.“Becauseheisadeacon,thatmeansheisalreadysharinginmyministry,proclaimingtheWord,teachingtheWord,assistingonthealtarinthesacraments,”heexplains.

“AsIworkedwithhim,IcametorecognizeapersonwhounderstoodthechallengesoftheChurch,lovedtheChurch,andwaswillingtoputhisconsiderabletalentandcorporateexperiencetotheserviceoftheChurch,”BishopLoriadds.“IfweweregoingtointroduceintotheChurch21stcenturyadministrativeprocessesandpractices,itwasgoingtobeimportanttohavesomeonewhounderstoodhowyouchangenotonlyprocesses,buttheculture.”

Whenthebishopaskedhimtojointhediocesetospearheadtheefforttore-engineertheparishfinancialsystemprocesses,DeaconKoniersjumpedonboard.“ThisisthejobI’vebeenpreparingforallmylife,”hesays.“Wewerefacingadifficultproblem:Today’sparishionersaresophisticated.Theywanttoknowhowtheirdonationsarebeinghandledandwheretheywillbeused.Theyarelookingfortransparency.”

Oneandahalfyearslater,DeaconKonierscontactedaformercolleague,PatriciaKrause,whoassistedthedeaconbymanagingtherolloutofParishSOFT,whichisafullchurchmanagementsoftwareapplication,andtheOurSundayVisitorenvelopemailingprograms.

WhileDeaconKoniershasbeeninthetrenches,attheparishes,andmeetingwithclergyandlaity,hebelievesthatthesuccessesareduetothebishop’svision.“BishopLoribuilttheprocessfromthebottomup,notthetopdown,”hesays.“Theworldhaschanged.Wenowliveinaworldofaccountabilityandtransparency.Thebishopwantedustoreviewexistingbestpracticesandthencreateauniformstandardofexcellenceforuseinallparishes.”

The age of technologyWalkerandDeaconKoniersassembledateamofpastors,andnumerouslayleaderstoworkcollaborativelytostandardizethefinancialsystemsoftheparishesandthediocese.

Inlookingatbestpractices,somethingWalkerandDeaconKonierswerefamiliarwiththroughtheirdiversecorporateexperiences,theyinvestigateddifferentavenuesforhelpingthedioceseanditsoperationsfindsolutions.“ThroughthepoweroftheHolySpirit,wehavenewwaysofbringingthemessagetoourpeople,”DeaconKoniersexplains.“Technologyplaysabigpartofthat.”

WhattheyfoundintheirresearchattheparishesandCatholicschoolswasavaryingleveloftechnologyimplementation,differentplatformsforenteringandmanagingdata,andawiderangeofinconsistencieswhenitcametoreportingorsharinginformation.Justasmanybusinessesdidinthe1980sand1990s,theDioceseofBridgeportbeganagapanalysis:catalogingsomeofthegoodthingsalreadyinplace,versuswhatanoptimumfuturemodelneededtolooklike.

“Inbusinessweusetheterm‘corecompetency,’“thedeaconsaysaboutfocusingonwhatanorganizationdoesbest.“TheChurchhasbeenaroundformorethan2,000years.Ourcorecompetenciesareevangelization,sacraments,liturgy,spreadingthenewsofJesusChrist.Wherewedon’thavewidespreadcompetenciesare:managingelectronicdatabasesthroughoutalargeorganization,andharnessingsoftwareandcomputingpower.”

DeaconKonierssaysthatthedecisiontoleavetheworkofevangelizationtotheChurchandpassonanythingandeverythingelsetothird-partybusinesseswassomethingBishopLoriunderstoodandembraced.

Patricia Krause

Norm Walker, C.F.O.



“I’mnotatechnicalpersonatall,”BishopLoriadmits.“ButIdidrealizethataswemoveforward,technologyhastobeharnessedfortheserviceoftheGospel.Ialsorealizedthattheresourceswereheretousetechnologyinhowparishesandthediocesecommunicatewitheachotherandhowbusinessisconductedday-to-dayattheCatholicCenter.

“Wehaveawholenewgenerationofparishionerscomingupthattakestechnologyforgranted,”thebishopadds.“Ifwe’regoingtocommunicatewiththisgeneration,ifwe’regoingtoconducttheworkoftheChurchcredibly,wearecertainlygoingtohavetoemploytechnology.”

Thebishopandhisteambeganworkinginearnesttousethecombinedpurchasingpoweroftheparishesandschoolstonegotiateaneconomicallybeneficialpurchaseofsoftwareandawebbasedplatformtoimplementtheupdatedfinancialsystem.

Indoingso,theDioceseofBridgeportbecamethefirstintheUnitedStatestooutsourceitsentireparishaccountingsystemsplatformtoathird-partyWeb-basedhostingcompany.ThesystemoffersparishesandschoolssecureaccessfromanycomputerwithanInternetconnection.Thistransitionhasallowedparishesandschoolstostandardizeaccountingrecordsononesoftware,useonecommonreportingstructure,andgeneraterealtime,up-to-datefinancialinformation.

RightNetworks,aNewHampshire-basedcompanyspecializinginenterpriseclasstechnology,providesthehostingplatformfortheproject.Usingavirtualdesktop,usersfromtheparishesandschoolslogintotheRightNetworksserversandmanagetheirfiles.Thisanytime/anywheresystemprovidesidealflexibilityfortheclergyandthelaitywhonolongerneedtobealwaysattheirdesktoaccessimportantfiles.AlltheyneedisacomputerwithInternetaccess.

RightNetworkshoststheQuickBookssystemusedbytheparishestomanagetheirrespectivechartofaccounts.Thisthird-partyhostingsolutionwassounique,acomprehensivetrainingprogramhadtobeimplemented.Toassistinthispartoftheprocess,DeaconKoniersenlistedMaryMiller,CPA,instructorattheUniversityofConnecticutinNewHavenandanexperiencedQuickBooksadvisor.

MillerworkedcloselywiththedioceseandtheteamatRightNetworkstoensureasmoothimplementationoftheefficienciesforeachoftheparishes.“Insomecases,manyparishrecordswerekeptinspreadsheetsoroncards.Wewereabletostandardizethereportinginformationfortheparishes.”

Inadditiontothetimesavingbenefitsofthenewaccountingandchurch-managementplatform,theparishesarenowabletoreceiveimmediate

answerstotheirquestions,Milleradds.“Alltheinformationisinoneplace,sowiththepushofabutton,everyoneisseeingexactlythesamethingatthesametime.

“Tome,thisisfulfillingGod’smission,”sheexplains.“IamhelpingtheDioceseofBridgeportuseitsresourcesforthebenefitofparishesandparishionerstoassistthemtosuccessfullycompletetheministriestheyhave.”

Mary Miller, CPA

St. Joseph



The information ageKnowledgeispower.“Whenparisheshavetheinformationattheirfingertips,theyareabletomakedecisionsinanacceleratedfashion,”saysDeaconKoniers.“Weliveinareal-timeworld.Informationaccessiskey.TheChurchisjustlikeanyothersuccessfulorganization:Ithastohavegoodandrelevantinformationatitsfingertips.”

TomakesuretheparishesandthediocesereceivedtimelyinformationneededinordertoconductthebusinessoftheChurch,itwascriticaltofindvendorswhocouldprovidetheappropriateservices.Vendorselectionwastimeconsuming.Thereweremanydifferentsystemsinplace,withnumerousvendors.DeaconKonierssaysmovingfromoneparishtoanotherwasdifficultforpriestsbecausetheyhadtolearnentirelynewprocessesandcomputerprograms.“Theypracticallyneededapassport,”hejokes.

TheteaminsistedonfindingcompaniesthatunderstoodthemissionoftheChurch.“WewantedpeoplewhovalueGod’sKingdomonearth,”saysDeaconKoniers.Intheend,theselectionofthekeyvendorsincluded:RightNetworksforhosting,ParishSOFTforchurchmanagementsoftwaresolutions,andOurSundayVisitorforoffertory(envelopesandmore.)

DeaconKonierscan’tsayenoughaboutthethreevendors/partnersinthediocesanproject.“RightNetworksdeliversexperienceinsecureweb-basedhosting,hardware,software,andnetworking,”hesays.(SeeAppendix)

“ParishSOFThasallowedustobettercommunicatewithourpeople.Weknowwhotheyare,whattheydo,andhowtostayintouchwiththem.That’sveryimportant.

“OurSundayVisitorhasbecomeanextremelystrategicpartner,”hecontinues.“TheyhaveagreathistoryservingtheCatholicChurchinuniqueways.WithParishSOFTandOSV,we’vetakenouroffertoryprocessestothenextlevel.”

Becausecommunicationwassocriticaltothesuccessoftheentirefinancialservicesproject,thedioceseneededconsistentwaystocommunicatetoalloftheirparishioners.EnvelopesweretheobviouschoicebecausetheyaremailedtopeoplewhomaynotattendMasseveryweek,butstillwanttofeelapartoftheChurch,thedeaconadds.“Envelopesremindparishionersoftheongoinglifeoftheparish,aswellasspecialprojectsandapostolatesoftheChurch,suchasmissionsathomeandoverseas,supportforretiredreligious,andCatholiceducation,”hesays.

MonsignorMartinRyan,pastorofSt.EdwardtheConfessorParishinNewFairfield,Conn.,saysthatastheneedsoftheparishchange,thesystemsthatsupportthemshouldalsochange.“Thenewsystemhelpsusbetterservethepeople,”hesays.Withanactiveparishofmorethan2,400families,MonsignorRyanbelievestheinformationhecanobtainfromthesystemsisinvaluableinhelpinghimmakedecisionsthathelphimunderstandhowtobringparishionerstogetherasacommunity.

Thefocusoninformationhasincreasedtheparishes’abilitytomanageitsfinancialresourcesandmakesoundbusinessdecisions.Italsoprovidesnewavenuestogrowrevenue.AtSt.JosephParishinShelton,Conn.,MonsignorChrisWalshsayshisstaffhasbecomeexpertsatusingthesystemtoreachdifferentgroupswithintheparishandsurroundingcommunity.

OneofhisfavoritestoriesinvolvesfundraisingeffortsforhisCatholicschool.Intougheconomictimes,ithasbecomemoreimportantthanevertofindwaystosupportCatholiceducation.Withthesystem,hehasbeenabletojump-startanactivealumniassociationfortheschool.“Inthe‘TimeandTalent’module(ofParishSOFT),wecreatedanalumnigroupasoneofourparishorganizations.Wecannowreachthesefaithfulalumni,”hesays.

inhelpinghimmakedecisionsthathelphimunderstandhowtobringparishionerstogetherasa

OneofhisfavoritestoriesinvolvesfundraisingeffortsforhisCatholicschool.Intougheconomic

Monsignor Martin Ryan

Monsignor Chris Walsh



HearingofthebenefitsfrompriestsandparishionerspleasesBishopLori.“IfindthathavingthesamefinancialinformationmakesiteasiertomanagethebusinessoftheChurch.It’seasiertonegotiatedebt,evaluateandsigncontracts,anddecideonbuildingprojects,”hesays.

Attheparishlevel,businessmanagers,directorsofreligiouseducation(DREs),andvolunteersallappreciatethedifferencethenewfinancialplatformandsystemshavemade.AngelaMontero,asecretaryforreligiouseducationatSt.JosephParish,explainsthattheprocessforregisteringchildrenwasverymanual.“Wehadalotofcardsandlists,”shesays.“Itwasdifficulttotaketrackofthestudents.”

Now,however,Monterosaysthebenefitsofefficiencyareamazing.“Ipulluptheinformationonthecomputerandseeifthekidsareregisteredornot,whetherthefeeshavebeenpaidornot.Youcan’tevenimaginethewaysthesystemwillrevolutionizeyourdata,”shesays.“Wecan’timaginewe’vebeenwithoutitforsolong.”

St.Joseph’sisn’ttheonlyparishtopraisethechangeBishopLoriandhisteambroughttothediocese.AtSt.EdwardtheConfessor,theparishstaffagreesthatthenewsystemshaveimprovedcommunicationwithparishioners,whichleadstoamorevibrantcommunity.

“Wesentane-mailoutbeforeLentwithourschedule,”explainsLuanneHogan,officemanager.“Wegotalotofcommentsbackfrompeoplethankingusforsendingit.And,wehadmorepeoplecomingtooureventsbecausetheyknewaboutit.”

MonsignorRyanagrees.“Thesystemshavebroughtustoanewlevel.Whenweencounteraproblemnow,wehavetheinformationandthedatatohelpusservethepeopleinabetterway.

“Thenewsystemshavegivenusanswerstoquestionswecouldneverhaveansweredbefore.I’vebecomeabetterministerbyhavingbetterinformation,”headds.

Beingabletoanswerparishioners’questionsisalsoimportanttothestaff.SuzanneCollela,censusadministrator,saystheabilitytoshareinformationwithparishionershasbeenwonderful.She’sresponsibleforgeneratingthetaxlettersattheendoftheyear.Topreparetheletters,theparishhadtobringinadditionalhelp.Theprocesscouldtakeweeks,andtheinformationwasn’talwayspresentedinawayparishionersunderstood.

“Thisyear,weusedtheParishSOFTsystem,whichrecordsthecollectionsfromtheOSVenvelopeoffertoryprogram,”Collelasays.

HoganlaughswhenColleladescribesthetaxletterprocess.Withthepushofafewbuttons,shesays,theywereabletoquicklyandaccuratelygenerateletterswiththeoffertoryofeachparishionerbrokenoutbyregularcollections,secondcollections,andotherdonationcategoriestheparishhassetup.Sotheprocessthatusedtotakeweekswascompletedinaday.

“Wehadalotofpositivefeedbackfromparishionersabouttheletters,”Hogansays.“Theycouldseehowmuchtheyweregivingandinwhatareas.Insomecases,parishionersincreasedtheirdonations.”

WhenDeaconKoniershearsthesekindsofstories,hisfacelightsup.“Oneofourgoalswastomoveouroffertoryprocesstothenextlevel,”heexplains.“Ourpriestsarestewardsoftheirparishandhavemanyassetsandresourcesundertheircare.Thesenewsystemsallowourprieststogiveparishionersalltheinformationtheyneedtoknowthattheirdonationsarebeingputtogooduse.

Luanne Hogan

Suzanne Collela

Angela Montero



“BishopLorimadeitcleartothepriests,hisstaff,andtheCatholicpopulationatlargethatifwecan’tmanagetheresourcesunderourcare,wewon’tbeabletocarryoutthemissionoftheChurchinaproficientandefficientmanner,”headds.“Hehasgivenusthetoolstodojustthat.”

Thebishopdoesn’tseehimselfuniqueinthefactthattechnologycouldbecometheturningpointinhowtheChurchdoesbusinessnowandinthefuture.“Mostofusrecognizetheneedforbestpracticesandtransparency,”hesays.“Thesearethetoolsavailabletous.It’suptoustousethemtochangethewaythedioceseoperates.”

Change is good Thebishoptalksaboutchangerealistically.“Changeisdifficultforallofus,”hesays.“It’shardforme,andI’msureitwashardfortheparishes.”

Attheparishlevel,priests,staffandvolunteersagreethattheideaofchangewasharderthanthechangeitself.“I’mnotafraidofcomputers,”Collelasays.“Butanykindofchangecanmakeyounervous.”

WhentheSt.EdwardtheConfessorstaffsawthetoolstheywouldbeusing,however,excitementovertookthefearofchange.PaulaHart,databaseadministrator,findsherjobeveneasier.She’sverycomfortableusingacomputer,andtherestofthestaffcallsherthe“querylady.”ShesaysthenewsystemsallowSt.Edward’storeachoutinsomanydifferentways.“Communicatingwiththeparishissomucheasier.Andtheyappreciateoureffortstostayintouch,”sherecalls.“Everythingisdonewiththetouchofthefingersandtheclickofafewbuttons.”

PatHeller,DREatSt.Joseph’s,saysshewasreluctanttomakethechangetothenewsystems.“I’malittlebitolder,”shelaughs.“Iwasusedtohardcopiesofeverything.Ittookmealittlewhiletounderstandexactlyhowwonderfulitistohaveallthisinformationatmyfingertips.”

Sheexplainsthatitisnoweasierthanevertopullupalistofchildrenwhoareeligibleforsacraments,oneofhermainresponsibilities.“Before,itwaslikepullingteethtogettheinformation,”shesays.“Now,withthepushofabutton,wecanidentifywhothechildrenareandhowtogetintouchwiththem.”

MonsignorWalshsaysthechangetonewplatformsmademonumentalchangestothewaytheparishoperates.Hehadonlybeenatthe5,000-memberparishforafewmonthswhenthedioceseintroducedthefinancialproject.Goingfromamanualsystemtoacomputerizedplatformwasnotthefirstthingonhisagenda.

“Itturnedouttobeawonderful,time-saving,life-savingdecision,”hesaysemphatically.Inanurbanparishwithoutgreatresources,MonsignorWalshbelievesbeingablesharefinancialinformationwithparishionersismoreimportantthanever.Hecitesacapitalcampaigntheparishisinvolvedin.“Allthethingsweusedtohavetopayabigdeveloperfor,wecandoourselves.”

St. Edward the Confessor

Pat Heller



The fi nal analysisAsthediocesecompletesitssecondfullyearsinceimplementingthenewfinancialandchurchmanagementsystems,BishopLoricontemplatesthesuccessesoftheproject.Hecreditshispastorsfortheiroverwhelmingsupportandinvolvement.Hepraisestheworkofthediocesanteamfortheirperseverance,andhecommendsthepartnercompanieswhohavehelpedbringhisparishesandschoolstoasingle,standardizedmethodoffinancialreportingandaccountability.

“Weoweittoourpeopletosaytothem,‘YouarepartofthisChurch.LookwhatyourgenerosityhasmadepossibleinthelifeoftheChurch.’Thenwefollowthatupwithourgoodpractices,”hesays.

“Catholicscanhaveahigherdegreeofconfidencethattheirmoneyisbeingputtogooduse.Ibelievethat’swhytheyareshowingawillingnesstogivetotheChurcheveninthesetoughtimes.”

NormWalker,DeaconKoniers,andBishopLorireportthattheparishionershave,indeed,shownawillingnesstogive.Inanareahardhitbytheeconomicdownturn,lostjobs,andslowrecovery,thediocesereportedanincreaseinoffertoryofmorethantwopercentinthelastfiscalyear.That’sanamazingnumbercomparedtoConnecticutnon-profitsreportingasmuchasa15percentreductionincontributions.

Theprocessseemedsimpleenough:TheDioceseofBridgeportandRightNetworksrolledoutfinancialreportingandotherapplicationsonahostednetworkplatform.TheyfollowedwiththeParishSOFTrolloutincludingthefullcensusandsacramentaldata.InconjunctionwithParishSOFT,theparisheswerestandardizedontheOurSundayVisitorenvelopemailingprogram,allowingthemtodeliverelectronicandprintcommunicationstoparishioners.

“IpraydailythattheseeffortswillbebearinggoodfruitinthelifeoftheChurch,”BishopLorisays.“Thisfruitismanifestedinmanyways:priestlyvocations,thegenerosityofthepeople,andthegreatcooperationofourpriestsandoursuccesswiththirdpartyaudits.

“Otherdioceses,too,haveshowninterestinourprogram,”headds.“I’mhappytoshareourjourneywithothers.”

DeaconKoniers,too,ispleasedwiththeprogressattheparishes,schools,andthediocese.“Weaccomplishedwhatwesetouttodobyprovidingagoodinfrastructureandgivingourpastors,theirlayleadership,andlayemployeesthetoolstheyneedinordertocarryouttheirwork,”hesays.“Ifwecontinueonourjourney,themissionoftheChurchhasamuchgreaterchanceofsuccess.”

WalkerandDeaconKoniersmeasuretheoutcomeofthefinancialprojectfromthebusinessperspective.Withastandardizedsystemandsoftwareplatformandcommonchartofaccounts,theParishFinancialServicesteam,withtheirread-onlyaccess,canreviewparishfinancialdataatanypointintimefromanyterminal.Thison-lineabilityhelpstheParishFinanceServicesstafftoassistparishbookkeepers,accountants,andbusinessmanagersinrealtime,andprecludeshavingtodrivemanymilestoaddressbookkeepingandaccountingissuesinperson.Inaddition,

thesereportshelptopointoutopportunitiesforchangethatresultinimprovedproductivity,enhancedcommunication,anddatasecurity.

“It’sonethingtohaveaprogramonpaperandquiteanothertohaveitimplemented,”BishopLorisays.“Attheendoftheday,it’simportanttohaveaspiritoftrustandunderstandingprevalentthroughoutthediocese.Inthis‘YearforPriests,’myhopeisthat,ashardasthiswas,thepriestsrecognizetheyhavegoodinformationaboutwhattheirparisheshaveanddon’thave,andcanmakebetterdecisions.Theycangobacktotheirpeopleandsay,‘We’rerunningthisparishwell.ThisparishcannowdoevenmoretoevangelizetheGoodNewsofJesusChrist.’“

Cathedral of St. Augustine

Our Sunday Visitor serves millions of Catholics worldwide through its publishing, offertory and communication services. Established in 1912 by a local parish priest, Our Sunday Visitor has grown into the nation’s largest supplier of offering envelopes, parish and diocesan mailings, books, periodicals, curriculum, address management and stewardship services. Our Sunday Visitor is a not-for-profit organization, returning a portion of net earnings back to the Catholic community through the OSV Institute.

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Appendix

Six Key Elements for Enhancing Parish Financial Controls and Related Monitoring

1. RefineandupdatetheParish Accounting & Procedures Manual(circa2002;nowrechristenedtheParish Administration & Finance Manual)tomakeitmoreuser-friendlyandtoreflectbestpractices,includingthenecessityforeffectiveparishfinancecouncilsandparishesestablishingguidelinesforappropriatelevelsofparishexpenditures.Designanddelivertrainingasappropriateforpastors,parishfinancecouncilmembers,businessmanagers,accountants,bookkeepers,andcountteams.

2. ProvideguidancetoparishesforimprovedcontrolsoverincomethatwillgiveparishionersconfidencethattheChurchisfulfillingitsfiduciaryresponsibilitiesfortheircontributions,i.e.allcontributionsmadearedepositedintheparish’sbankandproperlyreportedintheparishfinancialstatements.

3. Designnewparishfinancialreportsandtheunderlyinggeneralledgerchartofaccountstoprovidemoreusefulreportingandmonitoringatvariouslevelsincludingthepastor,theparishfinancecouncil,parishionersandthediocese.

4. Whenparishionershaveconcernsregardingparishfinancialactivities,theyareencouragedtocommunicatedirectlywiththeirpastorsandthediocesewillpublishaprocedureforparishionerstocommunicateanyunresolvedconcernstheyhavetodiocesanFinanceServices.

5. Areviewandtestsofparishfinancialcontrolsandaccountingprocedureswillbeperformedformostparishesannually,eitherbyindependentcertifiedpublicaccountingfirmsorDiocesanParishFinanceServicesdependingonthesizeoftheparish.AttheconclusionoftherevieworatameetingoftheParishCorporation,theresultsofthereviewandrelatedrecommendationsforimprovementsintheparish’sfinancialcontrolsandaccountingprocedureswillbediscussedbyrepresentativesoftheindependentcertifiedpublicaccountingfirmsordiocesanParishFinanceServices,asapplicable,withthepastor,parishfinancecouncilandthelayparishtrusteestogetherwithrepresentativesoftheBishop’sOfficeanddiocesanFinanceServices.

6. Tohelppastorsassessthecapabilitiesoftheindividual(s)maintainingtheparishfinancialrecordsandtoprovideadditionaltrainingormakechangeswhererequired.Notethattheassessmentwillincludeinformationfrom5.above.Changesmayincludepoolingofresourceswherepossiblebasedonlevelofactivityattheparishesandlogisticalconsiderations.

For more information, review the Parish Administration & Finance Manual online: http://www.bridgeportdiocese.com/PAFM.shtml

Diocese of Bridgeport Service Partners

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The Diocese of Bridgeport Uses Best Practices, Century ... · Case Study: The Diocese of Bridgeport Uses Best Practices, 21st Century Technology to Further Good Stewardship In the