Finance Council

Canon 492 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law requires the bishop to establish a diocesan finance council and to appoint a minimum of three members to the council who are knowledgeable in financial and business matters. The Code provides for a structure which is charged with providing the bishop with technical guidance and advice on the prudent handling of fiscal matters. The two main groups of tasks on which the diocesan finance council provides advice and counsel to the bishop deal with ordinary administration (i.e., development of the annual budget, and the regular review of and compliance with it) and with extraordinary administration (i.e., major one-time financial transactions, such as construction projects, purchase or sale of property).

In the Diocese of Manchester, the diocesan Finance Council consists of members with varying and diverse expertise in financial, legal and real estate matters. The Council meets at least four regularly scheduled times during the year. In addition, each member sits on one of four standing committees (Budget, Investment, Real Estate, and Fundraising) which also hold regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year and report back on their activities to the entire Council. The bishop may request that the Council meet in special session or by teleconference to review and provide advice on matters of ordinary or extraordinary administration. The current members, their parish affiliation, and their committee assignment can be found below.

Diocesan Finance Council Members

Anthony Annino, term ends January 2027

Carol J. Barrett, CPA, FHMA, term ends January 2026

Frederick G. Briggs, Jr., CPA, term ends January 2027

Andrew P. Cernota, Esq., term ends September 2026

Carl Dubois, term ends December 2026

Rev. John Fleming, term ends August 2027

Bob Gossett, term ends December 2026

Eva L. Martel, chair, term ends June 2026
Parish of the Transfiguration

Staff

Most Rev. Peter A. Libasci, D.D.
Bishop of Manchester

Very Rev. Michael E. Gendron
Vicar for Finance

Sean Hoeing
Chief Operating Officer

Christine Bogacz
Director of Parish and School Financial Services

Lisa Melanson
Controller

Laura Cramer
Executive Assistant

Diocesan Real Estate and Capital Projects Committee (DRECPC)

The DRECPC is a sub-committee of the Diocesan Finance Council. The committee serves to advise the director of real estate and construction and the finance officer on all major construction and property management projects whose costs are $150,000 and higher (an amount which may be adjusted at the discretion of the bishop from time to time), involving the diocesan central administration, parishes, schools, and institutions of the diocese. Such advice shall include the feasibility of the project both from a construction and management perspective and also from a financial feasibility perspective. The DRECPC meets monthly to review projects.

DRECPC Members

Carl Dubois, chair

Jack Doherty

Very Rev. Marc R. Gagne

Don Gingras

Marc Jobin, consultant

Dave Kiser

John Turner

Staff

Very Rev. Michael E. Gendron
Vicar for Finance

Christine Bogacz
Director of Parish and School Financial Services

Robert Eib, Director of Real Estate

Investment and Loan Committee

The Investment and Loan Committee is a sub-committee of the Diocesan Finance Council (DFC). The Committee assists with the development of a diocesan policy of investment objectives and guidelines which are consistent with the guidance published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Committee advises the bishop on the selection of an investment advisory firm and meets at least quarterly with representatives of the investment advisory firm to review and evaluate the performance of investments entrusted to the Diocese and the Diocese of Manchester Central Fund Trust.

Investment and Loan Committee Members

Anthony Annino, CFA

Eva Martel
Parish of the Transfiguration

Doug McGinley

Staff

Very Rev. Michael E. Gendron
Vicar for Finance

Lisa Melanson
Controller

Budget and Audit Committee

The Budget and Audit Committee is a sub-committee of the Diocesan Finance Council (DFC). It serves to advise in the preparation of the annual budget and presents the annual budget to the DFC for its recommendation. The budget is then submitted to the bishop for his approval in accordance with Church law. The Committee also serves to report to the DFC on the activities of the Internal Audit Department and the external audit of the financial statements of the Diocese of Manchester and the Diocese of Manchester Central Fund Trust.

Carol Barrett, CPA, FHMA, chair

Frederick G. Briggs, Jr., CPA

Eva L. Martel

Staff

Very Rev. Michael E. Gendron
Vicar for Finance

Lisa Melanson
Controller

Randy Manchester
Internal Audit Director