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Community Finance Advisory Meeting

Jun 2, 2026 | Parish Council, Pillar Notes

WHEAT Family

Community Finance Advisory Meeting

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Minutes

Attendees:  Fr. Bernie Nowak, WHEAT Family Pastor; Fr. Rob Canterin, Family Parochial Vicar; Dawn Cahill, Family Business Manager; Kris Di Scipio (Annunciation); Robert Hasselbeck (IC); Dave Squire, Chair, St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Parish Finance Committee; D. M. Schmidt (Annunciation Parish); Dan Mikolaczyk, SVdP Business Manager; Theresa Woodward, Business Manager, (IC}; Dan Sapierski, Trustee, SVdP; Jim Camarre, Anctn; Dorothy Austin, Trustee (AP); Michael Skrip, Trustee (AP); Tama Gresco-Sauers, Trustee, SVdP; Taylor Gavigan, (Anctn); Timothy Lafferty (IC);  Ed Bukowski, SVdP, Recording Secretary.

  1. Call to Order at 6:38 PM.

Fr. Rob led an opening prayer.

  1. Reports:
  2. Financial Reports – March– Annunciation J. Camarre:  An unexpected $100,000 bequest is keeping us above expenses. We’re to plan.

SVdP -D. Mikolaczyk: Collections are up over 8% year over year.  We received no government grants in FY26 versus FY25.  “We’re battling roof leaks … Utilities are up, e.g. natural gas. … Overall, our bottom line is up because of labor costs. …  Our Diocesan assessments decreased. …  Bottom line: Operating costs are up about $16,000.”  Fr. Bernie: “I want to know why labor costs are up.”  D. Mikolaczyk:  D. Cahill, Family Business Manager, is now on our payroll.  Also, clergy expenses, staff and health insurance are up about $28,000. “There have been no raises.”  The added 8:00 AM Mass increased clergy expenses.

IC – R. Hasselbeck: “We’re ‘in the red’ by $260,000 because of the  subsidy to the school”. 

  1. Standing Committees –  Buildings & Grounds: D. Cahill- We now have three vendors for parking lot paving.
  1. Pastor’s Report: Fr. Bernie.: Diocesan Bankruptcy Settlement: The  Industrial Revolution of the late 19th century put dollars above the human condition.  This situation has persisted to the present era. “Grooming” can take years.  On Tuesday, 26st of May, ALL Parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo will declare bankruptcy “for 72 hours”, for a $150,000,000 settlement agreed to by the claimants.  The insurance companies are contributing. This action settles all existing claims, but no new claims.  There will be a ZOOM session will all Pastors and Parish Trustees at 8:15 AM on May 26th.  Each Parish, including those closed, MUST PAY $6,000. The settlement process is similar to that of the Diocese of Rockville Center.  The creditors and victims are “enthusiastic”.  Each Buffalo Diocese Parish is a separate corporation.  Any Parish not agreeing to the settlement process “is on their own” and subject to claimant’s suits.  The creditors and claimants having agreed to terms means they waive their right to pursue further claims. The Diocese’s law firm is charging less than its usual hourly fees.
    1. Fr. Bernie.: “A new corporation (for the WHEAT Family) makes no sense; a new administration makes sense. … I’ve created 3 Liturgy Pillars” to handle the large workload for 3 Parishes. It’s  “… a hybrid model …”  One In Reach/Out Reach Pillar cannot handle the workload.  The “Pillars are very good. … Hallow is very good. … Annunciation has been chosen for the Diocesan Healing Team for victims.
  1. Old Business –
  2. Interest Accounts: IC funds are with Merrill Lynch; SVdP met representatives of the Legends Fund.  Fr. Bernie: Bishop Mike is every Parish corporation president; Fr. Karalus, Vicar–General, is vice-president; the Pastor and Trustees of each Parish must sign off on the settlement.
  1. Other:  D. Squire:  “How is the St Joseph’s Fund affected by the bankruptcy?”  Fr. Bernie: St Joseph Funds are protected.
  1. New Business: 
  1.  Computers – Next year – budget item?  D. Cahill /D. Mikolaczyk: Perhaps we could update one Parish per year.  Other requirements?
  2. Religious Education Directors – “Melissa” resigned.  We would like to hire within the Family.  Fr. Bernie: It’s “not a full time job; some Parishes have a Pastoral Minister”.  D. Cahill: Should DRE’s be a Family expense because they all work together?
  3. Update on Schools – Diocese – Fr. Bernie: There are no changes for the 26/27 school year.  We need a hybrid system. “It is a WHEAT Family School, named Immaculate Conception…. Health care is the big issue. … IC needs to get to 180 (enrollment) soon (to eliminate the need for a subsidy). … There is no leeway; the guideline is $200,000. …”
  4. Draft Budgets D. Cahill: We should review the first draft budget during the July Finance meeting, the 29th.  In November, we should review the Diocesan response. 
  1. Adjournment: 7:50 PM.   Next meeting – 6:30, July 29th, 2026.