Serving with responsibility, care and transparency

Parish Governance

St Mary’s and St Wilfrid’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Leeds, is a parish of the Catholic Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain. Our parish is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and follows the faith, traditions, liturgy and canon law of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

Our Church Leadership The parish operates under the spiritual and canonical authority of: * The Holy Father, head of the Catholic Church * The Major Archbishop, head and father of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church * The Eparchial Bishop, responsible for the Catholic Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain * The Parish Priest, appointed to lead the parish and care for its spiritual, pastoral and administrative life The Parish Priest The Parish Priest is responsible for the overall leadership of the parish. His responsibilities include: * Celebrating the Holy Qurbana and the Sacraments * Providing spiritual and pastoral care * Teaching and protecting the Catholic faith * Coordinating parish ministries and activities * Ensuring compliance with Eparchial and Church requirements * Overseeing safeguarding, finance, property and administration * Supporting parishioners and promoting unity within the community Parish Pastoral Council The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body that assists the Parish Priest in understanding and responding to the pastoral needs of the parish. Its responsibilities may include: * Supporting the parish’s pastoral mission and development * Encouraging participation in worship, faith formation and parish life * Representing the views and needs of parishioners * Supporting catechism, youth, family and community ministries * Helping to plan parish programmes, celebrations and charitable activities * Promoting communication, cooperation and unity The council advises and supports the Parish Priest. It does not replace his canonical authority or the authority of the Eparchial Bishop. Finance and Administration The parish’s finance team or finance council assists with responsible financial management and accountability. Its responsibilities include: * Preparing and monitoring parish budgets * Reviewing income, expenditure and financial commitments * Maintaining accurate financial records * Supporting transparent reporting * Protecting parish property and other assets * Ensuring that donations are used for their intended purpose * Following Eparchial, charity, legal and financial requirements Appropriate controls should be maintained for counting collections, authorising expenditure, operating bank accounts and retaining financial records. Ministries and Parish Groups Catechism, youth ministry, family units, choir, altar servers, prayer groups, charitable activities and other parish organisations operate under the authority of the Parish Priest and in accordance with Eparchial policies. Each ministry should have: * Clearly identified leadership * Defined responsibilities * Appropriate financial accountability * Safe working practices * Safeguarding arrangements where children or vulnerable adults are involved * Regular communication with the Parish Priest and Parish Pastoral Council Decision-Making Parish decisions should be made through prayerful consultation, open communication and responsible stewardship. All decisions must: * Support the mission and teachings of the Catholic Church * Respect the authority of the Eparchial Bishop and Parish Priest * Follow applicable canon law, civil law and Eparchial policies * Protect the welfare, dignity and personal information of parishioners * Avoid conflicts of interest * Use parish resources responsibly and transparently Where appropriate, significant matters involving property, major expenditure, contracts, employment or legal obligations must receive Eparchial or trustee approval before proceeding. Accountability and Conduct Clergy, council members, ministry leaders, staff and volunteers are expected to: * Act honestly, respectfully and in the best interests of the parish * Maintain appropriate confidentiality * Declare any personal or financial conflict of interest * Avoid using their position for personal advantage * Treat everyone fairly and without discrimination * Follow safeguarding, health and safety, data-protection and financial procedures * Raise serious concerns through the appropriate parish or Eparchial channels Our Commitment We are committed to prayerful leadership, shared responsibility, good stewardship and transparent administration. Working together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we seek to build a parish in which everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to participate in the life and mission of the Church.