Commissions / Councils

Holy Cross Organizational Chart

Evangelization/Communication Commission

The commission disseminates information to help the parishioners share the Good News among members of the parish family and also with people of other faiths and with Catholics who no longer participate in church life. It publicizes parish events and collections benefitting foreign and domestic missions. The commission develops close communication with parish commissions and organizations to facilitate communication and participation. It works with the other ministries of the parish to discover special problems and factors accounting for the Catholics leaving the parish, for lack of interest of the unchurched, and for lack of response from minorities. It furnishes communication material to local and diocesan media. With the Stewardship Committee, it plans, coordinated, and distributes an annual parish calendar of activities. It develops and maintains the parish website. It must prepare, carry out, and evaluate a yearly action plan based on the long range goals set by the parish pastoral council (in conjunction with all the commissions) as part of the parish pastoral plan. It is responsible to prepare and propose to the parish pastoral council an annual budget for those supplies, equipment, and expenses necessary to carry out that plan.

Communities Ministries & Ecumenism Commission

This commission is to promote outreach programs with emphasis on social services, pro-life, social justice and community ministries, co-operating with other churches and civic organizations in projects aimed at community improvement.
It is to take such steps as are necessary to increase awareness within the parish of the extent of poverty in the local community, of the resources available to meet the needs of the poor, and of the spiritual responsibility of all to address those needs.
It is to identify and analyze the major social problems in the parish as well as in the larger civic community. It maintains working contact with resource people and pertinent agencies for problems such as drugs, delinquency, alcoholism, and abuse of family members.
It promotes suitable projects in the areas of economics, politics, and international life.
It must prepare, carry out, and evaluate a yearly action plan based on the long range goals set by the parish pastoral council (in conjunction with all the commissions) as part of the parish pastoral plan.
It is responsible to prepare and propose to the parish pastoral council an annual budget for those supplies, equipment, and expenses necessary to carry out that plan.

Education and Formation Commission

All Christians – all those who have been reborn in water and the Holy Spirit and are in fact children of God – have the right to a Christian education.
The Education Commission of Holy Cross Catholic Church, in accordance with the Diocese of Charlotte, is committed to providing total faith formation which encourages the physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual development of our faith community, fosters a sense of belonging within that community, and deepens our understanding and relationship with Jesus Christ.
The religious education programs are established, financed, staffed and evaluated according to the needs of the parish community, and all programs must meet the needs of everyone in the parish: whether young or old; whether disadvantaged or privileged.

Liturgy and Worship Commission

This commission is concerned with the liturgical functions that serve as the primary demonstrative expressions

of faith and worship, viz., the sacraments, as well as programs explicitly involving spiritual growth and

development. Thus, this commission is concerned with discerning, training, developing, scheduling and the renewal of laity in their participation in liturgical celebrations, especially the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, servers, ushers, cantors, greeters and those involved in all areas of musical planning and participation.

The commission members must form themselves into a praying, learning, community of faith, educating and

renewing themselves through prayer, study, and attendance at appropriate workshops, seminars, and similar

learning opportunities. The members must be knowledgeable of diocesan directives and resources, using each in

the most effective and economical manner.

This commission assists the pastor with the liturgical and sacramental needs of the parish community, including

those of shut-ins, care-givers, the ill, nursing home residents and all others in unusual situations or needing

assistance.

It is to plan and assist in the coordination of all liturgical, para-liturgical or special celebrations and events; it must also work cooperatively with other commissions and parish organizations.

It must prepare, carry out, and evaluate a yearly action plan based on the long range goals set by the parish pastoral council (in conjunction with all the commissions) as part of the parish pastoral plan.

It is responsible to prepare and propose to the parish pastoral council an annual budget for liturgically related

supplies, equipment and expenses. This budget must be based on goals resulting from the parish pastoral plan.

Building & Facilities Commission

This commission inspects and inventories all parish properties, equipment, furnishings and facilities; it reviews

and recommends needed additions, repairs, replacements and servicing, to be actuated, if needed, under a schedule to be submitted with the recommendation for the work.

It discerns the use of parish talent where safety and performance do not require the use of professional services.

It prepares and recommends policies or guidelines to the parish pastoral council for the use of parish facilities,

including security, utilities, services, and personnel. It is responsible to publish the approved guidelines.

It prepares and recommends, in coordination with the other commissions, facility plans and improvements.

It reviews parish insurance needs and makes suggestions with special reference to diocesan policies.

It must prepare, carry out, and evaluate a yearly action plan based on the long range goals set by the parish pastoral council (in conjunction with all the commissions) as part of the parish pastoral plan.

It is responsible to prepare and propose to the parish pastoral council an annual budget for those supplies,

equipment, and expenses necessary to carry out that plan.

Finance Council

The Finance Council is a consultive body of at least three lay persons established to advise the pastor in matters pertaining to the financial affairs of the parish. The Finance Council is responsible for matters pertaining to finances including the annual budget and the development of financial resources needed to implement the pastoral plan. The council meets at least four times a year.