Trustees are fiduciaries of the Parish corporation responsible for voting on corporate resolutions regarding all Parish business. As a fiduciary, a Trustee owes the Parish corporation certain legal duties, such as
- Duty of Care, which is a responsibility that requires Trustees to make decisions in good faith and in a reasonably prudent manner;
- Duty of Loyalty, which is a Trustee’s responsibility to act at all times in the best interests of the Parish; and
- Fiduciary Duty, which means a duty of utmost good faith, trust, confidence, and candor owed by a fiduciary…to the beneficiary…; a duty to act with the highest degree of honesty and loyalty toward another person and in the best interests of the other person (Black’s Law Dictionary).
The pastor or parochial administrator should consult with the Trustees on all important parish matters and the Trustees should be prepared to work with the pastor or parochial administrator in making decisions in these matters.
Tools & Templates
- Appointment Template for One New Trustee
- Appointment Template for Two New Trustees
- Re-appointment Template for One Existing Trustee
- Re-appointment Template for Two Existing Trustees
- Bio Template for Proposed Parish Trustee
Related Archdiocesan Policy
Regional Trustee Meeting (Biennial)
- Next Meeting May 2027
Reference Information
- Parish Trustee Manual
- Presentation Slides – 2025 Regional Trustee Meeting
Training Materials
- Canon Law for the Parish Trustee, Presented by Susan Mulheron, JCD, Chancellor for Canonical Affairs
- The Operation of the Parish Civil Corporation, Presented by Joseph Kueppers, Chancellor for Civil Affairs
- Office of Ministerial Standards & Safe Environment: Trustee Presentation, Presented by Paul Iovino, Director of the Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment
- Financial Policies and Programs, Presented by Tom Mertens, Chief Financial Officer
- Lord, Renew Your Church Campaign, Presented by Jean Houghton, Director of Mission Advancement
- Question & Answer from Trustee Meeting
