There are immense financial challenges the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan is facing this year. But with the help of the time, talent and treasure of its people, the archdiocese is going to face these challenges head on.

In this new series “Facing Financial Realities”, we plan to offer an open and transparent look at the archdiocese’s finances. Through articles, infographics and videos, the series will detail our present financial situation, how the finances of our archdiocese and our parishes operate, and explore the work being done to address each challenge ahead.

It is said that one must first understand a problem before finding a proper solution. By transparently and effectively explaining the financial realities of our archdiocese and our parishes, we hope you will be better informed and better prepared as we work to make our archdiocese more financially sustainable and self-sufficient.

Msgr. Charles Lavoie introduces a new series offering an open and transparent look at the archdiocese’s finances

In a series of write-ups for the Northern Light magazine and postings on the archdiocese’s website and other platforms, we are responding to a request for openness and transparency that was asked for during the annual meeting of parish leaders and clergy with the administration of the archdiocese April 26 in Peace River. The first meeting of this kind was introduced in the Spring of 2009 and has been held annually since.

As a result, Paulette Carrier, Archdiocesan Finance Council Chairman Roger Loberg, Kyle Greenham and Monsignor Charles Lavoie met to discuss and come up with a plan of action to best relay financial information in a comprehensive and transparent way. Questions were developed and further grouped into categories of interest. We have determined a possibility of seven or more articles in this series. As a leading article, we will review what was presented at the April 26th meeting; the 2024 End of Year Financial Report, a Review of the Draft Budget for 2025 as information, a report on Investments, and other points of interest.

Having heard the presentation and the concerns of the people gathered, we are also aware of our parishes concerns and fears, and the need for a constant flow of information on the overall well-being of our local Church was sounded.

In this series of articles, videos, interviews and such, the Finance Department and the Chancery Staff is hoping to provide as much clear and concise information as possible. We also want to help our parishes in areas of administration and finance, and in the delivery of pastoral needs.

As a First Article, we hope to present a comprehensive report on the financial situation of the archdiocese, where some of the increase of expenses occurred and expenses that are out of our control, such as insurance and utilities. We will present how, in the last couple of years, it has become harder and harder to balance a reasonable and sustainable budget. We will need to present a history of our financial holdings. Finally, we will look at the grim 2024 financial report of the archdiocese and highlight some of the struggle we faced.

In Article Two, our intention is to present the challenges we face as the archdiocese, and also name some of the challenges our individual churches also experience. We will explore what it means to be a ‘Healthy Parish’.

In Article Three, we will describe how the archdiocese teamed up with Montrusco Bolton and UMC to invest and manage diocesan funds and how this relationship has developed. We will share the cooperation of our parishes in this investment portfolio and what gains were made and fears generated along the way. We will also describe the operations of the Cash Management Fund through UMC.

In a Fourth Article, we will relate our past and present relationship with Catholic Missions in Canada and how they have contributed greatly to our needs in the past, but also on how we will move forward with that relationship in the future.

The Fifth Article, we hope to present the history of our partnership with Western Dioceses in the insuring of our properties and why it is important to have these particular groups for our liability protection.

Article Six will look at possible remedies and solutions to improve and meet our financial needs. Do we have the answers? They don’t seem to come readily! We need to clearly identify our needs; our purpose is to Evangelize, proclaim the Good News, help the poor, spread the faith. We all agree that this is an immediate and pressing need for the local and universal Church. How do we fulfill this Mission?

Article Seven will present our ongoing need to minister to our Indigenous Brothers and Sisters and to the commitment and need for healing and reconciliation. We will describe the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund adopted by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2021. We are committed to raise $165,000 over a five-year period. This money will be attributed to special programs towards healing and reconciliation. We hope to present a clear understanding of this process.

If needed, more Articles will be presented. If you would have any question or comment on future articles or on the ones that are produced, please do not hesitate to do so. We hope that this information will enhance a spirit of unity and of collaboration.

Introductory article prepared by Monsignor Charles Lavoie PH, Vicar General and Chancellor

June 11, 2025