The Office of Temporal Affairs in a Roman Catholic diocese is the administrative department responsible for managing the financial assets, physical properties, and material goods owned by the Church. In Catholic theology and Canon Law, “temporal goods” refer to non-spiritual, worldly assets required to sustain the Church’s operations, personnel, and charitable missions.
The Office of Temporal Affairs is led by the Director of Finance, Property, and Administration, who acts on behalf of the Bishop.
Core Responsibilities
The operations of this office are divided into five primary administrative areas:
- Financial Management: Managing diocesan banking, active investment portfolios, central accounting, and annual budget compliance.
- Property & Real Estate: Overseeing the acquisition, sale, construction, and daily maintenance of diocesan buildings, including cathedrals, parishes, missions, and the Diocesan Pastoral Centre.
- Human Resources & Benefits: Administering payroll, health insurance benefits for priests, pension funds for retired clergy, and retirement savings programs for lay employees.
- Legal Affairs & Risk: Managing insurance programs, liability coverage, and legal litigation involving the diocese or its properties.
- Parish Oversight: Reviewing and auditing the annual financial statements and property conditions of individual parishes.
OFFICE OF TEMPORAL AFFAIRS STAFF
- Deb McRae, Director of Finance, Property, and Administration
- Michele Graham, Senior Financial Assistant
- Karen Grubb, Financial Clerk
- Joanne McCloskey – Receptionist/Temporal Affairs Administrative Assistant