This key group of parishioners was founded more than 30 years ago to encourage lay involvement in the life of the parish. Open to registered members of the parish 18 years and over, the Council develops and implements creative programs relating to the Management and continued growth of the Church of St. Thomas More. Candidates for election are proposed each spring by the nominating committee of the Council, with photos and brief biographies posted on the church bulletin board several weeks prior to the election.

The Council meets monthly from September to June, meeting dates and times are published in the weekly bulletin.  Parishioners and volunteers are encouraged to attend Council meetings and to work with the Council through its committees and special activities

The Parish Council, the highest level of Catholic organized laity, continues to grow as an important ministry in serving the needs of our fellow parishioners and the spiritual community.

Parish Council Committees

Administration - Provide assistance to the Pastor in matters of Parish property, financial operations, fundraising, preservation, renovation and maintenance of Parish property.

Communications & Education - Responsible for the dissemination of information via brochures, new parishioners welcoming programs, lectures, discussions, presentations and movies. For more information click on Lecture Series

Community Life - Reaching out to the community at large, and to the religious, social, civic and welfare organizations in the area to offer temporal and spiritual aid.

Monthly food drives for the Yorkville Common Party; Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner food collection for families at the Yorkville Common Pantry; the annual Christmas toy collection and Easter Basket Drive for needy children; the annual clothing drive for family shelters.

Participation in the Yorkville Area Catholic Council and the Yorkville Christian-Jewish Council with at least four events open to the public each year.  The Committee also works with Interfaith Neighbors, the 19th Precinct, the New York City Police department, and other institutions which serve New York.

Liturgical and Spiritual - Helps the Pastor with the children's activities at mass; recruits and trains altar servers and lectors; plans adult education activities.  The committee also serves as liaison with the Director of Music and is responsible for the coffee hour after the 10:00 am mass on Sundays.

Respect Life - Dedicated to preserving the dignity and quality of life of our community--the elderly and frail, the family, the unborn, and those in need living alone.

Social Activities - Responsible for the Christmas party, including Santa Claus distributing gifts to children, pot luck dinners, and other special occasions in support of events planned by other Council committees.

Parish Council Members 2006-2007

Laura Ross, President
John Morriss, Vice-President
Heather Crimmins, Secretary
Rosario Baldwin
Anne Binstock
Virginia Colalucci
Stephen Cooke
Elin Lake Ewald
Michael Gormley
Walter F. Higgins
Louisa Martin
Kate McDonald
Brandon Phay
Robin Poulos
Nilsa Santiago
Kathleen Suspanic
Daniel Usandivaras
Louis Zimbaro