I am pleased to have the opportunity to comment on the financial activities of the Chancery Office of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2009 and 2008 and more importantly, to share the actual financial activiities that are supported by you, the people of Southwest Kansas.  Accountability and transparency in fiscal matters is important to the Diocese as the Catholic Church has been rocked by occurrences of financial mismanagement.  It is for that reason that this financial information is being shared - both the summarized financial statements as well as the approved budget for this fiscal year.  These reports are intended to provide that accountability, that transparency, and the assurance that we are serious about carefully stewarding the temporal assets of the diocese.  This year marks the 7th year that we have shared the financial results in the diocesan newspaper.  The diocese also provides this audited financial report to the Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas as required by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

To see the summarized audited financial  statements for June 30, 2009 and 2008, click here:

To see the approved budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, click here:

Regarding the financial activities, you will note that the past two years have been extremely difficult in terms of the investment performance which has translated into a negative change in net assets (net loss).  Each of the past two years' budgets have been adjusted downward as we have seen the economic outlook diminish, last year with a 10% mid year reduction in expenses and this year with an additional reduction in the overall budgeted expenditures.  The Diocesan Finance Council continues to work with Bishop Gilmore and the diocesan staff to develop a budget that is balanced.

Total expenses for the year rose over the same time period from a year ago, chiefly due to the expenditure of monies in support of the Greensburg tornado relief.  There is also an extraordinary item on this year's audited financial statements to record the reclassification of the Cathedral church property on the books of the diocese.

The Diocese continues to budget for and pay down debt on the Cathedral loan which was refinanced in May, 2009 with a local bank.  Contributions toward this debt retirement are still being accepted and will assist in paying off the diocese loan.  Under the arrangement witht he Cathedral parish, the diocese is responsible for the loan while the parish is responsible for the maintenance, insurance and upkeep of the Church.

The notes to the audited financial statements have not been included in these reports, but are an integral part of the financial statements.  If you would like to discuss the budget or audited financial statements in more detail, please contact Mr. Stremel at 620-227-1517 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Diocesan Finance Council met on October 23, 2009 to review the audited financial statements of the Chancery Office - Catholic Diocese of Dodge City for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.  Robert Neidhart, CPA, a partner in the accounting firm of Kennedy, McKee & Company, LLP, Certified Public Accountants, reviewed the financial statments with finance council members and noted that the report indicates a clean opinion - that is, that the financial statements are presently fairly, in all material respects for the year ended June 30, 2009.

A summary of the audited financial statements can be found in the finance section.  The financial information is presented in summary form only and the opinion letter as well as the notes to the financial statements are an integral part of the audited financial statements.  If the summarized information evokes an interest in more detailed information, a call to the finance office is welcome and appropriate.  Please contact Mr. Daniel M. Stremel, CPA, Finance Director at 620-227-1517 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

The Diocesan Finance Council meets quarterly and the members include Bishop Ronald M. Gilmrore; Fr. John J. Maes, retired; Fr. John R. Strasser, Kinsley; Mr. Stephen Rice, CPA, Liberal; Mr. Richard Gleason, Spearville; Sr. Judith Lindell, OP, Great Bend; Mr. Eugene Heiman, Garden City; Mrs. Clarine Heiman, Garden City; Mrs. Matilda Scheurer, Liberal, Mr. John Alig, Ulysses; Mr. John M. Ackerman, Ex-officio; and Mr. Daniel M. Stremel, CPA, Ex-oficio.

Daniel Stremel, CPA,CFO for the Diocese of Dodge City, recently attended the 40th annual Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference held in Chicago on September 27-30, 2009.   During the meeting, Stremel was recognized for his service to the conference as he ended a three year term on the Executive Committee, this past year as president of the conference.  He will continue to serve on the Board of Directors through 2011. This conference also marks the 19th DFMC gathering he has attended since coming to the diocese in 1988.

Sessions this year focused on non-profit issues, internal audits and review, temporal goods, organizational leadership, lessons learned from the financial crisis, surviving the difficult economy, and accounting and financial governance issues.  Additionally, participants listened to sessions on topics including planning and leadership, collaboration, deveoping sustainable ministry, and spirituality of the fiscal officer. 

There were 280 conferees representing dioceses throughout the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.  The Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference held its first conference in Denver in 1970 and exists to promote the spiritual growth of its members, encourage the development of professional relationships among members, facilitate the free exchange of ideas and information, and provide fiscal and administrative expertise and professional services to the local and national Church.  The DFMC is recognized by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor for their ability to meet nationally accepted standards for continuing professional education.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recognizes and endorses the conference and Bishop Donald Trautman, Diocese of Erie, serves as the Episcopal Moderator.