The Archdiocesan Board of Development plans to survey churches to determine the number of parishioners, the amount of money at each church’s disposal and obtain comments from the pastors.

“We should be able to predict where future parishes should go,” Andrew McColgan, chairman, said at the first meeting of the board Friday night.

He said that in the past the archdiocese has gotten a lot of advice in an off-hand manner,” but there’s been a lack of someone willing to help make a decision.”

The functions of the board include determining the nature and extent of the physical growth of the archdiocese; providing proper planning, utilization and acquisition to meet needs; maintaining current inventory of each parish regarding presently held lands; relating the needs of each parish or mission to land, present land needs and utilization and future needs and utilization, obtaining and maintaining vital statistics on each parish and mission to enable the board to make well-founded judgments regarding land and building utilization.

McColgan told the board that in 1962 or 1963 he appraised the property of the archdiocese. “I found that the acquisition and development presented a haphazard setup, and I feel we have a jot to perform in its future development.”

The chairman said the board would collect maps, information and statistics so that other boards may be able to use the information when needed. “All matters which come before the board are recommended to be settled on a popular vote basis,” McCoglan said. “Provisions for written dissenting opinions from the majority opinion should be made in instances which may assume critical importance.”

The Board of Communications, meting Tuesday night for the first time, agreed to suggest to the Board of Education that news stories in the Bulletin be used once a month in CCD classes.

The board also discussed if the newspaper was reaching members, especially youth; those of other Christian churches; Jews and other non-Christians; and the leaders of government, industry, commerce, labor and education in the community.

Paul Shields, chairman, led a discussion on the future establishment of the office of public information to serve the newspapers, radio and television stations.