Bishop McManus appoints next finance officer for the diocese

Bishop McManus has appointed Paul G. Schasel of North Attleboro to be the next director of fiscal affairs for the Diocese of Worcester. He will assume the responsibilities as finance officer on Dec. 30. The current director, Carol Adams, is retiring at the end of December and will work with Mr. Schasel during the transition period.
The appointment was confirmed with the Diocesan Board of Consultors and the Diocesan Finance Committee in keeping with Canon Law which requires a diocese to have “a finance officer who is truly expert in financial affairs and absolutely distinguished for honesty.”
“Paul Schasel has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector and he will be an asset to our diocesan administration as we continue to determine how we can strengthen our parishes and ministries in carrying out our mission to evangelize,” Bishop McManus said. “I also want to take this opportunity to thank Carol Adams for 28 years of service to our diocese and the leadership she has provided through challenging financial times. She has been a valuable member of our management team and we will miss her insight and expertise.”
“I am excited about the opportunity to serve the diocese and look forward to working closely with Bishop McManus, the Chancery staff and the parish pastors,” Mr. Schasel said.
Mr. Schasel worked for Partners HealthCare, a Boston-based non-profit health system from 1991 to 2015 and held various positions including project coordinator, corporate director of treasury and investment operations, executive director of their Massachusetts Biomedical Research Corp., and other positions overseeing investments and accounting. Most recently he was the controller for Advanced Dental Management of Canton.
He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y. He is also a licensed certified public accountant in Massachusetts.
The director of fiscal affairs oversees all financial and related functions including budgeting, accounting, investments, risk management, contracted benefits, and information systems, according to the job description. The person also oversees payroll, employee benefits, and cemetery operations. The position serves to encourage, promote, support and strengthen the goals and objectives of the Diocese of Worcester. The director is expected to exercise independent judgment and initiative in the day-to-day functions and to work cooperatively with Chancery staff, department heads and pastors.
Mrs. Adams began with the Office of Fiscal Affairs in 1989 and was the manager of accounting until being appointed director of fiscal affairs in 2014 following a term as co-director of the Office of Fiscal Affairs. She was a critical team member in many of the financial initiatives in the diocese including Forward in Faith, Sharing our Blessings, the annual Partners in Charity appeal and Celebrate Priesthood, to name a few.
Mr. Schasel resides in North Attleboro with his wife, Marisa. They are members of St. Mary Parish in Attleboro Falls. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 330 in North Attleboro, at which he serves as treasurer for the council and treasurer for the council’s building corporation.
The process was overseen by a search committee appointed by Bishop McManus. It included Father Richard Reidy, Martin Connors Jr. and William Jones from the Diocesan Expansion Fund, Robert Donahue, CPA from the Diocesan Finance Committee, and Fathers Jose A. Rodriguez and Charles Monroe, local pastors. Catholic Recruiter Associates of Ridgefield, Conn., assisted with the search process.