Priest Personnel Manual Description for Dean

A. Dean (Vicar Forane)

Deans, also known as Vicars Forane, (cf. can. 553-555), who report directly to the Diocesan Bishop and Vicar General, help to foster greater fraternity among clergy and oversee regional planning efforts. In their respective Deaneries, they will provide fraternal and spiritual support for the priests, especially the newly ordained, newly- appointed pastors and those who are ill, elderly or experiencing difficulties.

1. Term of Office

a. The Dean is appointed for the term of three (3) years. This term may be renewed only once at the discretion of the bishop. b. The Dean must reside within the territory of his own Deanery. If a Dean is moved to another assignment outside of his Deanery, he loses his office as a Dean. c. Any executive powers granted to Deans apply only to the faithful and clergy residing within his Deanery, unless stated otherwise. d. For a just cause, the Bishop may remove a priest from the office of Dean and assign another to finish the term. e. There is no personal financial compensation for exercising the office. However, the Diocese will provide a discretionary budget to each Dean to cover food expenses and related costs for deanery meetings.

2. Appointment of a Dean

a. Eligibility i. Those who qualify to serve as a Dean are the pastors who serve within a given Deanery, as well as senior active priests and retired priests who live within the deanery. ii. Any eligible priest can be nominated and voted upon to serve as Dean. iii. Those eligible to vote are all diocesan priests of good standing and non- diocesan priests in good standing who reside and/or serve within each Deanery. iv. Priests can nominate themselves or other qualified priests.

b. Selection Process i. All voting, which is consultative in nature, will be done with the appropriate ballot being sent by the Office of the Vicar General. ii. The tabulation of voting will be compiled and sent to the Bishop for his consideration. iii. After reviewing the ballot tabulation, the Bishop can appoint one of those recommended to the office.

Priest Personnel Manual Description for Dean

3. Responsibilities to the Diocese

a. The Dean is assigned as an ex officio member of the Presbyteral Council and the Council of Deans. He is expected to attend all the meetings of both Councils, which will be scheduled on a regular basis throughout the year. b. As close collaborators with the Bishop and Vicar General, Deans will be called occasionally to advise the Bishop on matters of importance, in addition to the abovementioned consultative functions. c. The Dean might be called to represent the Bishop on occasion. In such cases, proper instructions will be provided.

4. Responsibilities to the Deanery

a. The Dean will directly represent the Bishop to the clergy in his Deanery and at the same time bring the concerns and comments of the clergy to the Bishop and other appropriate fora. Special attention and assistance will be offered to newly ordained priests, newly installed pastors and any priest who is ill or facing personal difficulties. b. The Dean is asked to visit in person all the clergy in his territory at least once a year. He will provide immediate assistance to the clergy in his Deanery when they face the need for conflict resolution, ministerial support, and support in emergencies. The meetings should take place one on one in a neutral and convenient setting. c. The Dean will conduct Deanery meetings with all the clergy five times a year. These meetings should include a time of prayer, a time for discussion, and a meal. Two Deanery meetings each year will include all the clergy of the Deanery. d. In conflict situations involving a Dean, it is the Vicar General who will assign another Dean to assist in resolving the issue.

5. Other basic duties

a. The Dean will visit parishes annually to attend to the following: i. Assessment and discussion of the condition of the church and other parish buildings and their interior furnishings. ii. Examination of the parish sacramental registers and visum (initial or stamp) the registers. iii. Visitation with the parish clergy individually, and together in a social setting. iv. Upon completion of the visit, the dean will write a short report of the visitation that will be mailed to the pastor and Vicar General of the Diocese. v. When a Dean’s parish is to be visited, it is the Vicar General who will assign another Dean for this task.

Priest Personnel Manual Description for Dean b. Upon learning of the death of a priest or a deacon, the Dean will assist the parish and the Diocese with necessary arrangements. These might include, but are not limited to: i. Facilitating communication between the Diocese, the parish, and the family. ii. Securing the estate of the deceased person. iii. In case of death of a pastor: arranging for parish Masses until the Diocese makes permanent arrangements, securing the goods of the parish, be present to the faithful of the parish. iv. Unless instructed otherwise, the Dean will preside at the Mass of Transferal of the deceased priest, the evening before the Mass of Christian Burial. c. Oversee any Regional Planning Process involving the Deanery as outlined by the Diocesan Bishop.

Note: From August 2019 Priest Personnel Manual