MALAWI: Vicar Generals Undergo a Training Workshop
In a quest to follow the Canon Law obligations, the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) on Thursday organized a Vicar General Workshop as a refresher course.
Speaking during the workshop, ECM Secretary General, Father Henry Saindi said the meeting will assist the Vicar Generals to form a forum of exchanging information.
“The Church has noted with great concern that the Vicar Generals’ lack a concrete forum, and we hope this forum will be institutionalized just like the forum of Bishops where the Vicar Generals will meet regularly to share experiences from the eight Arch-dioceses.” He said.
Fr. Saindi mentioned that this is the first meeting for the Vicar Generals and the Catholic Secretariat is grateful to hold such a workshop, “This workshop has called upon the newly appointed Vicars and those who have served as Vicars for quite some time,” he said.
“We respect the Vicar Generals because they are the immediate collaborators to the Bishops and they have a huge responsibility within their dioceses,” he said.
“As Catholic Secretariat we are very grateful that they accepted our invitation to attend the workshop” he said.
According to the Code of Canon Law the Vicar General is a priest who is chosen and appointed by the Diocesan Bishop in order to assist him in a sable manner in his governance of the whole diocese. The appointment of the Vicar general is mandatory according to the law.
The Diocesan Bishop freely appoints the Vicar General and the Bishop is under no obligation to seek consent or counsel from any person and the appointment of the Vicar General must be made in writing, signed by the Diocesan Bishop and duly notarized. The Vicar General has executive powers throughout the entire diocese. The executive powers are ordinary and the Vicar General acts in the name of the Bishop.
In his remarks, Reverend Father John Kaziona described the Vicar General as the principal deputy of the Diocesan Bishop who exercises administrative powers. “He is regarded as the highest official in a Diocese after the Diocesan Bishop,” he said.
Reflecting on the roles and responsibilities of the Vicar General in the Roman Catholic Church in reference to the Code of Canon Law, the Vicar Generals from the eight dioceses went through a series of training to understand the Concept and Institution of Vicar General, Appointment and Removal of the Vicar General, The powers of the Vicar General, Unity of Governance, Cessation and Suspension from office.
Commenting during the workshop Reverend Father Boniface Tamani, Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Blantyre expressed with deep concern that it is important for everyone to understand the duties of the Vicar General, adding that Christians and priests have little knowledge concerning the office which sometimes brings confusion.
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By Sidonia Dzikolidaya
