The diocesan curia is defined in canon 469 as the body “composed of those institutes and persons who assist the Bishop in governing the entire diocese, especially in directing pastoral action, in providing for the administration of the diocese, and in exercising judicial power.” Members of the Curia are the Vicar-General, the Chancellor, the Financial Administrator, the Judicial Vicar and the Executive Assistant. The Curia meets, on average, every two weeks.
The Code of Canon Law, canon 495, says that, “in each diocese a presbyteral council is to be established, that is a group of priests which, representing the presbyterium [i.e. all priests in the diocese], is to be like a senate to the bishop and which assists the bishop in the governance of the diocese according to the norm of law to promote as much as possible the pastoral good of the portion of the people of God entrusted to him.” On most questions, the Council of Priests acts as a consultative body, except in certain legally-defined circumstances.
The Archdiocesan Finance Council (AFC) is established in conformity with the requirements of the Code of Canon Law, in particular, canons 492 and 493. It is both an advisory body as well as a committee with specific rights and duties, as described in Book V of the Code of Canon Law.
The members of the AFC offer expertise, advice and counsel to the archbishop on important questions and acts of administration in the archdiocese. It also must consent to acts of extraordinary administration, which are defined by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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The Grouard-McLennan Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) is a consultative body for the benefit of the Archbishop, made up of representatives of the clergy, Religious and laity living and working in the Archdiocese. Its primary function is to advise the Archbishop on the pastoral needs of the Archdiocese, devise with him whatever pastoral plans and initiatives are deemed appropriate, and take an active part in the furthering of a pastoral plan and/or initiatives. The APC meets four times a year.
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