Ministry in this new millennium is and will be more collaborative and more inclusive in its exercise. The body is endowed with many gifts. Authentic collaboration is rooted in the conviction that all of the baptized are given a share in Christ's priestly ministry, and that one and all are necessary for the fulfilment of the church's mission.

True collaboration requires an appreciation of the distinction and differentiation of roles and responsibilities in the body of Christ, together with a clear recognition of the fundamental equality of all the baptized, ordained and non-ordained. For effective collaboration to occur, each must believe that he or she has something to offer and have trust in the gifts that others bring to the common task.

Although there has been an appreciative growth in our theological understanding of the Church as communion, many of our familiar church structures have been slow to develop and reflect the current ecciesial reality. Deaneries were envisioned as providing a forum for addressing the spiritual, psychological, continuing education, physical, social and economic needs of priests as individuals and as members of the presbyterate or of a sub-group of the presbyterate.

Both theological understanding and modern circumstances have given rise to a whole host of policies and practices, and structures that now address this complicated network of priestly needs and services and, at least in some instances, with greater effectiveness than has been possible on the deanery level, eg. clergy study days, priests retreats, Council of Priests, diocesan clergy salary scale, availability of counselling services, etc.

In addition, the deanery has increasingly become more of a forum to deal with pastoral concerns, organizing and supporting church activities on a regional basis.

However, the actual and acknowledged membership of most deanery conferences has not kept pace in reflecting the theological and pastoral reality of communion.

Furthermore, most Deans have felt burdened by the demands of their office.

We must put in place appropriate structures to facilitate such collaborative pastoral ministry. Above all, we must be willing to admit that we can achieve something together that we cannot achieve alone.z

1. Pastoral Zones

Pastoral Zone will replace the current Deanery Conferences. Pastoral Zone should meet regularly to enhance communication and effective ministry. The members of the Pastoral Zone will elect the Chairperson and other Members of the Executive . These Officers of the Pastoral zone need not be a clerics. The term of office is two years (repeatable once). The Dean is not be the Chairperson of the Pastoral Zone.

2. The Role of the Pastoral Zone Chairperson

The Chairperson is responsible for calling meeting of the Pastoral Zone, establishing the agenda, and arranging for follow-up and communication.

The Chairperson is accountable to the Pastoral Zone through the Executive of the Pastoral Zone and to the Bishop through the Dean.

3, The Number of Pastoral Zones in the Diocese of Calgary will be six:

1. Bishop Grandin Pastoral Zone
2. Northwest Calgary Pastoral Zone
3. Crowsnest Pass Pastoral Zone
4. Father Naphin Pastoral Zone
5. Lethbridge Pastoral Zone
6. Medicine Pastoral Zone

3. Membership

In addition to the call to the office of bishop, presbyter or deacon and the vocation to the consecrated religious life, and the realignment of pastoral duties, some lay persons are called to lay ecclesial ministry," a vocation of full-time church service in response to the needs of the local parish, regional and diocesan communities of faith.

This is a unique vocation in the church, a call to service in the name of the church, Lay ecclesial ministry does not describe one kind of service or work, but refers to the ministries of committed persons, women and men, married and single, which are exercised in a stable, public, recognized and authorized way. These individuals usually occupy a salaried position of service, This is church ministry in the strict and formal sense. It emerges from a personal call, requires appropriate formation and is undertaken with both the support and the authorization of competent church authority. Lay ecclesial ministers serve in such capacities as pastoral ministers, co¬ordinators of youth ministers, hospital co-ordinators and\or lay chaplains, high school chaplains, etc.

In order to facilitate a high degree of collaborative ministry in our diocese, and to enhance visioning and pastoral initiatives, lay ecclesial ministers should assume their rightful place as members of their respective Pastoral Zones

4. The Role of the Dean

The Dean must be a priest and is appointed by the Bishop. The number of Deans will be six. The term of appointment as Dean should be four (4) years.

The Dean is to work with and represent the Ordinary of the diocese. The Dean is to promote, facilitate, and over-see the apostolic thrust of the Pastoral Zone by exercising concern for the well-being of those in ministry, especially of the ordained and conducting an annual review of parish sacramental records.

The Dean is to be an ex-officio member of the Executive of the Pastoral Zone and an ex-officio member of the Council of Priests. The Dean also has the faculties to administer confirmation as an extra-ordinary minister (Canon 884#1).

5. Appointment of Deans

Fr. Greg Coupal - Bishop Grandin Pastoral Zone
Fr. Mariusz Sztuk, SDS - Northwest Calgary Pastoral Zone
Fr. Frank Feldman - Crowsnest Pass Pastoral Zone
Fr. Ugo Sturabotti - Father Naphin Pastoral Zone
Fr. Tim Boyle - Lethbridge Pastoral Zone
Fr. Long Vu - Medicine Pastoral Zone

Developing ministries that will make our church participation more spirit-filled, hope-filled, so that people feel drawn, not dragged.

To achieve this goal we will:

Meet six times during the year on:

1. September 21^st -    St. Peter                        All Members
2. October 19^th -         St. Boniface                    Priests Only
3. November 16^th -      St. Paul                          All Members
4. January 18^th -         Our Lady of Assumption   Priests Only
5. March 7^th -              St. Luke                        All Members
6. June 20^th -              St. Joseph                     All Members Wind Up

(10:30 a.m. till 12:00 Lunch)

Consider concerns (issues) which may be submitted to the Executive Committee, who will prioritize these as agenda items and send them out at least one week before the meeting.

The meeting will:

1. explore, discuss the issues toward developing an actin plan
2. allow for sharing of good news (successes, etc.)
3. Receive and review reports (toward the end of the meeting)
4. Any items relating specifically to ordained ministry would be dealt with at a separate gathering of the priests.

Minutes will be distributed within a few days of the meeting

The role of Pastoral Zone Chairperson

"The Chairperson is responsible for calling meetings of the Pastoral Zone, establishing the agenda, and arranging for follow-up and communication."

In our zone the chairperson also:

1.            Assists the Dean in choosing a discussion topic

"The chairperson is accountable to the Pastoral Zone through the Executive of the Pastoral Zone and to the Bishop through the Dean."

The role of Vice-Chair

The Vice-Chair will take over the duties of the chairperson in his/her absence as stated above. In our zone the vice-chair also helps to choose the discussion topic and assists with developing the discussion questions.

The role of Recording Secretary

Recording secretary of the minutes at the meetings (6 meetings per year) Types minutes into final format and mails out with attachments to all members at their parishes within one week.

Mails out the agenda and attachments (pre-reading to all parishes at least one week in advance of meeting date.

NOTE: The secretary/treasurer is not responsible for calling members to gather information and fees. Each member of the zone has his/her duty to be responsive to the decisions/requests agreed on at the meetings.

The role of the Treasurer

In September of each year collects $75.00 fee per church.

(Monies collected are used for: stationery, postage, year-end social, printing) Keeps record of all financial transactions in a ledger.

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