Eparchial Curia refers to the group of officials and offices that assists eparchial bishop in his administrative responsibilities and pastoral duties. While legislative power is exercised personally by the Eparchial Bishop, executive and judicial powers may be exercised either directly by him or through others, as outlined in CCEO c. 191 Ā§2.
CCEO c. 243 to c. 262 clearly define the Eparchial Curia, its members, their appointments, and their functions. It is mandatory for the Eparchial Bishop to establish an Eparchial Curia in his Eparchy (CCEO c. 243 Ā§1).
The Eparchial Curia comprises the Proto-Syncellus, Syncelli, Judicial Vicar, Eparchial Finance Officer, Finance Council, Chancellor, Eparchial Judges, Promoter of Justice, Defender of the Bond, Notaries, and other individuals appointed by the Eparchial Bishop to ensure the proper functioning of the Eparchial Office (CCEO c. 242 Ā§2).
In a broader sense, all the aforementioned members are part of the Eparchial Curia, but those who assist the Eparchial Bishop in daily administration primarily include the Proto-Syncellus, Syncelli, Chancellor, and Finance Officer.
The Eparchial Curia is responsible for reviewing applications, complaints, and other significant matters, which are discussed and communicated to the relevant authorities. To ensure smooth administration, the Curia members meet with the Eparchial Bishop on designated days each week to provide guidance and make decisions regarding the daily operations of the Eparchy.
The Eparchial Bishop holds the authority to appoint and remove individuals from official positions within the Eparchial Curia. He has the exclusive right to appoint qualified individuals to the Curia. If there is an Auxiliary Bishop or Coadjutor Bishop, he must be appointed as Proto-Syncellus (CCEO c. 215 Ā§1). Some appointments require consultation with canonical bodies as per common law. For instance, when appointing the Eparchial Finance Officer, the Eparchial Bishop must consult the College of Eparchial Consultors and the Finance Council (CCEO c. 262 Ā§1). Other appointments do not require consultation.
Those appointed to the Eparchial Curia must take an oath before the Eparchial Bishop, pledging to faithfully fulfill their responsibilities and maintain confidentiality as required by their office (CCEO c. 244 Ā§2).
Members of the Eparchial Curia assisting the Eparchial Bishop in administration possess vicarious power. They are entrusted with responsibilities in the name of the Eparchial Bishop and are obligated to work with faithfulness and dedication for the growth and welfare of the Eparchy.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Mattathil
