When the size of eparchies and the number of parishes increased, the Church began to divide the eparchy into several provinces for pastoral convenience. In these divided provinces, some priests were appointed to supervise and properly administer pastoral affairs. In the Code of Canonsof the Eastern Churches (CCEO), such provinces are called protopresbyterates and the priest appointed as their authority is called protopresbyter. We usually call them ForaneVicars. Canons 276 to 278 of the Code of CCEO deal with ForaneVicars.
The protopresbyter is a presbyter who is placed over a district consisting of several parishes so that, in the name of the eparchial bishop and in the same district, he may fulfill the functions determined by law. The eparchial bishop, having heard, if he considers it opportune, the pastors and parochial vicars of the district in question, is to appoint a presbyter especially among the pastors, outstanding for his doctrine and apostolic fervor. As per the common law, the office of protopresbyter must not be joined in a stable manner to the office of pastor of a certain parish. However, a different law can be made in the particular law of each sui iuris Church. As per the particular law of our Church, the office of protopresbyter shall be joined in a stable manner to the office of the parish priest of a certain parish ( art. 17, PLSMC). The Forane offices operate in conjunction with these churches. The term of office of a protopresbyter shall be as that of the parish priest of the eparchy. It belongs to the eparchial bishop, after consulting the presbyteral council, to establish, change and suppress this type of district (forane) according to the needs of pastoral action.
The obligations of the Forane Vicars is to participate to some extent in the responsibilities and duties of the eparchial bishop and to assist the bishop in fulfilling these responsibilities. The rights and duties of the Forane Vicars, as detailed in CCEO (can. 278), are as follows:to coordinate and promote common pastoral activity, see to it that clerics lead a life in harmony with their own state and that they diligently fulfill their obligations, see to it that the Divine Liturgy and the divine praises are celebrated according to the prescriptions of the liturgical books, that the good appearance and condition of the churches and sacred furnishings are carefully maintained especially in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and custody of the Divine Eucharist, that ecclesiastical goods are carefully administered and, finally, that the parish house is properly cared for.
In the district entrusted to him the protopresbyteris to see that clerics attend meetings which the local hierarch judges appropriate for promoting the sacred sciences and pastoral affairs. He is to take care that clerics have ready access to spiritual helps, and be particularly concerned about those who are found in more difficult circumstances or are beset with problems.The protopresbyter is to take care that the pastors whom he knows to be seriously ill, do not lack spiritual and material assistance and that the funerals of those who have died are celebrated with dignity. He is also to provide that when they are sick or have died the books, documents, sacred furnishings and other things which pertain to the Church are not lost or removed.The protopresbyter is bound by the obligation of visiting the parishes according to the determination made by the eparchial bishop.
In addition to these duties and responsibilities, there are many other references in CCEO to the duties of the Forane Vicar. The Forane Vicar may be consulted when appointing parish priests (can.285 Ā§3). As a member of the eparchial assembly, the Forane Vicar has the responsibility to participate in it (can.238 Ā§1n.5). In addition, the particular law of the Syro-Malabar Church also outlines certain rights of the Forane Vicars (art. 19, PLSMC). The Forane Vicar shall have the power of installing a newly appointed Parish Priest in his district, to give dispensation from two marriage banns, to permit publication of marriage banns before betrothal and to preside over the periodic meetings of the clergy of the forane.In addition, the eparchial bishop may add further rights and duties to the Forane Vicars in the particular law of each eparchy.
Rev. Dr. Joshy Kulathingal
