BISHOP’S FOREWORD
Welcome to the Catholic diocese of Polokwane website.
We are delighted that you have found us and hope that our online community would be a warm and a welcoming place. Our diocese is found at the gateway to Africa, it’s a place of worship, service and doctrine. We strive to embody the teachings of Christ in all that we do. Our website is designed to be the intellectual hub of our diocese and all our visitors, where you can find information about our diocese, services, programmes, and events as well as connecting with our communities. We believe that we are all created in the image of God; we welcome people from all ages, backgrounds and walks of life to join us in our journey of faith. Please take sometime to explore our site, get to know us better and feel free to reach us for any clarity seeking question. Thank you for visiting, we look forward to connecting with you further.
Office of the Bishop
- Physical Address: 54 Biccard Street, Polokwane 0700
- Postal Address: P.O. Box 578, Polokwane 0700
- Tel & Fax: 015 295 8152/6. E-mail: admin@polokwanediocese.org.za
- Postal Address: P.O. Box 578, Polokwane 0700
About Us
Our History
The Northern Transvaal was erected a Prefecture by Decree of The Sacred Congregation for Propagation of Faith on 22 December 1910. The Rev Fr D Ildefons Lanslots, OSB was appointed first Prefect Apostolic. He resigned in 1921, and was succeeded by the Rt. Rev D Salvator van Nuffel, OSB, who resigned in 1939. By further decree on 13 June 1939, the Prefecture Apostolic of the Northern Transvaal was raised to the dignity of an Abbey Nullius, followed by the Decree of 14 November 1939 that announced the appointment by the Holy Father of the Very Rev D Frederic Osterrath, OSB, as first Abbot and Titular Bishop of Tangiers in Mauritania. He resigned in 1952. Polokwane became a Diocese on 21 December 1988. It comprises the districts of Polokwane, Mokopane, Waterberg, Bela bela, Lephalale, Bochum, Mankweng, Mokerong, Seshego, Thabamoopo and part of Moretele.
The Northern Transvaal was erected a Prefecture by Decree of The Sacred Congregation for Propagation of Faith on 22 December 1910. The Rev Fr D Ildefons Lanslots, OSB was appointed first Prefect Apostolic. He resigned in 1921, and was succeeded by the Rt. Rev D Salvator van Nuffel, OSB, who resigned in 1939. By further decree on 13 June 1939, the Prefecture Apostolic of the Northern Transvaal was raised to the dignity of an Abbey Nullius, followed by the Decree of 14 November 1939 that announced the appointment by the Holy Father of the Very Rev D Frederic Osterrath, OSB, as first Abbot and Titular Bishop of Tangiers in Mauritania. He resigned in 1952. Polokwane became a Diocese on 21 December 1988. It comprises the districts of Polokwane, Mokopane, Waterberg, Bela-bela, Lephalale, Bochum, Mankweng, Mokerong, Seshego, Thabamoopo and part of Moretele.
CURIAL PERSONNEL
PREAMBLE
Canon 469 describes the diocesan curia as comprised of both institutions and persons who assist the diocesan bishop in governing the entire diocese (regiminis universae diocesis). It performs this munus especially in three ways: (1) by guiding pastoral action, (2) by caring for the administration of the diocese, and (3) by exercising judicial power.
The diocesan curia derives its existence from the bishop. The power exercised by its members is the bishop’s own power. Hence, any function the diocesan curia fulfils within a particular Church or any power exercised by its officials are vicarious in nature. The bishop shares his power, in accord with the norms of law, with the different curial offices in order to facilitate the pastoral ministry he owes to the people of God.
The various responsibilities of the curia ensure the smooth functioning of diocesan services and the necessary continuity in administration, notwithstanding changes in personnel. Canon 470 explains that the diocesan bishop is the one responsible to appoint persons to exercise the various offices of the diocesan curia. The bishop freely appoints the heads of the various curial offices (c. 157, 470) from among those who distinguish themselves by competence in their respective fields of expertise, by pastoral zeal, and by the integrity of their Christian life, taking care not to entrust offices or tasks to those lacking the necessary skills. In making the appointments to the curial positions, particularly to the heads of the various offices, the bishop has to first assure himself that they are theologically, pastorally and technically prepared.
Several of those who serve in the diocesan curia hold an “ecclesiastical office” in the strict sense, defined in canon 145 § 1: “An ecclesiastical office is any function constituted in a stable manner by divine or ecclesiastical ordinance to be exercised for a spiritual purpose”. Moreover, canon 149 §1 states: “To be promoted to an ecclesiastical office, a person must be in the communion of the Church, as well as suitable, that is, endowed with those qualities which are required for the office by universal or particular law or by the law of the foundation.”
All those admitted to the offices of the curia as stipulated in canon 471 must: 1° promise to fulfil their function faithfully according to the manner determined by the law or by the bishop; 2° observe secrecy within the limits and according to the manner determined by law or by the bishop. Those who fail to fulfil their office faithfully or to maintain appropriate secrecy are subject to canonical penalty: Canon 1389 § 1- “A person who abuses an ecclesiastical power or function is to punished according to the gravity of the act or omission, not excluding privation of office, unless a law or precept has already established the penalty for this
The Chancery of the Catholic Diocese of Polokwane shall be comprised of the following offices and ministries:
2.1 OFFICE OF THE DIOCESAN BISHOP
A diocesan bishop in the diocese entrusted to him has all ordinary, proper and immediate powers which is required for the exercise of his pastoral function except for cases which the law or a decree of the Supreme Pontiff reserves to the supreme authority or to another ecclesiastical authority (c. 381 § 1). It is for the diocesan bishop to govern the particular church entrusted to him with legislative, executive and judicial power according to the norm of law. The bishop exercises legislative powers himself. He exercises executive power either personally or through vicars general or episcopal vicars according to the norm of law. He exercises judicial powers either personally or through the judicial vicar and judges according to the norm of law (c. 391). The role of diocesan bishop, therefore, is to ensure that all the affairs which belong to the administration of the whole diocese are duly coordinated and are ordered to attain more suitably the good of the portion of the people of God entrusted to him (suprema lex ecclesiae, salus animarum est).
2.2 SECRETARY OF THE BISHOP
It is the prerogative of the diocesan bishop to appoint his own secretary whose duties, amongst others, includes: personal assistance to the bishop, management of correspondence, typing, filling, receipt of diocesan queries, submission of insurance claims, property management, management and control of all utility bills. Like any other ecclesiastical offices, the secretary can be freely removed from office by the diocesan bishop.
2.3 MODERATOR
If the diocesan bishop, in his prudent judgement deems it expedient, he can appoint a priest (sacerdos) to serve as the moderator of the curia. Under the authority of the diocesan bishop, the moderator of the curia has two munera: (i) to coordinate what pertains to the treatment of administrative affairs, and (ii) to take care that the other members of the diocesan curia fulfil properly their office, including the curial officials who pertain to the diocesan tribunal. Coordination consists, among other things, in ascertaining the good functioning of the diocesan curia, being conscious of the objective and knowing the means to achieve the objectives. Supervision consists in checking out the completion of specific tasks by subordinates.
2.4 CHANCELLOR
Canon 482 requires the diocesan bishop to appoint a chancellor in the diocese. While particular law may assign yet additional tasks, every chancellor has three principal functions: 1) to be the diocesan archivist who sees to the gathering, arranging, and safeguarding of the curial archives (see cc. 486-491); 2) to be an ecclesiastical notary (see cc. 484), and 3) to be the secretary of the curia (c. 482). In addition to these general functions, the Code identifies some specific munera of the chancellor, namely, to record the taking of canonical possession of office of the diocesan bishop (c. 382 § 3), coadjutor bishop, and auxiliary bishop (c. 404); to preserve in secret the list of candidates, identified in successive order, who would govern the diocese sede impedita (c. 413 § 1); to sign acts of the curia which have juridic effect (for liceity), together with the ordinary issuing them (for validity), and to inform the moderator of the curia of these acts (c. 474).
2.5 FAMILY MINISTRY AND TRIBUNAL AFFAIRS
Canon 221 stipulates that the Christian faithful can legitimately vindicate and defend their rights which they possess in the Church in the competent ecclesiastical forum according to the norm of law. Family ministry and tribunal affairs is a judicial arm that deals with the administration of justice in the Church. It consists of the following:
2.5.1 FAMILY MINISTRY AND COUNSELLING
Marriage is a divine institution ordained by God himself (Gaudium et Spes n. 48). This is the structure that seeks to safeguard the sanctity of marriage and to strengthen the family unit according to the mind of the Church.
2.5.2 MATRIMONIAL CASES AND ANNULMENTS
This ministry aims to provide marriage instruction to those entering marriage, proper pastoral care to those already married and relief to those whose marriages have irreparably failed such that conjugal living cannot be restored.
2.5.3 MISCONDUCTS AND PROTOCOLS
This is the structure that deals with sexual abuses or misconducts and issues of professional responsibility for Church personnel.
2.5.4 LEGAL DESK
The Diocesan Legal Desk is an advisory structure that gives counsel to the diocesan bishop with matters pertaining to civil and canon law.
2.6 FINANCE DEPARTMENT
The finance department consists of two offices:
2.6.1 FINANCE COUNCIL
A diocesan finance council in every diocesan curia is obligatory/sine qua non.
2.6.1.1 NAME OF THE COUNCIL
The Council shall be called “The Finance Council of the Catholic Diocese of Polokwane”
2.6.1.2 MEMBERSHIP AND TERM OF OFFICE
The Code mandates that the diocesan bishop establishes a diocesan finance council and provides specific norms governing its composition (c. 492) and its munera. Canon 492 explains that the diocese finance council must be composed of at least three members of the Christian faithful (that is, Catholics) who are appointed by the diocesan bishop and who serve for a term of five years, renewable repeatedly. Two fundamental qualifications for membership are identified: (1) true expertise in financial affairs and civil law and (2) outstanding integrity. It is for the diocesan bishop to determine the presence of those qualities. The nature of their service to the Church requires that the members of the diocesan finance council have appropriate knowledge of canon law.
Excluded from membership are those related to the diocesan bishop up to the (usque ad) fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity; that is, the diocesan bishop’s siblings, aunts/uncles, nieces/nephew etc. The obvious reason for this exclusion is to avoid the appearance of, and accusation of financial impropriety.
The members of the diocesan finance council must (debet) promise to fulfil their function faithfully and must observe secrecy, according to the determination of the law or the diocesan bishop.
Since the members of the finance council hold an ecclesiastical office, they can be removed from office according to the discipline of canons 184-196, namely, by death, resignation, transfer from the diocese, removal and privation.
2.6.1.3 SEDE VACANTE
Sede vacante means a diocese without a bishop. An episcopal see becomes vacant upon the death of a diocesan bishop, resignation accepted by the Roman Pontiff, transfer, or privation made known to the bishop. The diocesan finance council does not cease sede vacante; presiding at its meetings during the vacancy is the diocesan administrator or his delegate. Should the diocesan finance officer have been selected the diocesan administrator, the diocesan finance council itself chooses his temporary replacement as diocesan finance officer (c. 423 § 2). In this situation, an ecclesiastical office is conferred, albeit only temporarily, by a group whose members are entirely lay.
2.6.1.4 COMPETENCE
The diocesan bishop presides at meetings of the diocesan finance council, whether personally or through his delegate. The role of “presidency” in these meetings is distinct from “chairing” them. Nothing prevents another person from “chairing” the meetings of the diocesan finance council, under the presidency of the diocesan bishop, personally or through his delegate.
The Code does not identify the diocesan finance council as a consultative body, because, in many instances it must give its consent before the diocesan bishop is able to act validly. Counsel (consilium) means “advice” or “opinion” whereas consent (consensus) entails “agreement” or “approval”. The difference between counsel and consent is in the binding force of consent. In those instances when the diocesan bishop must receive its counsel or consent, the diocesan finance council has an acquired right; if the diocesan bishop fails to obtain its counsel or consent before he acts in these instances, his action is invalid (c.127 § 1).
Canon 493 makes reference to the munera of the diocesan finance council. The canon itself identifies two munera: (i) to prepare an annual diocesan budget and (ii) to examine the annual diocesan financial report. Canon 493 adds that other munera of the diocesan finance council are found in Book V, De Bonis Ecclesiae Temporalibus. These munera are:
1. To review the annual financial reports presented by administrators of any ecclesiastical goods whatsoever which have not been legitimately exempted from the power of governance of the diocesan bishop, after the administrators have submitted these to the local ordinary (c. 1287 § 1).
2. To plan and provide the modalities by which the financial administrator should administer the goods of the diocese (c. 494 § 3).
3. To undertake what is called the “internal or performance audit.” It includes scrutinizing, reviewing and evaluating the already audited annual statements of account of the diocese and all the diocesan institutions, namely, parishes, schools etc.
4. To help the bishop prepare the annual financial report to be sent to the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples.
5. To give consent before the diocesan bishop is able to perform the following acts validly (see c. 127 § 1):
5.1 To place acts of extraordinary administration of the diocesan goods as defined by the conference of bishops (see Annotated, pg. 1787).
5.2 To give permission to alienate goods of public juridic person subject to his authority, and to alienate diocesan goods, which belong to stable patrimony and whose value is beyond the minimum amount established by the conference of bishops (see Annotated, pg. 1787).
5.3 To give permission to administrators to perform any contractual transaction which can worsen the patrimonial condition of a public juridic person subject to his authority, or to perform the transaction himself if it involves diocesan goods (see c. 1295 & 1292 § 2).
6. To give counsel before the diocesan bishop is able to perform the following acts validly (see c. 127 § 1):
6.1 To appoint and to remove the diocesan finance officer (c. 494 §§ 2-3).
6.2 To impose a moderate tax upon public juridic persons subject to his authority (c. 1263).
6.3 To impose an extraordinary tax upon other juridic persons and upon physical persons subject to his authority (c. 1263).
6.4 To place “non-routine” acts of ordinary administration of diocesan goods which are more important in light of the economic condition of the diocese (c. 1277).
6.5 To determine acts of extraordinary administration placed by public juridic persons subject to him (c. 1281 § 1)
6.6 To make a prudent judgement on the investment of money and movable goods assigned to an endowment for the benefit of a foundation (c. 1305).
6.7 To lessen equitably the obligations attached to a foundation (but not foundation Masses) if, through no fault of the administrators, the fulfilment of these obligations become impossible because of diminished revenue or some other cause (c. 1320).
2.6.2 FINANCE OFFICER/ADMINISTRATOR/ECONOMUS
2.6.2.1 APPOINTMENT OF THE ECONOMUS
Canon 494 mandates that the diocesan bishop appoint a diocesan finance officer who, under the bishop’s authority, administers the goods of the diocese. The diocesan finance officer is appointed stably for a five year term, renewable repeatedly, and can be removed from office only for a gave cause to be assessed by the diocesan bishop after he has received counsel of the diocesan finance council and college of consultors. While the diocesan bishop freely confers ecclesiastical offices on the suitable person, here is the only instance where he is obliged to hear two consultative bodies separately prior to the appointment and dismissal. The reason is perhaps because by such consultation the bishop may choose the right person absolutely distinguished for honesty and expertise. An upright administration of temporal goods will surely guarantee pastoral and spiritual apostolate advance unhindered. When the bishop proposes a particular candidate to those consultative bodies, they have to first of all verify whether the qualifications prescribed in canon law are satisfied.
2.6.2.2 QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF ECONOMUS
The Canon identifies two fundamental qualifications for office: (1) true expertise in financial matters; he/she should be a professional in financial matters and expert in civil and canonical legislation concerning temporal goods and in legal agreements with the civil authority concerning ecclesiastical goods. (2) Truly outstanding in integrity and honesty; in Pastores Gregis (n. 45), Pope John Paul II makes particular mention of the “appropriateness of entrusting the financial administration of the diocese to individuals who are competent as well as honest, so that it can become an example of transparency for other similar Church institutions”.
The finance officer must further promise to fulfil his/her functions faithfully and must observe secrecy, according to the determination of the law or the diocesan bishop. In fact, before the finance officer assumes their function: (a) they must take an oath before the ordinary or his delegate that they will administer well and faithfully (b) they are to prepare and sign an accurate and clear inventory (c) one copy of this inventory is to be preserved in the archives of the administration and another in the archive of the curia.
2.6.2.3 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ECONOMUS
The financial administrator has to be very responsible and perform his/her duties with the diligence of a good householder and must fulfil the requirements of canon law scrupulously (c. 1284). The following are the main functions of the financial administrator:
i. The financial administrator of the diocese has an executive function. She/he has to administer the goods of the diocese under the authority of the bishop and in accordance with the plan of the finance council (c.494, § 3).
ii. She/he has to make payments from the diocesan funds which the bishop or his delegate have lawfully authorized (c. 494, § 3); has to acknowledge the receipts of all the income, whether indigenous or foreign, and invest the funds creatively with the approval of the finance council.
iii. The greatest obligation expected of the financial administrator is accountability. The financial administrator is then accountable to the finance council because he/she has to execute its policies and prescripts. She/he fulfils this obligation by submitting to it at the end of each financial year an account of income and expenditure (cc. 493 & 1284, § 2, 8°).
iv. If as per canon 1278, the diocesan bishop has entrusted him/her his supervisory function over other juridical persons, the finance officer has to collect their financial reports, audit them and submit the report to the diocesan bishop who will then pass it on to the finance council for the internal audit.
v. As per canon 1278, the economus may be appointed as the temporary administrator for public juridical persons subject to the bishop’s governance.
vi. Other duties that are prescribed for every financial administrator of the temporal goods in canons 1284-1289 are especially applicable to the economus as well.
2.6.2.4 TERMS AND CESSATION OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMUS
The term of office for the economus is not left to the discretion of the diocesan bishop. She/he is to be appointed for a term of five years and enjoys stability in office in consideration of his/her responsibilities. When the term expires, the bishop can appoint him/her for further terms of five years, every time after hearing separately the college of consultors and the finance council. Otherwise he/she must be informed of the expiry of the term well in advance, at least one month before or congruent to the law of the country.
The economus should not be removed while in office, except for grave reasons to be estimated by the diocesan bishop after consulting the college of consultors and finance council. What constitutes “grave reason” is not specified in the CIC. It would presumably include criminal acts such as embezzlement, or inept and negligent management that caused or is likely to cause harm to the patrimony of the diocese or even to its reputation.
The economus can resign from office by submitting his/her resignation in writing to the diocesan bishop or make her/his intention known to the bishop in the presence of two witnesses. Acceptance by the bishop is an essential requirement for the resignation to become effective.
The finance officer ceases to function in other ways identified in Book I of the Code, namely, death, public defection from the Catholic faith or from the communion with the Church (c. 194 § 1, 2°), by privation, that is, a penalty for a delict (c. 196). Since the diocesan finance officer is very commonly a lay person, it will be important that the civil employment contract reflects the discipline of the Code on the term of appointment and removal from office. This will assure that the same terms of employment exist in both the ecclesiastical and civil fora.
2.7 PRESBYTERAL COUNCIL
The priests, prudent co-operators of the episcopal college and its support and mouthpiece, called to the service of the people of God, constitute, together with the bishop, a unique sacerdotal college (presbyterium), dedicated to a variety of distinct duties (Lumen Gentium, n. 28). Therefore, to ensure an increasing effective apostolate, the bishop should be willing to engage in dialogue with his priests, individually and collectively, not merely occasionally, but if possible, regularly (cf. Christus Dominus, n. 28).
In each diocese there is to be established a council of priests, that is, a group of priests who represent the presbyterium and who are to be, as it were, the Bishop’s senate. The council’s role is to assist the bishop, in accordance with the law, in the governance of the diocese, so that the pastoral welfare of that portion of the people of God entrusted to the Bishop may be effectively promoted (c.495 §2, LG 20, CD 28, PO 7). This structure deals specifically with all matters relating to the clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Polokwane.
2.8 LITURGY
The Church fulfils its sanctifying function in a particular way through sacred liturgy (C. 843: Sacrosanctum Concilium n. 2). Its main function is to ensure appropriate liturgies in the parish by means of promoting cooperation and collaboration amongst the ministries of altar servers, choir, lay ministers and other liturgical personnel e.g. sacristans, lectors etc.
2.9 CATECHESIS
Its main objective is to ensure the proper catechetical instruction of adults, young people and children in the parish. In pursuit of this end, as many parishioners as possible must be invited to assist, after having received catechetical formation and must liaise with the catechetical structure of the diocese to ensure consistency and continuity.
2.10 JUSTICE AND PEACE
Its main function is to create an awareness of social issues in the light of the Church’s social teachings and to provide formational programmes to assist the diocese in reaching out to the destitute and marginalized members of the society.
2.11 YOUTH DESK
In the words of Pope Francis “youth are the Church of today and tomorrow”. Youth being a very important section of the society, this ministry will make all efforts to give them proper motivation and make measures to prepare them for responsible life in the country and the Church. It concentrates on the following areas: formation of the youth in their understanding of Christian vocation, faith, life and personal commitment to Christian values; ensuring due representation of the youth in the pastoral councils, other associations and movements; helping the youth to enter into civil services, to make their contribution to society and nation, and to take part in political life from the grassroots so as to become agents of social transformation.
2.12 LAITY DESK
The purpose of this commission is to help the laity in general to play their role and fulfil their mission in the Church and society, in the world of politics, economics, science, arts and culture, ecology etc. The principal areas of its concern, inter alia, would be the following; faith formation of the laity; to promote and to ensure proper participation and co-responsibility in the life and mission of the Church especially in the Church’s administration and decision making process through participative structures; to foster and promote collaboration amongst sodalities on matters of common interest.
