Bishop William K. Weigand recently announced a reorganization of the diocesan curia.

The reorganization, which became effective Feb. 13, is “intended to ensure closer collaboration between various offices and departments and to enhance their ability to support the parishes and all those they serve,” he said in a letter to pastors.

The curia is now organized into five secretariats, headed by vicars. The five secretariats are:

• Pastoral ministry, headed by Mercy Sister Eileen Enright, who previously served as chancellor of the diocese for the past eight years;

• Social service, headed by Father Michael Kiernan;

• Clergy and religious, headed by co-vicars Father Thomas Bland and Dominican Sister Paulina Hurtado;

• Temporalities and administration, headed by Msgr. Robert Walton, who continues as diocesan vicar general and is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sacramento;

• Canonical affairs, headed by Father David Deibel, who is also judicial vicar of the diocese.

Bishop Weigand noted that the vicars will report to Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Garcia, who will serve as moderator of the curia, and that the six vicars will become his senior staff.

He added that the vicars will coordinate the activities, programs and services of the offices and departments, in collaboration with the department directors of their particular secretariat.

The bishop also announced the appointment of Father Mark Richards as chancellor of the diocese, in addition to his duties as co-director of the Office of Vocations. He also named Father Blaise Berg as vice chancellor and priest-secretary to the bishop. Thomas McNamara, current director of the diocesan finance office, was named chief financial officer of the diocese.

The five secretariats include the following diocesan departments:

• Pastoral ministry: Catholic schools, evangelization, family life, Catholic faith formation, campus ministry, worship, and research and planning.

• Social service: Catholic Charities of Sacramento, social concerns, detention ministry, and liaison to parish social services, social service organizations not within Catholic Charities, social service programs not affiliated with the diocese, Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

• Clergy and religious: priests’ personnel, clergy education, permanent diaconate and vocations and the delegate for religious.

• Temporalities and administration: lay personnel, stewardship and development, legal counsel, Pastoral Center building and services and the diocesan finance office.

• Canonical affairs: Tribunal and administrative procedures including due process.

Bishop Garcia will continue to serve as Vicar for Hispanics and Other Ethnic Groups and will also oversee diocesan communications, including the diocesan newspapers and radio ministries.

Copyright © 2001 Diocese of Sacramento - All Rights Reserved

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