KCBC Pastoral Instructions for Priests and Religious

KOCHI, July 28, 2010, 12:45 Hrs (KCBC):

In order to improve the diocesan pastoral ministry and the collaboration with the religious and diocesan priests, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council’s (KCBC) and Kerala Catholic Major Superiors’ (KCMS) joint meeting held at the Pastoral Orientation Centre, Kochi on 8th June 2010 decided to publish a joint pastoral instructions.

1. Role and Duty of Religious and Priests: Like the Apostles, religious and priests too have left everything behind in order to be with Christ and to put themselves, as he did, at the service of God and their brothers and sisters (Vita Consecrata 1). Church in Kerala is grateful to the remarkable service rendered by diocesan priests and the religious for mankind and society. Consecrated persons are asked to be true experts of communion and to practise the spirituality of communion (VC 46). Priests and religious are called to build up the communion within the local Church. Religious and diocesan priests should be jointly able to show the fatherly face of God and the motherly face of the Church to the faithful so that others can have life and hope. “Religious communities should continue to maintain and fulfill the ministries proper to them. In addition, after considering the needs of the Universal Church and individual dioceses, they should adapt themselves to the requirements of time and place, employing appropriate and even new programs abandoning those works which today are less relevant to the spirit and the authentic nature of the community” ( Perfectae Caritatis 20).

2. Reconciliation Forum: The KCBC-KCMS joint meeting decided to constitute a state level Reconciliation Forum to settle disputes between bishops and religious. This Reconciliation Forum consists of the KCBC and KCMS executive members. In the diocesan level there shall be a similar body comprising the diocesan curia and the diocesan CRI executive members. Disputes between bishops and the religious are to be discussed in the diocesan Reconciliation Forum and they shall never be divulged to the media.

3. Prayer for Religious: The meeting decided to include the religious in the prayer for priests recited after the Holy Mass.

4. Right Wages: it was also decided to provide reasonable allowance to the religious working in Catholic institutions as prescribed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. There shall be agreements signed by both parties to this effect.

5. Congregations by Ex Religious: Bishops shall not give permission to begin new religious congregations by those who were sent away from one religious congregation.

6. Land Disputes: Land disputes between religious communities and parishes shall be settled amicably. Controversies and confusions regarding the ownership of land are to be settled harmoniously and as early as possible. The unresolved disputes are suggested to be referred to the diocesan level or state level reconciliation forum.

7. Parish Activities of Religious: Pastoral activities by the Religious in a parish shall be done as per common law and the diocesan norms under the direction of the parish priest. Parish priests cannot all of a sudden cease the pastoral activities of religious in a parish. Conflicts between parish priests and the religious are to be settled amicably.

8. Dialogue with the Religious: The meeting suggested to the bishops to have dialogues with the religious who work in their dioceses at least once in a year.