Contents
Chapter
I: General Norms (nn. 1-7)
Chapter II: Adult Faith Formation (nn. 8-12)
Chapter III: Catholic Education of Youth (nn.
13-21)
Chapter IV: Evangelization (nn. 22-25)
Chapter V: Liturgy (nn. 26-33).
Chapter VI: Marriage and the Family (nn. 34-40)
Chapter VII: Moral and Social Issues: A Pastoral
Response (nn. 41-50)
Chapter VIII: Roles of Service in the Church and in
the World: Clergy (nn. 51-60)
Chapter IX: Roles of Service in the Church and in the
World: Laity (nn. 61-65)
Chapter X: Roles of Service in the Church and in the
World: Religious (nn. 66-70)
Chapter XI: Spirituality, the Call to Holiness, and
the Sacraments (nn. 71-74)
Chapter XII: Youth and Young Adults (nn. 75-83)
Additional Material
Pastoral Reflection of Anthony
Cardinal Bevilacqua
Decree of Promulgation of the Decrees and Declarations of the Synod
Declarations of the Tenth Synod of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
DECREES OF
THE TENTH SYNOD OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA
Chapter
I - General Norms
Norm 1
These decrees, or norms, are based on the recommendations proposed by the
Tenth Synod of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and accepted by the Archbishop,
constitute archdiocesan particular law issued by him in accord with canon 29 of
the Code of Canon Law, and
bind, according to their subject matter, all members of the Christian faithful
of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Norm 2
By virtue of these decrees, the Archbishop of Philadelphia intends: to
promote and to foster the observance of those canonical norms which are
especially required by the circumstances of archdiocesan life; to regulate
certain of those matters which the universal law of the Church entrusts to his
competence and that of his successors; and, to apply the discipline which is
common to all the particular Churches.
Norm 3
These decrees obtain the force of law on June 29, 2003, one month after
their promulgation by the Archbishop of Philadelphia, in accord with the Decree
of Promulgation issued by him.
Norm 4
As an exercise of his legislative power of governance, any authentic
interpretation of these norms rests solely with the Archbishop of Philadelphia.
Norm 5
Dispensations from any of these decrees and from any archdiocesan laws,
and all permissions required by them, must be requested from the Archbishop of
Philadelphia, or from those who possess the power to dispense from archdiocesan
laws either by virtue of their office or by delegation.
Norm 6
The Statutes of the Ninth Synod of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, held
on April 26, 1934, are hereby abrogated, even those worthy of particular
mention, unless they have been incorporated into the present legislation or into
existing policies, guidelines, and procedures.
Norm 7 All policies, guidelines, and procedures, issued or revised by the present Archbishop or by his predecessors, which continue in force at the time of the promulgation of these decrees, are to be published in an Archdiocesan Pastoral Manual. This manual, which is to be designed to provide access to all archdiocesan regulations currently in effect, is to be prepared under the direction of the Chancery Office and published no later than June 29, 2004, with future ongoing review and evaluation, and revision when necessary, on an annual basis.
Chapter
II - Adult Faith Formation
Norm 8
Every parish is to have a Parish Coordinator for Adult Faith Formation.
Norm 9
Pastors and parish staffs are to continue and expand their efforts in
developing Catholic leadership among the Christian faithful.
Norm 10
The Office for Formation of the Laity, in collaboration with the Office
for Catechetical Formation, is to provide programs and ongoing development for
the formation of catechists for adults.
Norm 11
The Office for Formation of the Laity is affirmed in its efforts to serve
as a resource center for providing, coordinating, and promoting the use of
catechetical resources for adult faith formation programs.
Norm 12
Every parish is to take appropriate measures to increase awareness of
parish-specific and culture-specific needs and realities in the area of adult
faith formation.
Chapter
III - Catholic Education of Youth
Norm 13
Every parish ideally is to have its own elementary school. However, to assure the strong faith formation of our youth,
the Regional Vicars, in collaboration with the Secretariat for Catholic
Education, are to work with parishes and clusters to explore new models of
consolidation or regionalization of parish schools, as well as programs of
religious education.
Norm 14
The Office for Catechetical Formation, in collaboration with experienced
parish resource personnel, is to develop a comprehensive and unified vision of
Catholic identity for the catechesis of all young people in the Archdiocese.
Norm 15
The Office for Catechetical Formation, in collaboration with Parish
Directors, Coordinators, or Administrators of Religious Education, is to develop
an integral catechetical formation plan for all catechists responsible for the
faith development of youth.
Norm 16
The Office for Catechetical Formation, in collaboration with the Offices
for Black Catholics, for Hispanic Catholics, and for the Pastoral Care for
Migrants and Refugees, is to assist clusters and vicariates in addressing
religious education and evangelization of immigrants, the unchurched, and the
growing Latino, Asian, and African-American communities.
Norm 17
The Office for Catechetical Formation,
in collaboration with the Office of Catholic Education, is to give
consideration to a proposal to develop and fund leadership training programs, in
each vicariate/cluster, for personnel who will lead the schools and religious
education programs into the future, and to determine if any additional course of
action is to be taken.
Norm 18
A task force is to be established which, in close consultation with the
Office of the Vicar for Administration and with the Regional Vicars, will
conduct an overall study of the financial ability of every parish in the
Archdiocese to support Catholic education and programs for religious education
in the parishes.
Norm 19
The Office for Development, in collaboration with the Secretariat for
Catholic Education and the Chief Financial Officer, is to expand the current use
of business partnerships, as well as private and government funding sources,
including vouchers, to strengthen the resources for financial aid for
educational apostolates.
Norm 20
Parishes and clusters throughout the Archdiocese are encouraged to form
and/or increase partnerships between parishes, that is, the inter-parish and
suburb-to-city (sister parishes) programs, especially in the area of
Catholic education of youth.
Norm 21
The Archdiocese supports the work of the Pastors’ Committee to assure
just compensation to all involved in the Catholic education of youth.
Chapter
IV - Evangelization
Norm
22
The Office of the Vicar for Renewal and Evangelization is to formulate an
archdiocesan evangelization pastoral plan for implementation by the Archdiocesan
Secretariats, Offices, and Departments, as well as by all parishes.
Norm 23
In order to fulfill their office diligently, priests are to know the
faithful entrusted to their care by visiting families, “sharing especially in
the cares, anxieties and griefs of the faithful, strengthening them in the Lord,
and prudently correcting them if they are failing in certain areas” (cf. canon
529 §1). In addition to the
visitation of homes by priests, the Office of the Vicar for Renewal and
Evangelization, in consultation with the pastors, is to develop a comprehensive
home visitation program to be carried out in every parish by appropriately
trained and commissioned laity.
Norm 24
The Office of the Vicar for Renewal and Evangelization, in consultation
with other appropriate archdiocesan offices, is to develop and implement, on all
levels of the archdiocesan structure, a process of education and formation
regarding the church’s teachings on evangelization.
Norm
25
The Office for Communications is to formulate a comprehensive plan to
utilize public media by the various
entities of the Archdiocese to support evangelization
and to disseminate information regarding archdiocesan endeavors in the area of
faith development.
Chapter
V - Liturgy
Norm 26
A Committee on the Sacred Liturgy is to be established as a consultative
body to assist the Office for Worship continually to evaluate formation and
catechesis, as well as to evaluate present liturgical policies and practices,
and, where necessary, to recommend new ones, in conformity with present
legislation.
Norm
27
The Office for Worship, in consultation and collaboration with the
Committee on the Sacred Liturgy, is to develop a comprehensive and systematic
catechesis to increase understanding and participation in the liturgy, to
include such topics as Sunday Mass, the Liturgical Year, as well as liturgical
music and spirituality.
Norm
28
The Office for Worship, in consultation and collaboration with the
Committee on the Sacred Liturgy, is to develop a comprehensive catechesis for
the formation and continuing education of all pastoral musicians, in order to
foster full and active participation of the faithful.
Norm 29
The Office for Worship, in consultation and collaboration with the
Committee on the Sacred Liturgy, the Department of Continuing Formation for
Diocesan Priesthood and the Department of Permanent Deacons, is to provide
liturgical formation and catechesis for all priests, deacons, and liturgical
ministers by developing a systematic, comprehensive, and uniform catechesis,
respecting the diversity within parishes, as well as a list of resources for
ongoing liturgical formation and catechesis.
Norm
30
The Office for Worship, in collaboration with the Department of
Continuing Formation for Diocesan Priesthood and the Department of Permanent
Deacons, is to develop in-service programs to educate and train priests and
deacons in the various rubrics and rites of the Church, especially the new
General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
Norm
31
The Department of Continuing Formation for Diocesan Priesthood, in
collaboration with the Department of Permanent Deacons and Saint Charles
Borromeo Seminary, is to develop a systematic liturgical catechesis, to include
practical training in the art of preparing and delivering homilies.
Norm 32
The Office for Worship is to develop a program of ongoing formation and
catechesis for parish coordinators of the various liturgical roles, with
consideration being given to workshops in at least two locations in every
vicariate annually.
Norm
33
The Office for Worship, in consultation and collaboration with the
Committee on the Sacred Liturgy, is to develop a resource manual for the various
liturgical roles represented in the parishes.
This manual will aid in the preparation and planning of the liturgy as
well as in the formation and education of parish liturgy committees.
Chapter
VI - Marriage and the Family
Norm
34
A study is to be initiated by the Secretariat for Catholic Human Services
and the Secretariat for Catholic Life and Formation, regarding the feasibility
of restructuring the Family Life Office and Catholic Social Services, and is to
include an examination of other archdiocesan offices whose programs relate to
marriage and family life.
Norm
35
The Office for Catechetical Formation, in collaboration with the Family
Life Office, is to see to it that the teachings of the Catholic Church on the
Sacrament of Matrimony and family life are given proper attention in the
educational and formational programs in elementary and secondary schools, as
well as in colleges, universities, and parishes. The Rector of Saint Charles
Borromeo Seminary is to see to it that this directive is carried out at the
seminary as well.
Norm
36
The Church’s teaching on sexuality and chastity is to be presented in
every parish in a manner that clearly demonstrates the advantages and benefits
of God’s plan in these areas. Parish-based
programs are to motivate, support, and assist parents in the formation of their
children for living a chaste life. Information
regarding the Church’s teaching on natural family planning is to be made
available by the Family Life Office in the vicariates or clusters and is to be
well publicized.
Norm 37
The Family Life Office is to coordinate efforts so that each vicariate
publicize, offer referral to, and/or make use of available support programs and
services to all families, especially those in crisis.
Norm
38
The Secretariat for Catholic Human Services is to develop a plan to
communicate information more effectively about existing marriage and family
services which currently operate in every vicariate, and to improve those
services as needed.
Norm 39
The Office for Communications, in collaboration with the Family Life
Office, Catholic Social Services,
the Office of Catholic Education, and Information Technology Services, is to be
of service to parishes and archdiocesan entities to utilize modern means of
communication in presenting positive aspects of Catholic marriage and family
programs and services. The archdiocesan website is to be modified so that
resources pertinent to marriage and family are highlighted in a separate
section.
Norm
40
The Metropolitan Tribunal is to develop a plan to train more cluster
and/or parish personnel to explain the annulment process to separated and
divorced Catholics, while continuing to publicize its services as widely as
possible. The Office of the Vicar
for Administration also will continue to explore alternate funding sources for
the annulment process.
Chapter
VII - Moral and Social Issues: A Pastoral Response
Norm
41
The Office for Formation of the Laity, in collaboration with other
appropriate archdiocesan entities, is to develop an overall plan to assist
parishes and archdiocesan entities to create a program of adult faith formation
and advocacy in the moral and social justice teachings of the Catholic Church.
Norm
42
The Secretariat for Catholic Life and Formation, in collaboration with
other appropriate archdiocesan entities, is to develop a pastoral plan so that
persons with disabilities or various other special circumstances are included,
welcomed, and enabled to participate as fully as possible in celebrations,
functions, services, and organizations of the parish, cluster, vicariate and
Archdiocese.
Norm
43
The Secretariat for Catholic Life and Formation is to explore ways to
implement, more effectively, the pastoral letter Healing Racism Through Faith
and Truth (1998) and to treat issues related to racial justice and healing
as well as other areas of social concern and justice.
Norm
44
A comprehensive pastoral plan for ministry to Hispanic Catholics is to be
developed by the Archdiocese based on the recommendations of the Hispanic
Ministry Task Force. Also, the
Office for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees is to give serious
consideration to the development of appropriate pastoral plans for the other
ethnic groups represented in the Archdiocese.
Norm 45
Through its various agencies and fund raising efforts, the Archdiocese is
to continue and to enhance its strong commitment to the financial and spiritual
support of persons who are poor, elderly, disabled, or otherwise marginalized in
the faith community.
Norm
46
The Respect Life Office, in collaboration with other appropriate
archdiocesan entities, is to explore effective ways to provide spiritual,
psychological, emotional, financial, and other necessary support, and
information regarding options in conformity with Church teaching, to women and
men who are contemplating a decision to abort or who have already aborted a
child.
Norm
47
The Respect Life Office, in collaboration with other appropriate
archdiocesan entities, is to develop a program to provide ethical and moral
education regarding new scientific technologies, for example, stem cell, cloning
and fetal research, as well as other significant moral concerns.
Norm
48
The Secretariat for Catholic Human Services is to continue to explore the
conversion of archdiocesan facilities into affordable housing for older adults
and for persons requiring special assistance to meet daily living needs.
Every pastor, in consultation with his Parish Pastoral Council, is to
explore initiatives to maximize the independence and inclusion in parish life of
the elderly and of persons requiring special assistance who reside in their own
homes.
Norm
49
The Secretariat for Catholic Human Services is to continue to pursue a
plan for enhanced end-of-life care on the institutional and community levels.
This plan is to include institutional-based training initiatives.
Norm
50
The Secretariat for Catholic Life and Formation is to develop a pastoral
plan that will assist parishes and archdiocesan entities to welcome newcomers
and diverse ethnic communities effectively.
This plan is to include assistance and training to the seminary,
parishes, schools, and other archdiocesan institutions.
Chapter
VIII - Roles of Services in the Church and in the World:
Clergy
Norm
51
The Department of Continuing Formation for the Diocesan Priesthood is to
examine and offer suitable recommendations to facilitate and to emphasize the
spiritual growth and physical health of the clergy, which is the responsibility
of every priest and deacon.
Norm
52
The Office for Clergy is to establish an ad hoc committee to
review the issue of priests sharing residences with other priests, and to submit
recommendations for consideration by the Archbishop.
Norm
53
The Office for Clergy, in collaboration with the Priest Personnel Board,
is to review the manner by which priests are interviewed regarding their present
and future assignments and other issues.
Norm 54
The Archdiocese affirms the work of the Commission on the Protection of
Children and Clerical Conduct, established by the Archbishop to address the
issue of clerical sexual abuse.
Norm
55
Permanent deacons are to continue to be assigned to ministry in parishes
according to the needs of the Archdiocese and the individual parishes.
Norm
56
The Secretariat for Clergy is to establish an ad hoc committee to
review the issue of the delegation
of deacons to officiate at marriages as the valid assistant, and to submit
recommendations for consideration by the Archbishop.
Norm 57
The Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood and the Department of
Permanent Deacons are to explore new, creative, and effective programs to foster
vocations to the priesthood and diaconate.
Norm
58
The Archbishop is to see that present archdiocesan and parish
consultative bodies are totally and consistently utilized by clergy and laity.
These bodies include, but are not limited to, the Council of Priests,
Parish Pastoral Councils, Parish Finance Councils, and Parish Worship
Committees.
Norm 59
The Office for Formation of the Laity and the Department of Continuing
Formation for Diocesan Priesthood are to develop means to clarify, for the
clergy and the lay faithful, the proper responsibilities of each in building and
strengthening the Archdiocese and its parishes in carrying out the mission of
the Church.
Norm
60
The Regional Vicars, in collaboration with the Vicar for Religious, are
to continue to develop ways to enhance collaboration at the parish and/or
vicariate level between ordained clergy and men and women religious.
Chapter
IX - Roles of Service in the Church and in the World: Laity
Norm
61
An Archdiocesan Pastoral Council is to be established whose “function,
under the authority of the Bishop, is to study and weigh those matters which
concern the pastoral works in the diocese, and to propose practical conclusions
concerning them” (canon 511). In
addition, this council is to encourage cooperation, respectful collaboration,
and mutual support among clergy, religious, and laity as they work together to
build up the Body of Christ.
Norm 62
Every pastor is to assure that the Parish Pastoral Council is in
conformity with the guidelines issued in 1993, as well as any subsequent
updates. Periodic reports are to be
given to parishioners concerning Parish Pastoral Council meetings and parish
issues under discussion. Regional
Vicars are responsible for evaluating the status of Parish Pastoral Councils and
for assuring that parishes are in compliance with these directives.
Norm 63
Every parish is to develop stewardship and outreach programs for the
recruitment, encouragement, and support of competent lay persons to assist in
the mission of the Church, through seminars, workshops, and/or conferences
designed to foster respectful collaboration and mutual support in ministry among
the clergy, religious, and laity.
Norm 64
Every parish is to develop and maintain a parish information packet
and/or website that addresses all aspects of parish life and appropriate
opportunities for parishioners to be of service.
Norm
65
The Secretariat for Catholic Human Services, in collaboration with the
Regional Vicars, is to coordinate the development of
handbooks, to be used on the parish level, of cluster and vicariate sites
and facilities, indicating how and where the laity can volunteer their time and
talent.
Chapter
X - Roles of Service in the Church and in the World: Religious
Norm
66
The Vicar for Religious, in collaboration with the Core Group of Major
Superiors and Archdiocesan Administrators, is to evaluate the effectiveness of
existing structures for communication, consultation, and collaboration, in order
to strengthen relationships between members of institutes of consecrated life
and societies of apostolic life and the Archdiocese.
Norm
67
Archdiocesan entities responsible for ministry formation are to recognize
the extensive education and faith formation of women and men religious as a
valuable resource, and are to continue to seek ways to use the abilities and
talents of these consecrated persons to strengthen and enrich initial and
ongoing formation of those preparing for roles of service in the Church.
Norm
68
The Archdiocese is to continue to include non-ordained religious and lay
men and women in existing positions, and to promote expanded opportunities for
their service in pastorally and canonically appropriate roles, including
leadership roles, to assure their involvement at all levels of Church life.
Norm
69
The Archdiocese, through appropriate archdiocesan channels, is to
continue to make every effort to assure that sufficient resources are available
to provide just compensation for those in roles of service in the Church,
whether religious, lay persons, or clergy.
Norm
70
The Coordinator for Vocations to Religious Life, in collaboration with
institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life within the
Archdiocese, is to continue to identify new and meaningful ways to attract and
nurture vocations to the religious life.
Chapter
XI - Spirituality, the Call to Holiness, and the Sacraments
Norm
71
Every parish is to strive to celebrate liturgies which foster communal
and personal spirituality as central to parish life.
Every parish is to make a concerted effort to reclaim the sacredness of
the Lord’s Day.
Norm 72
The Office for Worship, in collaboration with the Office for Formation of
the Laity and the Office for Catechetical Formation, is to promote ways for
individuals to integrate liturgy with their daily lives through prayer,
reflection, study, service, and continuing catechesis.
Norm 73
The Archbishop is to establish an archdiocesan task force which will
investigate the feasibility of the restoration of the traditional order for the
reception of the sacraments of Christian initiation, namely, baptism,
confirmation, and first Holy Eucharist, for children baptized as infants.
Norm 74
Every priest is to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation consistently
in accord with the New Order of Penance (1974), both in individual and
communal celebrations of this rite. The
Office for Worship, in collaboration with the Office for Catechetical Formation,
is to assist the priests in a renewed catechesis for this sacrament.
Chapter
XII - Youth and Young Adults
Norm
75
Every parish, either individually or in groups, is to inaugurate the
position of a Coordinator for Parish Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
Norm 76
Every parish, either individually or in groups, is to develop
comprehensive youth and young adult ministries.
Norm
77
The Office for Youth and Young Adults is to be realigned in order to
increase the level of direct interaction and accountability at the parish level.
The Office is to focus on centralization for the purpose of coordinating
programs and measuring their success, assisting parishes, and communicating to
youth more effectively on the local level.
Norm
78
The Archdiocese is to establish a Spirituality Center for youth, young
adults, and others, in accord with the directive of “Catholic Life 2000.”
Norm
79
The Office for Youth and Young Adults is to consider instituting a
post-collegiate service program for young adults that fosters the good use of
the gifts of young Catholic adults. This
program is to be in harmony with those programs already in existence which are
sponsored by individual colleges or religious communities.
Norm
80
The Office for Youth and Young Adults is encouraged to continue research
and implementation of Information Technology in its ministry to youth and young
adults.
Norm
81
The Department of Continuing Formation for Diocesan Priesthood, in
collaboration with the Office for Youth and Young Adults, is to consider
developing programs for educating the clergy on the topic of Ministry to Youth
and Young Adults.
Norm
82
The Secretariat for Catholic Education is to develop a program or process
to assist parishes, high schools, and colleges/universities to strengthen the
transition stages of young people throughout their school years and into young
adulthood.
Norm
83
The Secretariat for Catholic Education is to explore the development of
campus ministry programs at all secular and private colleges/universities.