Deaneries

The Role of Deaneries

There are 25 deaneries in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.  Deaneries provide opportunities for member parishes to work together on common pastoral initiatives that cannot be undertaken at individual parish level and support for the pastoral, faith and community life of the member parishes.

The Deanery leadership group works with the deanery coordinator in promoting the pastoral welfare of all in the deanery through:

1. Identifying the need and possibilities for common pastoral action through the deanery.
2. Promoting participation of priests and people from all parishes of the deanery.
3. Encouraging the formation of lay people for sharing in Church leadership.
4. Developing a plan outlining the goals, mission and role of the deanery.
5. Offering support to the priests in the deanery by providing opportunities for personal development and social interaction.
6. Offering support to pastoral associates, leaders of parish pastoral councils and other ministry leaders by providing opportunities for formation and sharing ideas.
7. Preparing a deanery report for submission to the Archbishop.  The interval between reports would normally be three years.
8. Participating in diocesan initiatives for development of deaneries.”

Role of the Deanery Coordinator (DC)

While a deanery coordinator possesses many qualities common to all Church ministers, the following are particularly important in this role:  pastoral credibility, creative vision and initiative, optimism, perceptiveness, balanced judgement, impartiality, flexibility, ability to be decisive and supportive, ability to enable others and ability to recognise his own limits.

In order to carry out his task effectively, it is important that the deanery coordinator possesses the skills of leadership, collaboration, communication, organisation, conflict management and planning and evaluation.

The nature of deaneries as cross-parish entities demands that the deanery coordinator collaborate with others in order to carry out the deanery's mission.  The deanery coordinator's initial duty is, therefore, to establish a leadership structure that involves priests, pastoral associates and parishioners from member parishes.

Role of Deanery Resource Coordinator (DRC)

Deaneries operate in different ways and with differing agenda, hence the role of the DRC will vary in the mix and priority of tasks.  However, the principal tasks will be common and encompass:

1. Organising and facilitating interactions across the Deanery network between priests of the deanery, parish deanery representatives and key parish personnel involved in deanery initiatives
2. Working with the DC and the leadership team to set and keep current the vision and mission of the deanery, and its plan of deanery projects and programs
3. Assisting in the organisation, communication, promotion and administration of key deanery projects and programs by providing
   1. Leadership
   2. Administrative support
   3. Accounting for resources and finances
4. Developing and managing a support team of parish volunteers to assist in the projects and programs of the deanery.
5. Where appropriate to liaise with the Archbishop’s Office for Evangelisation to understand, support and further the mission of evangelisation through the activities and projects of the deanery.

Role descriptions adapted from: Deanery Guidelines, February 1995 – developed by Deanery Advisory Unity in conjunction with Catholic Pastoral Formation Centre and Catholic Research Office for Pastoral Planning, Archdiocese of Melbourne

Deanery Activities – projects and services

The following are examples of projects and services provided by active deaneries:

• Youth – employment of a youth worker; conducting youth Masses.
• Adult education – seminars, courses, workshops, Spirituality in the Pub
• Social Justice in cooperation with Archdiocesan agencies such as the Archdiocesan Justice Unit & Melbourne Migrant & Refugee Office – activities have been around the Message Stick and Make Poverty History campaign.  Other local initiatives are:
  • Support for communities in East Timor
  • Support for communities in Zimbabwe
  • Refugee Support Groups
  • Sudanese Pastoral Worker
  • Support for Somali women in local community
  • Mental Health support
  • Support for youth accommodation
• Counselling
  • General counselling service offered in Yarra Deanery
  • Dandenong Deanery through the Cyrene Centre and Westgate Deanery with Joseph’s Corner
• Other initiatives – Education Transition Group, St Francis Chapel and Bookshop, Fundraisers including Op Shops, Concerts, Race Days, Dinners
• Support groups – Solo parents

Contact details

For further information about deaneries or for contact details for your local deanery please emal: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Employment support documents for Deanery Resource Coordinators.  Read more…