Effective - September 03, 2022

The Office of the Dean (Vicar Forane)

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The Archdiocese of Vancouver is divided into nine territorial regions called Deaneries (cf. Code of Canon Law, c. 374). The Archbishop appoints a Dean in each Deanery to assist him by, among other things, promoting common pastoral activity in a region of the Archdiocese and in providing spiritual and pastoral counsel to the other priests in that region (cf. c. 553 §1). The Dean’s role is primarily pastoral, being an extension of the Archbishop’s role as shepherd.

A. Appointment, Qualifications and Term

  1. A Dean shall be one of the priests holding a pastoral appointment in the Deanery to which he is appointed. 
  2. The office of Dean is not tied to any given parish, and not even to the office of pastor (c. 554 §1), so that the most qualified priest may be chosen (e.g., a chaplain).
  3. Deans are appointed by the Archbishop after consultation with the priests who hold a pastoral appointment in each Deanery (cf. c. 553 §2). The priests of the Deanery should nominate a man who has their confidence and support and who:
    1. has leadership ability and good communication skills;
    2. will have a special care for the priests and deacons within the Deanery;
    3. can work collaboratively and effectively with the Archbishop, brother priests, the deacons and religious – all for the good of the Church.
  4. Before the expiry of a Dean’s term, allowing sufficient time for the Archbishop to appoint Deans in September, consultation shall take place by an email ballot sent by the Chancellor of the Archdiocese. 
    1. A list of eligible candidates shall be included with the ballot.
    2. Each priest eligible to be consulted shall provide one response only.
  5. Priests working at the John Paul II Pastoral Centre or with Archdiocesan-wide assignments are members of the Deanery in which they reside. 
  6. The term of office for Deans is three (3) years (cf. c. 554 §2). Appointments are normally made in the month of September.

B. Vacancies and Removal

If a Dean resigns before the completion of his term, the Archbishop shall appoint a Dean to complete the term. 

The Archbishop may remove a Dean from office for a just cause in accordance with his prudent judgment (cf. c. 554 §3).

C. Responsibilities

The Dean shall inform the Archbishop or the Vicar General of any matter in any parish within the Deanery of which it is necessary or useful for him to know. 

The canonical duties of the Dean are listed in c. 555, and may be categorized as: promotion and coordination, vigilance, and support and counsel. In the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the Dean is responsible for:

  1. Promoting and coordinating common pastoral activity in the Deanery (cc. 374 §2, 555 §1 1°);
  2. Promoting priestly fraternity and spirituality, developing a real sense of mutual concern, support and co-operation among all the clergy of his Deanery, encouraging social contacts between them.
  3. Welcoming new pastors, assistant priests, deacons and consecrated men and women as they arrive in the Deanery.
  4. Convening Deanery meetings at least eight times per year;
  5. Functioning, when necessary, as an agent of communication between the Archbishop and the priests in the Deanery;
  6. Ensuring that the rectories in the Deanery are cared for properly (c. 555 §1 3°); and
  7. Ensuring that spiritual supports are available to the priests in the Deanery, especially for those who find themselves in more difficult circumstances or who face problems or grave illness (cc. 555 §2 2°, 555 §3);
  8. Visiting individual parishes when so directed by the Archbishop, or assisting the Archbishop with his own visitation (c. 555 §4).

Besides these duties, the Dean has a role of consultation and collaboration with the Archbishop. The Dean will be consulted in the appointing of pastors (c. 524), and parochial vicars (c. 547). He may be called by the Archbishop for meetings or discussions on the condition of the Deanery. 

The establishment of good communication, and the care for appropriate confidentiality, must be priorities for the good working of the Deaneries and the Archdiocese as a whole.

Approved: Memorial of St. Gregory the Great
September 3, 2022

+ J. Michael Miller, CSB
Archbishop of Vancouver

The following policy is hereby superseded: The Office of the Dean (Vicar Forane), effective October 10, 2021.

Appendix: Deaneries in the Archdiocese of Vancouver

There are nine Deaneries in the Archdiocese of Vancouver:

1. Vancouver West Deanery

  • Blessed Sacrament Parish (Vancouver)
  • Holy Name of Jesus Parish (Vancouver)
  • Immaculate Conception Parish (Vancouver)
  • Opus Dei House
  • Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Anthony of Padua Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Augustine’s Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint John the Apostle Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Mark’s Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saints Peter & Paul Parish (Vancouver)

2. Vancouver East Deanery

  • Corpus Christi Parish (Vancouver)
  • Holy Cross Parish (Burnaby)
  • Holy Family Parish (Vancouver)
  • Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (Vancouver)
  • Our Lady of Hungary Parish (Vancouver)
  • Our Lady of Sorrows Parish (Vancouver)
  • Sacred Heart Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Francis of Assisi Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Helen’s Parish (Burnaby)
  • Saint Jude’s Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Mary’s Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Paul’s Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Theresa’s Parish (Burnaby)

3. Vancouver Centre Deanery

  • Guardian Angels Parish (Vancouver)
  • Holy Rosary Cathedral (Vancouver)
  • Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Andrew’s Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Casimir’s Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Francis Xavier Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Joseph’s Parish (Vancouver)
  • Saint Patrick’s Parish (Vancouver)

4. New Westminster Deanery

  • Holy Spirit Parish (New Westminster)
  • Our Lady of Mercy Parish (Burnaby)
  • Saint Francis de Sales Parish (Burnaby)
  • Saint Michael’s Parish (Burnaby)
  • Saint Peter’s Parish (New Westminster)
  • Saints Cyril & Methodius Parish (New Westminster)

5. Richmond Deanery

  • Canadian Martyrs Parish (Richmond)
  • Sacred Heart Parish (Delta)
  • Saint Joseph the Worker Parish (Richmond)
  • Saint Monica’s Parish (Richmond)
  • Saint Paul’s Parish (Richmond)

6. Tri-Cities and Maple Ridge Deanery

  • All Saints Parish (Coquitlam)
  • Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Coquitlam)
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (Coquitlam)
  • Our Lady of the Assumption Parish (Port Coquitlam)
  • Saint Agnes Kim Parish (Coquitlam)
  • Saint Clare of Assisi Parish (Coquitlam)
  • Saint Joseph’s Parish (Port Moody)
  • Saint Luke’s Parish (Maple Ridge)
  • Saint Patrick’s Parish (Maple Ridge)

7. Surrey Deanery

  • Immaculate Conception Parish (Delta)
  • Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish (Surrey)
  • Precious Blood Parish (Surrey)
  • Saint Andrew Kim Parish (Surrey)
  • Saint Bernadette’s Parish (Surrey)
  • Saint Matthew’s Parish (Surrey)
  • Star of the Sea Parish (Surrey)

8. Fraser Valley East Deanery

  • Our Lady of Good Hope Parish (Hope)

  • Saint Ann’s Parish (Abbotsford)
  • Saint Anthony of Padua Parish (Agassiz)
  • Saint James’ Parish (Abbotsford)
  • Saint Joseph’s Parish (Langley)
  • Saint Joseph’s Parish (Mission)
  • Saint Mary’s Parish (Chilliwack)
  • Saint Nicholas’ Parish (Langley)
  • Saints Joachim & Ann Parish (Aldergrove)
  • Westminster Abbey (Mission)

9. North Shore Deanery

  • Christ the Redeemer Parish (West Vancouver)
  • Church of the Assumption Parish (Powell River)
  • Holy Family Parish (Sechelt)
  • Holy Trinity Parish (North Vancouver)
  • Saint Anthony’s Parish (West Vancouver)
  • Saint Edmund’s Parish (North Vancouver)
  • Saint Joseph’s Parish (Squamish)
  • Saint Mary’s Parish (Gibsons)
  • Saint Paul’s Parish (North Vancouver)
  • Saint Pius X Parish (North Vancouver)
  • Saint Stephen’s Parish (North Vancouver)