GUIDELINES FOR APPOINTMENTS AND RESHUFFLING

God does not abandon His people and sent His Son Jesus “the good shepherd”(Jn 10:11) who called his apostles and their successors to minister to His Church (Pastores Dabo Vobis, 1). To minister to the local church, the bishop, the local ordinary of the diocese, appoints the parish priest with the benefit of stability for an “indeterminate period of time” (Can. 522) which the CBCP determines “for a term of six years, renewable” (Excelso Garcia, Manual for Parish Priests, UST:1998, p.153). In connection with appointments and reshuffling, the Tri-Vicariate of Cadiz, Sagay and Toboso met and suggested the following points:

TERMS shall be decided by the bishop after consulting the clergy.
a) Total Reshuffling & Appointment: Everyone will be affected from the positions held at the Diocesan Commission level to parish positions
b) General Re-shuffling & Appointment: Only the parish priests & the parish vicars.
c) Partial Re-shuffling & Appointment: Only those who had their assignments and positions for six years or more.

QUALIFICATIONS: Here to be considered are the existing norms of the Church, especially Can. 150, 517.n.2, & 521.
a) In the sacred order of priesthood, with outstanding sound doctrine and uprightness of character.
b) Endowed with zeal for souls and with Christian virtues

TRACK RECORD
a) Outstanding pastoral care and service in the parish, commissions and programs he had been assigned.
b) Transparency in financial matters and uprightness in relationship with the people (No known misconduct).
c) Had successful programs and projects, especially in building BECs/BCCs and in sustaining and improving them.
d) Loyal and has great respect to the Bishop and Church authorities

SOCIO-CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
a) If still young, he can be assigned in an area which is not of his ethno-linguistic trait. (i.e., an Ilongo can be assigned in a Cebuano area & a Cebuano can be assigned in an Ilongo area.)
b) If middle-aged and old, he can be assigned only in an area of his own language and culture.
c) Exceptions shall be considered for those who are holding sensitive, high and strategic positions in the diocese and the above a) & b) will not be considered.

PASTORAL CONSIDERATIONS
a) Seniority and qualifications, potentials and character should be considered.
b) Old and sickly personnel should be assigned in an area that would not aggravate his physical condition.
c) Young and newly ordained priests shall preferably be assigned in rural areas or mountain areas which help them progress pastorally and spiritually after a year of guidance with a senior priest.
d) Those who will be assigned in the seminary shall preferably have a pastoral experience first in the parish or rural areas.

WELL-BEING OF THE CHURCH
a) Foremost in every assignment is the well-being of the local church. Those assigned in their area and field should have the pastoral capacity for performing their duty.
b) The local church where one would be assigned may be consulted when assigning a parish priest.
c) There should be proper inventory of all the equipments, appliances, vehicles, and other material and financial assets of the Parish Church, quasi-parish, chaplaincy or mission area before final assignment is done.

N.B. A terna may be done for consulting the clergy on their assignments but the bishop/ local ordinary shall take charge of assigning priests after personal consultation and examination (Cfr. Can. 521).


From the notes of Fr. Paul Medina, O.Carm.