§ 120. District Priestly Conferences

On the model of the diocesan priestly assemblies (§. 116), priestly assemblies have been introduced in the protopresbyterates, which among us are called priestly conferences (pastoral conferences). This was introduced especially at the time when it was forbidden to appoint bishops in smaller places, and when in consequence the dioceses became extensive in size, so that it was no longer possible for all the clergy to come to the diocesan assemblies at the place of residence of the diocesan bishop. For this reason the bishops ordered that the clergy of one part or another of the diocese assemble at fixed times in places convenient to them by distance, for mutual spiritual improvement. These places were at first usually monasteries, and afterward the seats of the district protopresbyters concerned.[1]

The purpose of these priestly conferences is the same as that of the diocesan assemblies, namely, the improvement of the clergy in religious-moral life and deliberation on clerical needs, on the pastoral office, on good clerical discipline, on education, and on the Christian upbringing of the people, and the like. In keeping with this purpose, at these conferences of theirs the priests communicate to one another various circumstances of their pastoral service, strengthen one another in brotherly accord, discuss the needs of the Church and the proposals that ought to be submitted to the diocesan authority in order to satisfy those needs, and revive in themselves a scholarly spirit, striving for their own advancement in the science of the Church. For this last purpose, at these same conferences individual theological questions are raised, which are discussed orally and, through the joint participation of all present at the conference, resolved, and so become the common property of all the members of the conference; or else the bishop concerned, before the conference, sends one theological question or another, which individual members work out in writing and then read at the conference, while the other members then express their remarks and the question read is discussed and judged jointly.

The president of the conference is the competent district protopresbyter. The place of the conference is the seat of the district protopresbyter, or another place in the district which the protopresbyter designates. Conferences are held regularly once every year, in spring or in autumn, whichever is more convenient. After the conclusion of the conference the protopresbyter submits to the consistory, at the latest within four weeks, a detailed report on the conference together with the minutes of the conference and the relevant synoptic table. The consistory then issues its decisions on the matters that were discussed at the conference.[2]

IV. THE PARISH CLERGY