Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
- The prior provincial is a major superior and the proper ordinary of the brothers.
- In his province he has power corresponding to that which the Master of the Order has in the whole Order and, by superior right, to the power a conventual prior has in his own convent.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
The duties of the prior provincial include the following:
- the should strive to do his utmost to promote in his province the spirit and authentic life of the Order. Discerning the signs of the times, he should encourage the brothers to serve the people of God in the ministry of the word as zealously as possible;
- he should have the common good of the Order very much at heart. He should willingly report to the Master of the Order about the life of the brothers and their apostolate, and he should encourage collaboration between the provinces of the Order;
- he should promote cooperation between the province and the hierarchy and between the province and other religious families so that the needs of the local Church may be appreciated more deeply and provided for more satisfactorily.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
The prior provincial is obliged to visitate his entire province twice in four years – personally, if possible, or else by appointing another. He must, however, visitate the convents of the novitiate and the studentate each year.
Acceptata ACG 1998 Bologna n. 299, Definitive ACG 2016 Bologna n. 284 Revision history
The prior provincial:
- at the end of a visitation, shall convey to the brothers his observations and ordinations in writing;
- during the three months before leaving office, shall send a report on the state of the province to the Master of the Order, ensuring that it reaches him before the new election. In this he shall report both on the brothers, whether ‘they are persevering in peace, assiduous in study, fervent in preaching and faithful in regular observance,’1 and on the relationships between the province and convents and the ecclesiastical authorities.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
The prior provincial shall have a register in which he shall record his activities.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
Ordinarily, a prior provincial takes office by canonical election confirmed by the superior, and he continues in that office for four years. He may be elected for another four years but not immediately for a third time unless the required interval of time has been dispensed.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
- The four-year term is calculated from one provincial chapter to another, disregarding the few days, weeks, or months by which, occasionally, the term falls short of or exceeds the four-year period; and it is terminated on the day immediately before the vigil of the commencement of the provincial chapter.
- If it should happen that a prior provincial’s four-year term ends when the Order has no Master or that it ends within four months of a general chapter (see n. 354, § I), in either case it is understood that his term is extended until the following provincial chapter which will be held after the completion of the general chapter.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
- A prior provincial may at will appoint any priest brother as his vicar whether over the whole province or over any part of it.
1. A vicar provincial appointed in this way has whatever authority the prior provincial grants, except the appointment or removal of superiors;
2. the vicar’s office expires with that of the prior provincial who made the appointment.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
When he absents himself from his province or, at least, the country, the prior provincial should appoint a vicar.
If no vicar has been designated, the socius of the prior provincial becomes the vicar ipso facto unless the provincial chapter shall have determined otherwise.
- 1
Constitutions (ed. 1954) n. 452 § II