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LCO / The Government of the Order / Government / Government of a Province
Effective Date

On Provincial Vicariates

article, effective: -pres.
Definitive ACG 2016 Bologna n. 291
Revision history
384 (provisional)
constitution, effective: -pres.
Confirmata ACG 2019 Biên Hòa n. 401, Adprobata cum ordinatione ACG 2016 Bologna n. 293, Adprobata cum ordinatione ACG 2013 Traugurii n. 232, Inchoata cum ordinatione ACG 2013 Traugurii n. 232 Revision history
  1. When a Province has outside of its territory in another nation or region at least fifteen vocals and one convent properly so called, at least two houses of which one is a convent properly called, and at least fifteen vocals, the provincial chapter may combine them into a provincial vicariate, so that the apostolic activities and regular life of the brethren there can be better coordinated.
  2. The provincial vicariate is regulated by a statute drawn up by the provincial chapter and approved by the Master of the Order.
384-bis (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Definitive ACG 2019 Biên Hòa n. 402, Secunda ACG 2016 Bologna n. 294, Acceptata ACG 2013 Traugurii n. 233 Revision history

The statutes of the vicariate ought to determine the norms

  1. on the celebration of the chapter of the vicariate;
  2. on the office of the Vicar provincial who presides over the vicariate as vicar of the Prior Provincial;
  3. on the officials of the Vicariate;
  4. on the formation and promotion of vocations;
  5. on the right to participate ex officio in the provincial
    council and Provincial Chapter (cf. 352 § I, 1°), with active voice or not;
  6. on the faculties which the Vicar of the Prior Provincial, having heard his council, is able to grant, on the admission of candidates to the novitiate and to simple profession, on the assignment of brothers to a house and convent of the vicariate, on the confirmation of conventual priors and the appointment of superiors of houses.
385 (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Definitive ACG 2019 Biên Hòa n. 403, Acceptata ACG 2016 Bologna n. 295 Revision history
  1. The regional prior has charge of the vicariate as the vicar of the prior provincial and has, in addition to the faculties granted by the provincial chapter, the right:
    1. to assign brothers who are in the vicariate, without prejudice to the rights of the prior provincial;
    2. to confirm a conventual prior as provided for in n. 467 and to appoint superiors of houses as provided for in n. 332, unless the vicariate statute provides otherwise;
    3. to participate by right of office in the provincial council, unless something different has been laid down in the pro­vincial statute;
    4. to participate by right of office in a provincial chapter – see 352, § I, 1.
    1. The regional prior is elected for four years by the voters assigned to the convents of the vicariate and is confirmed by the prior provincial with the consent of his council;
    2. when the time for which the regional prior was elected has expired or when for any reason whatsoever he has ceased to hold office, until a successor has been confirmed his office shall be held by the prior who has spent the longest time in the Order in the same vicariate;
    3. what has been laid down for a conventual prior in n. 302, § I, holds for a regional prior, mutatis mutandis.
386 (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Definitive ACG 2022 Tultenango n. 348, Secunda ACG 2019 Biên Hòa n. 404, Technice ACG 2016 Bologna n. 296, Acceptata ACG 2016 Bologna n. 297 Revision history
  1. In every vicariate there shall be a council whose consent or advice the regional prior vicar provincial1 must seek on important transactions according to the norm of vicariate statutes. The acts of this council after being collected are to be sent to the prior provincial.
  2. The number of these councillors and the manner of their election or appointment shall be determined by the vicariate statute.
  3. When in accordance with the prescriptions of the Book of Constitutions and Ordinations or the statute of the province or vicariate, the prior provincial, with his provincial council, has to deal with matters which concern the vicariate, he must first also consult the vicariate council before consulting the provincial council. When however it is a question of confirming, appointing, or removing the regional prior vicar provincial, he consults only the provincial council (see n. 373, 1).
387 (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history

All the brothers, especially those living outside their convent, shall gather periodically to discuss the apostolic and regular life and, if the occasion presents itself, to formulate specific proposals for a future provincial chapter.

388 (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Definitive ACG 2019 Biên Hòa n. 405, Acceptata ACG 2016 Bologna n. 298 Revision history

The officials of a regional vicariate shall be appointed according to the norm of the statutes.

389 (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Abrogatus ACG 2016 Bologna n., Secunda ACG 2013 Traugurii n. 235, Acceptata ACG 2010 Romæ n. 278 Revision history

Where the conditions for a regional vicariate indicated in n. 384 above are lacking, a provincial chapter has power to establish a provincial vicariate and to draw up a special statute for it. If there are at least ten voters, they have the right to elect a vicar provincial; otherwise, having consulted the brothers, a vicar provincial shall be appointed by the prior provincial.

Effective Date
  • 1

    a technical change inserted by Bologna 2016