Chancery organizational changes to emphasize service model

Bishop George Leo Thomas announced Chancery organizational changes on Dec. 18, in a letter sent to the priests, pastors, pastoral administrators, deacons and sisters of the Diocese of Helena. The changes went into effect Jan. 1, 2007.
The major change involves modified assignments for Father John Robertson and Sister Rita McGinnis, SCL. Bishop Thomas consulted with the College of Consultors and Presbyteral Council in making the modifications.
In both his letter and remarks to the chancery staff, Bishop Thomas explained that the organizational changes reflect the evolution of Chancery services as part of the Diocesan Pastoral Council’s planning process.
“One strong indication coming from that process is that those who work for the diocesan offices do so in service of our diocesan Church and of its Bishop,” he wrote in his letter.
Sister McGinnis has been appointed Chancery Services Director, in addition to her pre-existing appointments as Delegate for Religious and Pastoral Planning Director. As Chancery Services Director, she will fulfill many of the functions formerly undertaken by Father Robertson as Moderator of the Curia.
These functions include directing and coordinating the work of the Chancery personnel; scheduling diocesan events; coordinating the Chancery budget-setting process; coordinating the Victim Assistance Advocates’ work; collecting information and preparing diocesan, national and international reports.
Father Robertson will continue as the Episcopal Vicar for Canonical Services, as well as Judicial Vicar for the diocesan Tribunal. As Episcopal Vicar, his duties will include direct assistance for Bishop Thomas, coordinating services to priests and deacons, and serving on diocesan advisory groups, and the boards of the Montana Catholic Conference and Catholic Social Services of Montana. These duties are in addition to his serving as sacramental administrator at St. Mary Parish in Helena.
“These are strength-based assignments for both Sister McGinnis and Father Robertson,” Bishop Thomas said. “We have two very gifted people doing what they really do well.”
Additional organizational changes in the individual areas of Chancery services have also been made to reframe the Chancery’s role in terms of pastoral service to the diocesan Church and the bishop. These changes will be reflected in the January 2007 edition of the diocesan directory.

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 23, No. 1, January 15, 2007.