New terminology and deanery announced, explained

Following consultation with the College of Consultors and the Presbyteral Council, Bishop George Leo Thomas has determined that beginning July 1, 2007, the Diocese of Helena will use the terms Deanery and Dean rather than Vicariate and Area Vicar.
This change distinguishes the roles in the Church carried out by different individuals. An Episcopal Vicar “stands in the place of” the Bishop for an area of responsibility (such as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy). On the other hand, the principal responsibility of the Dean is to coordinate ministry within the Deanery. He does not “stand in the place of” the Bishop within the Deanery. Thus, restoring the titles “Dean” and “Deanery” will assist to avoid confusion between the role of a Dean and the role of an Episcopal Vicar.
At the same time, and again with the unanimous recommendation of the College of Consultors and Presbyteral Council, Bishop Thomas has created a sixth deanery, the Bozeman Deanery, made up of parishes formerly included in the Helena Deanery. This change makes it more realistic for the respective Deans to coordinate ministry in these areas of the diocese.
The Bozeman Deanery includes the parishes in Bozeman, Harlowton, Three Forks, West Yellowstone and White Sulphur Springs, along with their various missions. The Helena Deanery includes the parishes in Boulder, East Helena, Helena, Helmville, Townsend, with their respective missions, and Carroll College campus ministry.
Bishop Thomas made two additional modifications to deanery membership. The parishes of the Flint Creek Catholic Community (St. Michael in Drummond and St. Philip in Philipsburg) are in the Missoula Deanery; and the parishes in Plains and Thompson Falls along with their missions now are in the Kalispell Deanery.
Bishop Thomas has appointed Deans for each of six Deaneries. They are:
Bozeman Deanery: Father Leo Proxell, three-year term.
Butte Deanery: Father Thomas Haffey, two-year term.
Conrad Deanery: Father Edward Kohler, one-year term.
Helena Deanery: Monsignor Kevin O’Neill, VG, one-year term.
Kalispell Deanery: Father Rudy Bullman, three-year term.
Missoula Deanery: Father Edward Hislop, two-year term.
Those who work in pastoral ministry within each Deanery will meet on a regular basis to participate in the various steps of implementing the recently distributed Diocesan Pastoral Plan Come to the Light.

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 23, No. 7, July 20, 2007.