Archbishop Coakley reconfigures diocese into deaneries

For many years, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City was divided into nine regions. Each region had a vicar, appointed by the archbishop. Recently, with the assistance of the Priests Council, Archbishop Coakley reorganized the archdiocese using terminology found in Canon Law.
 
Starting Oct. 1, the regions will be known as “deaneries” and the vicars will be called “deans.”
 
This change also provides an opportunity to consolidate the nine previous regions – which in parts of the archdiocese left some regions with only a few priests – into six deaneries arranged by geographic area. A smaller number of deaneries will make it possible to gather together not only the priests of that deanery, but also staff members from the parishes and missions within each deanery to help advance the mission of the Church in Oklahoma.
 
The duties and responsibilities of a dean include:
 
- To serve as an appointed member of the Priests Council;
 
- To host semi-annual deanery meetings with the priests of his deanery and/or additional meetings when needed;
 
- To build fraternity among priests of the deanery by contacting them periodically to offer support and guidance, and to be a reliable resource;
 
- To assist in disseminating information from the Priests Council and chancery offices to the priests of his deanery;
 
- To check sacramental records of every parish/mission in his deanery at least every other year.
 
The following priests will serve as deans:
 
Father Stephen Bird - Central North
Father Joseph Jacobi - Central South
Father Christopher Brashears -Northwest
Father Carson Krittenbrink - Northeast
Father Brian Buettner - Southwest
Father Oby Zunmas - Southeast