What are diocesan deaneries, and why do they exist?

Imagine being a bishop, trying to administer the numerous parishes under your diocesan umbrella, while also being that pastoral shepherd your flock needs. It’s a daunting task, and one every bishop needs assistance with, no matter how big or small the diocese.

The Church has a mechanism to deal with top-down administrative issues when a bishop needs to communicate directives and other pieces of information to the priests across a diocese. It’s called a deanery.

The Diocese of Fargo is made up of eight deaneries, which are eight geographical territories with their own boundaries. Each deanery is led by a dean nominated by the priests within that deanery and approved by the bishop. In most cases the dean is an experienced pastor. The deans give advice to the bishop regarding the pastoral needs of the people, which can vary from parish to parish, and to the priests within the deanery who have the gifts to serve those needs. 

Deans also review the sacramental and financial records and the temporal or material goods of the parishes in order to report the spiritual and material well-being of the parishes to the bishop. Priests assigned to a particular deanery meet monthly if possible to share at table, pray, and discuss important items from the bishop and items particular to the deanery. The deans coordinate and lead the deanery meetings of the priests in order that the priests can help each other with pastoral ministry to their people, prayer, and fraternity.

“One of the most important aspects of deanery meetings is the chance to socialize and bond with my brother priests,” said Father Tim Schroeder, pastor of St. Charles Church in Oakes, and a member of Deanery 1. “It gives our dean, Father Lagodinski, a chance to give us important updates, but the meetings are also very helpful in getting to know the other priests in the region and to learn from them.”

“The priests in our deanery schedule communal celebrations of the sacrament of Reconciliation during which we help hear the confessions of the people and give them absolution,” said Monsignor Dennis Skonseng, pastor of St. Catherine’s in Valley City and dean of Deanery 7. “The dean’s most importantly work with the Bishop Folda to carry out the mission of Christ throughout the entire Diocese of Fargo.” 

Deans may also be called upon by the bishop to represent him in the installation of a new pastor of a parish or parishes, to oversee the arrangements for the funeral rites of a priest, and to serve the clergy and people in a deanery in other ways.

“A dean is to be a support for the brother priests in the area and to assist the Bishop to be a liaison for the people and clergy,” said Father Chad Wilhelm, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Devils Lake and dean of Deanery 5. “A dean is a representative for the deanery to help the bishop with smooth pastoral operation of all the parishes in that particular area. It has been a joy and sometimes a challenge to serve the Church as dean. The priests of our diocese really want to serve the Church, and it has been an honor to serve in this capacity for my brothers and the Church.”