Presbyteral Council

In accordance with the Code of Canon Law a Presbyteral Council is to be established in each diocese. The Presbyteral Council is a group of priests which, representing the presbyterium, is to be like a senate of the bishop and which assists the bishop in the governance of the diocese according to the norm of law to promote as much as possible the pastoral good of the portion of the people of God entrusted to him.

The Presbyteral Council is to have its own statutes approved by the diocesan bishop, attentive to the norms issued by the conference of bishops. The manner of electing members of the Presbyteral Council must be determined in the statutes in such a way that, insofar as possible, the priests of the presbyterium are represented, taking into account especially the different ministries and various regions of the diocese.

It is for the diocesan bishop to convoke the Presbyteral Council, preside over it, and determine the questions to be treated by it or receive proposals from the members. Members of the Presbyteral Council are to be designated for a time determined in the statutes, in such a way, however, that the entire council or some part of it is renewed within five years. The present term of office in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry – cuddalore is Five years.