Understanding Ministerial Public Juridic Persons in Church Law
Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (MPJPs) are legal entities within Canon or Church Law established for specific purposes with designated individuals representing them. They play a crucial role in stewarding ministries and connecting them directly to the Church. The emergence of MPJPs reflects Vatican II's emphasis on the People of God and Pope Francis's practical implementations of inclusivity and diversity.
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Introduction to Ministerial Public Juridic Persons Background to Loreto Ministries MPJP
MPJPs in Australia About MPJPs
What is a Ministerial Public Juridic Person? A juridic person is a legal entity under Canon or Church Law which is set up for one or more specific purposes within Church law, it is analogous to a corporation within civil law. Each juridic person functions through designated physical persons who serve as its representative according to its approved statutes. Such ecclesial entities are designated as public juridic persons (PJPs) when their purposes have been formally sanctioned by a Church authority and are carried out publicly under its auspices.
What is a Ministerial Public Juridic Person? PJPs include dioceses, parishes and religious congregations. To distinguish these traditional PJPs from the new entities, the latter have been given the tag ministerial PJPs. A ministerial PJP (MPJP) has the role and responsibilities of stewardship or sponsorship of ministries, enabling the ministries to relate directly to the Church, comparably to when they were sponsored by the religious institute/s which instigated each PJP.
The Emergence of the Ministerial Public Juridic Person The Second Vatican Council: Emphasised that the Church is a community of believers, the People of God. Promoted the calling of all the baptised to the mission of the Church. Highlighted the indispensablerole of the laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem n. 1).
The Emergence of the Ministerial Public Juridic Person Pope Francis is implementing this Vatican II vision in practical ways. Examples include: Restructuring Moves to synodality Appointment of women to posts and groups previously not open to women There is an emerging emphasis on inclusion, listening and competence, rather than status, as well as on appreciating diversity.
The Emergence of the Ministerial Public Juridic Person At a 2014 conference focused on the role of the laity, Pope Francis said: Each member of the People of God is inseparably a disciple and a missionary. We must always start again from this foundation, common to all of us. Pope Francis (2014) Message to the Conference, The Lay Christian s Mission in the City, 7-8 March, Pontifical Lateran University, Rome. The emergence of the ministerial public juridic persons is one creative response to this call whereby the gifts or charisms of the laity are being brought to the mission of the Church in the modern world.
The Emergence of the Ministerial Public Juridic Person The establishing authority for MPJPs can vary: Some have been established by the Holy See. Others have been authorised by Diocesan or Provincial Bishops. While the model varies, such religious-lay partnerships have in common the continuation and long-term stable governance of Church ministries and are authorised for this apostolate through their establishment as new Church entities under the Code of Canon Law.
The Emergence of the Ministerial Public Juridic Person The First Australian MPJP Catholic Healthcare 1994. Established by the Bishops of the Province of Sydney. Catholic Healthcare brought together healthcare ministries. The foundation members were six New South Wales-based religious institutes.
The First Australian MPJP cont. The decree establishing Catholic Healthcare stated: The Church has ever developed and adopted new structures to carry on more effectively its mission Anticipating the new millennium and motivated by the desire to ensure the continuation of Christ s healing presence in the world through a healthcare service that is authentically Christian, the meeting of the Bishops of the Province of Sydney was asked to establish a new Catholic organisation which will share in the mission of the Church through the ministry of Catholic healthcare as a public juridic person. www.catholichealthcare.com.au References: Association of Ministerial PJPs Ministerial PJPs advancing lay leadership in the Australian Church
Our story so far Evolution of the Governance of Loreto Schools M. Gonzaga Barry With thanks to Sr. Mary Wright ibvm
Evolution of the Governance of Loreto Schools The Discernment Process 2008 2014: The Province Congregations in 2008 and 2014 voted to consider an MPJP for our incorporated ministries. 2015: The Province leadership decided to establish Loreto Ministries Limited (LML) as a civil entity (with a view to setting up an MPJP at a later date). 2021: The Province Leadership, with the approval of the Institute Leadership, set up a committee to explore options for an MPJP. 2022: In May the Province chose to apply for an MPJP for future governance of the schools and other ministries.
Evolution of the Governance of Loreto Schools The Petition to the Holy See The petition was presented by the Institute Leader in Rome. The Vatican Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL) studied the petition. They granted permission with a document called a Decree.
Loreto Ministries MPJP Structure
Loreto Ministries MPJP Regarding Language Sponsor: The Province is the only sponsor, acting through a Sponsors Council. The Province Leader and Council are the Canonical Sponsors Council of Loreto Ministries MPJP. NB: They will also continue to be the Members of Loreto Ministries Limited. Stewards: The Canonical Stewards of the LM MPJP were appointed by the Sponsors Council. The Canonical Stewards are the directors of Loreto Ministries.
Loreto Ministries MPJP Canonical Statutes Article Two: Purposes 2.1 As a Public Juridic Person, Loreto Ministries continues the mission of Jesus Christ and assumes responsibility for the education ministries transferred to it by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Institute), and responds to other needs, in accordance with the charism of Mary Ward, with particular care for communities experiencing poverty and disadvantage. 2.2 Loreto Ministries exists to ensure through its governance, policies and practices that each of the works for which it is responsible operates in conformity with the teaching, discipline and law of the Roman Catholic Church. 2.3 Loreto Ministries will build on the charism and educational traditions of the Institute.
Loreto Ministries MPJP Canonical Statutes Other Points to Note The Sponsors Council will retain authority to approve: The vision and mission of Loreto Ministries The Loreto Ministries Limited Constitution Formation programs for leaders The sale of significant property Amendments to the Statutes before approval by the Holy See The Sponsors Council will also appoint future Stewards of Loreto Ministries.
Loreto Ministries MPJP Mission Statement Continuing the mission of Jesus as seekers of truth and doers of justice We offer excellent Catholic education within the Mary Ward tradition We provide leadership for vibrant and flourishing ministries We collaborate with others to build a just and sustainable world In a spirit of discernment we act with freedom and integrity and are people of joy
Leave after you a something on which others may build Mother Gonzaga Barry `A Mother s Letter to Her Children 7 March 1887 Eucalyptus Blossoms June 1887 THANK YOU Carolyn Young BA (Hons.), GradDipEd (Sec.), MRE, MEdLead, MBA (Exec) Director of Mission & Identity Tel: 0460 034 208 | Email: carolyn.young@loretoministries.org.au
