LEAVEN ILLUSTRATION BY TODD HABIGER
THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 45, NO. 31 | MARCH 22, 2024
Archdiocese adopts deanery model By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — “We’re all one family,” said Father Anthony Saiki. But each geographic region of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has its own needs, he said, and parish priests desire fraternity and support. To foster a greater sense of community, the pastoral regional model that’s been in place in the archdiocese since
the 1970s was changed to a deanery model, effective Jan. 1. Deaneries fall under the Code of Canon Law, that states that a bishop has authority to group parishes together based on geographical location. Each deanery is served by a dean — a priest who pastors a parish within it. The geographic locations of the archdiocesan deaneries will remain the same. “I think there’s a lot of potential,” said Father Saiki, rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, and a member of the presbyteral council.
Father Saiki explained how the change came about. “We, since the ’70s, had our pastoral regional model,” he said, “and the goal of it was to help coordinate parochial efforts in particular regions. “And it worked. It was a beautiful system.” But over time, the role of the regional leader became ineffective, he said, and communication within the regions grew stagnant. “It came to the forefront of the conversation with [Archbishop Joseph F.
Naumann] and the presbyteral council when the priests of the Southern Region wrote a letter suggesting that we consider deaneries,” said Father Saiki. The letter was sent around a year ago. Since then, Archbishop Naumann and the presbyteral council had multiple conversations about how the model could be reformed, revamped or switched up entirely. >> See “NEW” on page 4