People and Contact Information
Mgr Canon John Hull VG
Email: vg@dabnet.org
Bishop's House, The Upper Drive, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 6NB
Tel: 01273 506387 (Bishop's House) or 01273 859701 (Direct)
Fax: 01273 501527
Mgr Benedict O'Shea VG
Email: thebenny@talk21.com
42 Arbrook Lane, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9EE
Tel: 01372 462451 Fax: 01372 463887
The Vicars General in our Diocese
The Vicars General play a key role in the administration and Communications strategy of the diocese through their close colloboration with the Bishop and their Ex-Officio participation is a number of key groups and committees.
Mgr Canon John Hull VG
In his role as a Vicar Genral Mgr. Hull is the Moderator of The Curia, a Consultor, a member of the Council of Priests, attends meetings of the Deans, is a member of the Diocesan Trustees, Chair of the Diocesan Finance Committee, a Trustee of St. John's Seminary, a Trustee of the Cabrini Children's Society and Editor of the Diocesan Directory. Mgr. Hull is also the Chancellor of the Diocese and a member of the Chapter of Canons of Arundel Cathedral.
Mgr Benedict O'Shea VG
In his role as a Vicar Genral Mgr. O'Shea is a Consultor, Chairs the Council of Priests, attends meetings of the Deans, is a member of the Diocesan Trustees, and of the Diocesan Finance Committee.
Link to the Bishop
The Vicars General meet with the Bishop as often as needed
Canon Law Summary
A Vicar General is to be appointed in each diocese by the diocesan Bishop; he is to assist the diocesan Bishop in the governance of the diocese and is endowed with ordinary power according to law.
The Bishop is obliged to appoint a Vicar General. By virtue of his office, a Vicar General has all the executive power of the Bishop which he exercises in the Bishop’s name in administrative or disciplinary affairs in temporal and spiritual matters, except in those areas which the law reserves to the Diocesan Bishop, or the Diocesan Bishop reserves to himself.
A Vicar General grants dispensations from the canonical form of marriage and from the marriage impediment of disparity of worship (also known as disparity of cult).
See Code of Canon Law 475-481
Civil Law
Both Vicars General are Trustees of the Diocese. Mgr. Hull is responsible for the employment of all Diocesan Staff.
