Chancery
Overview
Judicial Vicar/Chancellor
Rev. Msgr. Girard M. Sherba, PhD, JCD
Monsignor Girard Michael Sherba was ordained to the priesthood on 9 March 1979 at Sacred Heart Cathedral by the Most Reverend F. Joseph Gossman, Bishop of Raleigh, after having completed his studies at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana.
His pastoral assignments have been as parochial vicar at Saint Raphael Church, Raleigh, 1979-1981; pastor of Saint Gabriel and chaplain at East Carolina University, Greenville, 1981-1985; sent to Rome and attended Saint Thomas University (Angelicum), 1985-1987, receiving a JCL (licentiate in canon law); pastor of Saint Catherine of Siena, Tarboro, 1987-1988; pastor of Holy Trinity/Our Lady of Atonement (which became Holy Spirit), Kinston, 1988-1998; sent to Saint Paul University, Ottawa, receiving a JCD (doctorate of canon law) and a PhD (from the University of Ottawa), 1998-2000; and rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Raleigh, 2000 to the present.
Monsignor Sherba’s ministry in the Diocesan Tribunal has been as Advocate, 1980-1985; Defender of the Bond, 1987-1990; and Vicar Judicial, 1990 to the present. He was appointed Vice Chancellor in 1988 and served in that capacity until his appointment as Chancellor.
The principal ministry of the Chancellor is to take care that the acts of permanent records of the curia (diocesan staff) are gathered, arranged and safeguarded in the diocesan archives. The Chancellor will provide oversight not only of the diocesan archives, but also all marriage records. In addition, the Chancellor serves as the Delegate of the Diocesan Bishop to the Religious serving in the Diocese of Raleigh, and is a member of the Diocesan Council of Religious. He also serves as the liaison to the Pastoral Administrators serving in the Diocese of Raleigh.
Monsignor Sherba is also reappointed as Vicar Judicial. The Vicar Judicial is distinct from all other Episcopal Vicars and provides oversight for the ministry of the Diocesan Tribunal and consults with the Diocesan Bishop on matters guided by the Code of Canon Law as well as all additional sources of ecclesiastical law.
The current and new position titles most accurately reflect the ministry of justice, the stewardship of curial acts and the collaboration with Religious and lay leadership that Monsignor Sherba has exercised in his seventeen years as Vicar Judicial and nineteen years as Vice Chancellor of our Diocese. He shall continue his position as Rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral.