Pastors / Administrators

2015
VISION Vocation Guide
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Diocesan
Office of Vocations

According to Code of Canon Law (528-530) the responsibilities of the pastor are as follows:

Proclaim the Word of God

Can. 528 §1 The parish priest has the obligation of ensuring that the word of God is proclaimed in its entirety to those living in the parish. He is therefore to see to it that the lay members of Christ’s faithful are instructed in the truths of faith, especially by means of the homily on Sundays and holy days of obligation and by catechetical formation.

Promote Social Justice

He is to foster works which promote the spirit of the Gospel, including its relevance to social justice.

Support Faith Formation and Youth Ministry

He is to have a special care for the catholic education of children and young people.

Reach Out to Inactive Catholics & the Unchurched

With the collaboration of the faithful, he is to make every effort to bring the gospel message to those also who have given up religious practice or who do not profess the true faith.

Celebrate the Sacraments

§2 The parish priest is to take care that the blessed Eucharist is the center of the parish assembly of the faithful. He is to strive to ensure that the faithful are nourished by the devout celebration of the sacraments, and in particular that they frequently approach the sacraments of the blessed Eucharist and penance. [INSERTION: Can. 530; last two sentences of Can. 529 follows.]


Can. 530 The functions especially entrusted to the parish priest are as follows:

• the administration of baptism;
• the administration of the sacrament of confirmation to those in danger of death, in accordance with can. 883, n. 3;
• the administration of Viaticum and of the anointing of the sick, without prejudice to can. 1003 §§2 and 3, and the imparting of the apostolic blessing;
• the assistance at marriages and the nuptial blessing;
• the conducting of funerals;
• the blessing of the baptismal font at paschal time, the conduct of processions outside the church, and the giving of solemn blessings outside the church;
• the more solemn celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays and holy days of obligation.

Promote Active & Full Participation

He is to strive to lead them to prayer, including prayer in their families, and to take a live and active part in the sacred liturgy. Under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, the parish priest must direct this liturgy in his own parish, and he is bound to be on guard against abuses.

Know his Parishioners

Can. 529 §1 So that he may fulfill his office of pastor diligently, the parish priest is to strive to know the faithful entrusted to his care. He is therefore to visit their families, sharing in their cares and anxieties and, in a special way, their sorrows, comforting them in the Lord.

Seek Out Those with Special Needs

If in certain matters they are found wanting, he is prudently to correct them. He is to help the sick and especially the dying in great charity, solicitously restoring them with the sacraments and commending their souls to God. He is to be especially diligent in seeking out the poor, the suffering, the lonely, those who are exiled from their homeland, and those burdened with special difficulties.

Foster Family Life

He is to strive also to ensure that spouses and parents are sustained in the fulfillment of their proper duties, and to foster the growth of christian life in the family.

Recognize & Promote the Role of the Laity

§2 The parish priest is to recognize and promote the specific role which the lay members of Christ’s faithful have in the mission of the Church, fostering their associations which have religious purposes.

Cooperate with Bishop and Clergy

He is to cooperate with his proper Bishop and with the presbyterium of the diocese.

Work Toward Building a Vibrant Parish Community

Moreover, he is to endeavor to ensure that the faithful are concerned for the community of the parish, that they feel themselves to be members both of the diocese and of the universal Church, and that they take part in and sustain works which promote this community.
 

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Note: Above headings are not part of the Code of Canon Law, but have been added to assist the reader and help with organization.