Chapter IX. Duties of Parish Priests

THE parochial system is not an institution of the primitive Church, much less of divine origin. For some centuries it was usual for the bishop to reside in some city with his body of clergy around him, some of whom were despatched as occasion required to minister to the faithful in outlying districts. In the fifth and sixth centuries parishes began to make their appearance in some places in the country districts, and in the eleventh, parish churches began to be instituted in the cities. Even at the period of the Council of Trent the parochial system had by no means become universal, but this council commanded that where churches had no fixed limits nor the pastors their own flock, and the sacraments were administered promiscuously to any who asked for them, the bishops should divide the people into fixed and proper parishes and assign to each its perpetual and separate parish priest, who might know them, and from whom alone they might lawfully receive the sacraments.¹ It added, indeed, that they might provide in some better way as circumstances of place demanded.

The Code of Canon Law prescribes that the territory of each diocese be divided into distinct parts called parishes, and that to each parish be assigned its own parish church with separate parishioners, and over it is to be placed its own parish priest for the necessary cure of souls (Can. 216).

The bishop should also divide his diocese into separate districts consisting of several parishes and called vicariates forane, or deaneries.

In the same way, where it can be done conveniently, vicariates apostolic and prefectures apostolic are to be divided.

The parts into which vicariates and prefectures apostolic are divided are called quasi-parishes, and the priests placed over them are called quasi-parish priests.

A parish priest is a priest or moral person or corporation who is collated to a parish in title with the cure of souls to be exercised under the authority of the local Ordinary (Can. 451).

A monastery or a cathedral chapter may have the habitual cure of souls as parish priest, but in accordance with Canon 471 such corporation must constitute a vicar to exercise the actual cure of souls, and allow him his decent support according to the judgement of the bishop.

‘When the parish priest has obtained possession of his parish, it is his lawful title for the exercise of all the duties and rights belonging to the office, and for the receiving of all the emoluments connected with it.

Quasi-parish priests and vicars of parish priests have in general all the rights and duties of parish priests (Can. 451, Sec. 2).

¹ Sess. 24, de Ref., c. 13.

In order that a parish priest may be able to fulfil his duties and be ready to help his parishioners in their spiritual needs, he should reside in the presbytery near the church.

The parish priest is allowed to be absent for two or three months, either continuous or interrupted, in the year, unless a grave reason in the judgement of the Ordinary himself requires a longer absence or permits only a shorter.

The days during which a parish priest is engaged in spiritual exercises, in accordance with Canon 126, once a year, are not reckoned in the two months of vacation.

Whether the time of vacation be continuous or interrupted, when the absence is to last beyond a week, the parish priest, besides a legitimate cause, ought to have the leave of the Ordinary in writing, and leave a vicar as substitute in his place to be approved by the same Ordinary; and if the parish priest is a religious he requires, in addition, the consent of his superior, and his substitute ought to be approved both by the Ordinary and by his superior.

If a parish priest is compelled by some sudden and grave reason to depart and to be absent beyond a week, let him inform the Ordinary by letter as soon as possible, telling him the reason of his departure and the priest who supplies for him, and let him abide by his commands. Even for a period of shorter absence a parish priest ought to provide for the needs of the faithful, especially if special circumstances demand it (Can. 465).

The Westminster Synods require that curates give notice to the parish priest if they wish to absent themselves even for a day.

On Sundays and on the other days of obligation throughout the year it is the peculiar duty of the parish priest to preach the word of God to the people in the usual homily, especially in the Mass, which is more frequented by the people.

The parish priest cannot habitually satisfy this obligation by employing another to do it, except for a good reason approved by the Ordinary.

The Ordinary may allow the sermon to be omitted on certain more solemn festivals, or even on some Sundays for a good reason (Can. 1344).

The kind and manner of instruction should be accommodated to the people, teaching them what is necessary for salvation, inveighing against vice and inculcating virtue, so that the people may be able to avoid hell and gain heaven, as the Council of Trent teaches.

The parish priest should prepare the children of his parish for the reception of the sacraments of Penance and Confirmation, and more specially for their first Communion. Moreover, after their first Communion he should take the opportunity to give them fuller instruction. On Sundays and days of obligation at some suitable time he should give catechetical instruction to the grown-up people of his parish (Can. 1330-1332).

To be able to fulfil his duties towards the members of his flock, a parish priest must know them, and he should not wait till they come to him; he should visit them and seek out those who have wandered from the fold. He is bound to correct the erring and to strive to recover them. He should also be able to devote some time to inquiring souls outside the fold. He should keep a book in which to enter particulars concerning the status animarum. He must be ready to administer the sacraments at the reasonable request of his parishioners, and he must say Mass in order that they may be able to fulfil their obligation of hearing it on the appointed days. Indeed, the provincial synods express a desire that there should be Mass daily in the parish church, and it will be the duty of the priest to provide this wherever the faithful have been led to expect it and frequent the church for the purpose.

On all Sundays and holidays of obligation, even on those that have been suppressed, parish priests are bound to apply Mass for their people (Can. 466).

Quasi-parish priests are bound to apply Mass for their people at least on the more solemn feasts mentioned in Canon 306.

The parish priest should say the Mass to be applied for the people in the parish church unless circumstances require or suggest otherwise. If he is lawfully absent he can apply the Mass for the people either himself in the place where he is staying, or through the priest who supplies for him in the parish (Can, 466, secs. 4, 5).

The Code mentions five kinds of parochial vicars: Vicarius curatus, Vicarius oeconomus, Vicarius substitutus, Vicarius adjutor, and Vicarius co-operator. (Vicar with the cure of souls, Vicar-econome, substitute Vicar, assistant Vicar, and co-operating Vicar.)

It will be sufficient for our purpose to say something on the duties of Vicarii co-operatores, or curates, as they are frequently called in this country.

If, on account of the number of people or for some other good reason, the Ordinary judges that one priest cannot look after a parish, he should appoint one or more curates and . assign them a decent support.

The rights and duties of a curate are to be learnt from the diocesan statutes, from the letters and faculties of the Ordinary, and from the commission of the parish priest, but unless his sphere of activity is expressly limited, he should, from the nature of his office, take the place of the parish priest and help him in the whole care of the parish, except that he is not bound to apply Mass for the people. He is subject to the authority of the parish priest, who ought in a fatherly manner to instruct and guide him in the cure of souls, watch over him, and at least once a year send a report concerning him to the Bishop (Can. 476).