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The parochial system
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Slater, Manual of Moral Theology
Vol. II, Bk. I, Pt. II, 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).