| BACK TO PARISH LIFE |
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| PARISH LIFE what is (are) these roles? |
| WHAT IS A PASTOR? 1.A Christian minister or priest having spiritual charge over a congregation or other group. 2.A layperson having spiritual charge over a person or group. 3.A shepherd. |
| WHAT IS A DEACON? Deacons are called to serve. The very word "deacon" is taken from the Greek word diakonia, meaning service. However, exactly what a deacon does varies depending upon the needs of those he serves. Deacons have a number of roles and responsibilities within the liturgy or Mass. They include announcing the Penetential rite, proclaiming the Gospel, preaching the Homily, voicing the general intercessions (or petitions), assisting with the Eucharistic gifts, serving as a minister of the Eucharist, purifying the vessels after communion, and dismissing the people at the conclusion of the Mass. Deacons are permitted to assist the Pastor of a parish by Baptizing and officiating at the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. They may also preside at Funeral services (although not at a Funeral Mass) and prayer services including Liturgy of the Word services, morning prayer, and evening prayer (also known as vespers). The roles of deacons outside of the liturgy varies greatly, depending upon the needs of the parish(es) in which they serve. These include: •Administrative roles - such as managing parishes when there is no priest available •Ministry to the sick and aged - pastoral ministry in hospitals and nursing homes. A number of deacons serve as chaplains. •Ministry to the poor •Ministry to those with drug or alcohol problems •Prison Ministry •Ministry to the mentally/physically disabled •Christian education - including teaching CCD, classes for the Order of Christian Initiation, and sacramental preparation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage) •And many more. There are a number of things that deacons cannot do (they are reserved to priests): •They cannot consecrate the Eucharist •They cannot hear confessions •They cannot administer the Anointing of the Sick Most deacons are not paid for their service and volunteer their time out of love for God and the Church. |
| WHAT IS A PRIEST? Roman Catholic priests attend to the spiritual, pastoral, moral, and educational needs of the members of their church. A priest's day usually begins with morning meditation and mass and may end with an individual counseling session or an evening visit to a hospital or home. Many priests direct and serve on church committees, work in civic and charitable organizations, and assist in community projects. Priests in the Catholic church belong to one of two groups-diocesan or religious. Both types of priests have the same powers, acquired through ordination by a bishop. Their differences lie in their way of life, their type of work, and the church authority to whom they are responsible. Diocesan priests commit their lives to serving the people of a diocese, a church administrative region, and generally work in parishes assigned by the bishop of their diocese. Religious priests belong to a religious order, such as the Jesuits, Dominicans, or Franciscans. Religious priests are assigned duties by their superiors in their respective religious orders. Some religious priests specialize in teaching, while others serve as missionaries in foreign countries, where they may live under difficult and primitive conditions. Others live a communal life in monasteries, where they devote their lives to prayer, study, and assigned work. Both religious and diocesan priests hold teaching and administrative posts in Catholic seminaries, colleges and universities, and high schools. Priests attached to religious orders staff a large proportion of the church's institutions of higher education and many high schools, whereas diocesan priests are usually concerned with the parochial schools attached to parish churches and with diocesan high schools. The members of religious orders do most of the missionary work conducted by the Catholic Church in this country and abroad. |
| WHAT ARE PASTORAL ASSOCIATES? A Pastoral Associate is a professional minister who collaborates with the pastor or pastoral life coordinator and parish team/staff to implement the mission of the parish. This role is accomplished by participating in the comprehensive planning, implementation, and evaluation of the parish goals and objectives. A Pastoral Associate is: • a person of faith and prayer, actively participating in Roman Catholic worship • articulate and confident in matters of faith - clear, empowered, and calm • able to relate well with all ages and all groups within the parish • clear in communication • able to cooperate with peers and authority • flexible and adaptable; able to live with a certain amount of ambiguity • eager to participate in on-going spiritual formation and educational opportunities |