PARROCO. — He is a priest or a parish (v.) is conferred in title, together with the care of souls, to be exercised subject to the authority of the Ordinary of the place (can. 451, 1). quasi-parish priests (v.) who preside over quasi-parishes, and parish vicars endowed with full parochial authority, who—whether they are actual vicars (can. 471), vicars oeconomi (can. 472), substitute vicars (can. 474), or coadjutor vicars (can. 475)—are, in their rights and obligations, equated with parish priests. Military chaplains must observe particular provisions of the Holy See (can. 451, 3).
I. ORIGIN
As regards the etymology, some authors consider the derivation to be from the Greek παροχάς, which was the prefect of the stations; others from παρέχω (to supply), in the sense that the priests were entrusted with proclaiming the word of God to the people and administering the Sacraments; still others, more correctly, derive the name from παραιχέω (to dwell), whence παραιχέω (episcopal territory), from which comes παραιχέω (inhabitant), that is, the priest who dwells together with the people. Its institution dates back to the fourth century and specifically to the Council of Arles (A.D. 314, canon 21), where mention is made of the rural clergy. In the seventh century, priests appointed over rural parishes were called archpriests; in the ninth century, pastors, rectors, and plebani. In the sources, the name p. is rarely found; only after the Council of Trent did this appellation become common.The parochial office is of ecclesiastical institution. An alleged origin in divine law was defended in France during the Jansenist controversies, and subsequently in Italy, particularly on the occasion of the Synod of Pistoia; but it has no basis in Scripture or in the divine-ecclesiastical tradition. Moreover, the historical origins of the parish prove the contrary. Parochial rights therefore depend solely on the provisions of canon law.
II. NATURE
The parish priest assists the bishop in the task of leading to eternal salvation the individual faithful, whom the bishop’s direct care could not ordinarily reach. His function is a true ecclesiastical office: he receives the parish permanently and, as it were, in ownership; he becomes its true holder and exercises the office in his own name and in a stable manner; he may be removed only for a just and grave cause provided for by law. The primary object of this office is the care of souls, which is exercised especially through the exposition of the truths of the faith, according to the capacity of the faithful, so that at every age they may be safeguarded against errors. A necessary consequence of teaching is the administration of the Sacraments, which bestow and preserve God’s grace in the faithful.The proper performance of these functions requires unity of direction; therefore the CIC establishes that there shall be only one parish priest in every parish (can. 460). Two parishes are invalidly conferred upon a single parish priest, because the two offices are incompatible (can. 156), except where they are united neque principaliter; nor may several parish priests cumulatively have the same subjects and the same ministry: rules governing not only parishes yet to be erected, but also those already erected (Commission for Interpretation, 14 July 1922: AAS, 14 [1922], p. 527). The case in which the parish priest holds one parish in title and another in administration is excepted. These prohibitions do not absolutely exclude the possibility that two parishes may have their seat in the same church, if there is a real necessity (AAS, 10 [1918], p. 285). Although these functions must be carried out under the direction of the Ordinary, the bishop may not restrict or limit his faculties: the parochial office is determined by common law, to which the Ordinaries too are subject. They, evidently, as pastors, may perform all parochial functions and may delegate other persons as well; yet it is proper that this right be exercised rarely and in circumstances of notable importance and benefit to souls. This does not mean to deny the bishop the right to withdraw certain families from the jurisdiction of the parish priest where there is a just and reasonable cause (can. 464, 2), since, although the parish priest has authority over the whole territory of the parish, he does not have a right concerning the attachment of individual families to that particular territory.
The jurisdiction of the parish priest is exercised only in the internal forum, since his office is instituted principally for the good of the individual faithful: its chief concern is the salvation of souls. He may therefore lay down rules for the development of the piety of the faithful and take precautionary measures to prevent abuses against natural and ecclesiastical law; but he may in no way attach penalties or obligations in conscience to these rules. In truth, he also participates in executive authority, insofar as he is the administrator of parish property; but this right is exercised only by way of participation in the authority vested in the bishop and can readily be reduced to a rather economic function. The relationship, therefore, between parish and parish priest is principally one of governance. The parish priest, that is, presides over the supervision and administration of the parish, which he must guard as a good father of a family and direct by precepts, not by laws. This does not exclude the parish priest’s possession of ordinary authority: for this derives from the office (can. 464), to which it is attached by law, and he exercises it in his own name and not as the bishop’s delegate.
Such jurisdiction may be delegated wholly or only in part according to the provisions of the law. Without the bishop’s consent, the parish priest may not authorize preaching in his parish (can. 1337), may not grant the faculty to hear confessions (can. 873), and may not dispense from ecclesiastical laws without a special faculty (can. 83). He may grant certain dispensations in matrimonial matters (cann. 1043-44-45), from abstinence, fasting, hearing Mass, and servile works (can. 1245). The parish priest may subdelegate the faculty to dispense if he has obtained the indult (can. 199, 3).
III. ELECTION
The bishop has the right to appoint and install parish priests; the participation of the people is excluded under the law currently in force. The vicar general must have a special mandate; the capitular vicar may confirm the elected parish priest and accept the presentation by the patron: after one year has elapsed since the see became vacant, he may also confer parishes subject to free election. If these are parishes entrusted to religious, the competent Superior chooses the religious and presents him to the Ordinary of the place, who will carry out the inquiries required by law (can. 456).The bishop must make the appointment within six months, except where particular circumstances require a postponement (can. 458). The person to be appointed must already be a priest, a condition required for validity; for liceity, he must be of good conduct, sound doctrine, and animated by zeal, prudence, and especially patience and charity (can. 453). Among several worthy persons, the bishop must choose, under grave obligation, the worthiest; he must base his judgment not only on doctrine and piety, but also on the other qualities required to govern the parish (can. 459, 1, 2). Judgment concerning these qualities belongs exclusively to the bishop, who, in order to proceed legitimately, must consult the Curial documents relating to the person elected; seek confidential information, if he deems it appropriate, both within and outside the diocese; examine the results of the examinations taken during the first years of the priesthood; and subject the person elected, in his presence and that of the synodal examiners, to an examination. From this examination, however, with the consent of the examiners, a person known for his theological absence may be dispensed (can. 459, 3). The appointment may also be made by competitive examination, either special or general, at least in those places where the law of force (v.). Through the appointment, the parish priest acquires only the ius ad rem; he may exercise the care of souls from the moment he takes possession (v.). Before or at that moment, he must make the profession of faith (can. 1406, 1, 7).
IV. RIGHTS
The parish priest has the right to carry out everything pertaining to the care of souls and necessary for the administration of the parish. Certain acts and functions are reserved by common law to the parish priest, except in cases of special exemptions, which must always be proved. These functions, called parochial functions, may be performed by no one within the parish without the permission of the parish priest. They are strictly established as follows: 1) the administration of Baptism in solemn form; 2) the public carrying of the Most Holy Eucharist to the sick within the parish territory; 3) the carrying of the Most Holy Eucharist to the sick as viaticum, both publicly and privately, and the administration of Extreme Unction; 4) announcing the banns of ordination (can. 998, 1) and of marriage (can. 1022); assisting at marriages, for which he may delegate only in individual cases (can. 1094), and imparting the nuptial blessing to the spouses (can. 1108); 5) celebrating funerals, that is, accompanying the body from the house to the church, celebrating the funeral rite, and accompanying the body to the cemetery (can. 1216); 6) blessing houses on Holy Saturday or on another day according to local custom; 7) blessing the baptismal font on Holy Saturday and on the vigil of Pentecost (AAS, 15 [1922], p. 225). The parish priest is responsible for directing processions outside the church and likewise for imparting blessings with pomp and solemnity. If the parish is incorporated into the chapter, the parish priest is dispensed from these functions when they are performed by the canons (can. 462). The other functions celebrated in parishes principally belong to the parish priest, but there is no prohibition against their being performed in other churches; among them are novenas, tridua, daily evening services, first Communions, solemn Mass, Lenten sermons, etc.Parishioners are obliged to request the parochial functions from the parish priest, who has the right to receive the offerings they make on such occasions, even if the ceremony was not performed by him personally. Offerings are made especially on the occasion of Baptism, Marriage, and the funeral rite. The parish priest is obliged to provide his services free of charge if the persons concerned are poor. This right to such services was affirmed by Our Lord and reaffirmed by S. Paolo; the complete abolition of these offerings would not produce good results, since the people must understand that they have a sacred duty to support the priest who bestows so many spiritual benefits upon them. In this matter the parish priest must observe can. 1507.
V. OBBLIGHI
The p., by virtue of the office he holds, is bound to exercise the care of souls over all his faithful, an obligation incumbent upon him in justice. He must carry out this function by every means conducive to the spiritual good of souls, following both the norms laid down by particular statutes or customs and the prescriptions of the bishop. The specific obligations are: 1) residence: The p., in order to attend fruitfully to his duties, must reside in the parish house, which is generally built near the church; the Ordinary may permit him to live elsewhere, even outside the parish territory, provided that the sacred ministry suffers no detriment.He may be absent from the parish for a maximum period of two months in a year, whether in continuous or intermittent absences; retreats are not counted as vacation days. The Ordinary has the power to extend or reduce, for a grave reason, the periods established by law. The p. may not be absent for more than a week except for a just cause and with the written permission of the Ordinary. Before being absent, he must leave an approved substitute vicar: if the p. is a religious, he must also have the consent of his Superior. If there is a sudden cause, the p. may leave the parish, provided that he informs his bishop by letter and communicates the name of the vicar to him. In every case of absence, the p. must always provide for the needs of the faithful (can. 465); transgressors are punished by deprivation of the revenues (can. 2381) or even of the benefice itself (can. 2168). 2) The offering of the Holy Mass. This obligation is founded on hypothetical divine law and binds the p. in the same way as bishops: that is, the p. must fulfill this obligation on Sundays and on the other holy days of obligation, including those suppressed. This obligation is personal, real, and local: the p. must fulfill it personally; if for some reason, such as illness, he is unable to celebrate, he must either delegate another priest or, after recovering, celebrate as many Masses as were omitted; ordinarily, the rite must be performed in the parish church. If the p. is legitimately absent, he may apply the Mass in the place where he is or delegate a substitute. The Ordinary may permit the application to be made on a day other than that established by law; for a just reason, the p. too may, ad modum actus, defer the application to another day (can. 466). It is an excellent practice to celebrate the parish Mass, even on weekdays at a fixed time, in order to facilitate the participation of the faithful. 3) Furthermore, the p. must celebrate the sacred rites, administer the Sacraments whenever reasonably requested to do so, know his parishioners and prudently correct them, assist the poor, visit the sick assiduously, attend the dying, preach the word of God, provide catechetical instruction to children and adults, ensure that nothing contrary to faith and morals occurs in public and private schools, prevent abuses insofar as possible and remove scandals; promote pious associations of faith, piety, and charity, and administer the goods of the Church faithfully (cann. 467, 468, 469). The p. must parish registers (v.); he must also keep an inventory of the movable and immovable property owned by the parish (can. 1522-23), preserve the documents proving the parish’s right to the property (can. 1523, 6), and those concerning foundations and perpetual or temporary obligations, together with the time for their fulfillment and the respective alms.