Coordinating Competence of the Parish Priest. Selected Issues

Abstract

Realization of the service of pastorate, at the lowest level of the hierarchical structure of the Church, which is the parish, just like on the remaining levels, requires the fulfillment of definite criteria. One of them is the principle of coordinating all the actions. The parish priest, as the pastor of the parish that has been entrusted to his care, is equipped by the ecclesial legislator with defined coordinating competence. It is connected with the following tasks: sanctifying, teaching and managing God’s People. Among the latter one actions towards the parishioners, the parish curates, the collegial bodies in the parish (the council for economical matters and the pastorate council), as well as towards the rectors of the churches and chaplains should be distinguished.