Difference between parish administrators and pastors explained

At a parish in Florida, a new priest has been listed as "parish administrator" rather than pastor, raising questions about the distinction between these roles. Jenna Marie Cooper, a canonist with a licentiate in canon law, explains that while there is a difference between the two titles, it might not affect parishioners' day-to-day experiences.

The term "pastor" is derived from the Latin word "parochus," which refers to the authoritative spiritual leader of a parish. Canon 519 of the Code of Canon Law describes this role as one where the priest exercises pastoral care under the authority of the diocesan bishop. The pastor is responsible for teaching, sanctifying, and ruling within his parish community.

A pastor enjoys "stability of office," meaning he cannot be moved without his consent under normal circumstances. This position can potentially be lifelong unless otherwise determined by local bishops' conferences. In the United States, pastors generally serve six-year renewable terms.

Conversely, a parochial administrator may be appointed when a parish becomes vacant or if the current pastor is unable to fulfill his duties due to reasons such as health issues or political exile. This role serves as an interim measure to ensure continued pastoral care but does not have stability of office like a pastor.

Canon 540 states that “A parochial administrator is bound by the same duties and possesses the same rights as a pastor unless the diocesan bishop establishes otherwise.” Therefore, while serving in this capacity, an administrator can perform nearly all functions of a pastor until further decisions are made by church authorities.

Jenna Marie Cooper's column appears weekly at OSV News. Questions can be sent to CatholicQA@osv.com.