CHURCH LEADERS

AND

SYSTEM
OF
AUTHORITY
 CHRIST HIMSELF IS
THE SOURCE OF THE
CHURCH’S
AUTHORITY.
To ensure the success of this mission,
Christ gave his Church the ability to
teach, govern and sanctify with
Christ’s own authority.
The Apostles appointed successors to
ensure that the Gospel would continue
to be handed on faithfully as
“the lasting source of all life for the
Church”
(Vatican II, “Lumen Gentium” 20;
also Catechism #860).
THE SOURCE AND GUARANTEE
OF THIS CHURCH AUTHORITY IS
CHRIST’S CONTINUING
PRESENCE IN HIS CHURCH

“LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO

THE CLOSE OF THE AGE”
(MT 28:20).
THE PURPOSE OF THIS AUTHORITY IS TO GIVE THE CHURCH THE
ABILITY TO TEACH WITHOUT ERROR ABOUT THE ESSENTIALS OF
SALVATION:

“ON THIS ROCK, I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE POWERS OF

DEATH SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT”
(MT 16:18).
 THE SCOPE OF THIS
AUTHORITY
CONCERNS THE
OFFICIAL TEACHINGS
OF THE CHURCH ON
MATTERS OF FAITH,
MORALS, AND
WORSHIP
(LITURGY &
SACRAMENTS).
 WE BELIEVE THAT,
BECAUSE OF CHRIST’S
CONTINUED PRESENCE AND
GUARANTEE, HIS CHURCH
CANNOT LEAD PEOPLE
ASTRAY WITH ITS
OFFICIAL TEACHINGS

(WHICH ARE DISTINCT

FROM THE INDIVIDUAL
FAILINGS AND OPINIONS OF
ITS MEMBERS, PRIESTS,
BISHOPS, AND POPES)
DEGREES
OF
ORDERS
 DEACONATE
“In order to serve”

is called to serve as Jesus

served has a special call to
minister to the poor

Right to baptize, preach

and administer Holy
Communion.
 PRESBYTERA
TE
“Co-workers of the Bishop”
is an important coworker with the
bishop in the mission of teaching,
sanctifying, and governing fulfills
his ministry primarily through the
celebration of the Sacraments,
especially the Eucharist
Power to change bread and
wine into body and blood of
Christ and to forgive sins.
 EPISCOPATE
“Fullness of the sacrament Holy
Orders”

The bishop is ordained in the line of

Apostolic Succession that extends
back to the twelve Apostles
together with other bishops
Power to confirm and
to ordain.
HIERARCHY OF THE
CHURCH
 DEACONS
Permanent deacons are men ordained to an office
in the Catholic Church who normally have no
intention or desire of becoming priests. He can be
single or married. If single, he must remain single
during his diaconate. If married, he must be over
the age of 35 and be married before being
ordained a deacon. If his wife dies before him, he
may be ordained a priest if the bishop permits and
approves, however he may not marry again
without special permission.
Transitional deacons are seminarians, students in
the last phase of training for the Catholic
priesthood. After being a deacon for a year, they
are ordained a priest by the bishop.
 PAROCHIAL VICAR
The term "Parochial Vicar" is
interchangeable with the terms
"Associate Pastor" and "Assistant
Pastor".

A "Parochial Vicar" is a priest who is

assigned by the competent authority
to assist the pastor in the pastoral
ministry of a parish.
 MONSIGNOR
The Roman Catholic Church
uses "monsignor" as a title for
certain respected, senior priests.

The term "monsignor" is simply

an honorary title to acknowledge
the importance of the current
duties they are preforming as
priests.
 PARISH PRIESTS
The pastor is appointed by the bishop as "the
proper shepherd" of the parish. He must fulfil his
duties to teach, to sanctify and to govern the
faithful with the cooperation of the priests,
deacons, religious and lay members of his parish.
These duties include the preaching of the Word of
God in its entirety. A special emphasis is placed on
the pastor’s obligation to provide for the Catholic
education of his people, particularly children and
young adults, and ensuring that the most holy
Eucharist is the center of parish life.
 BISHOPS
A bishop oversees a
diocese, which is a
collection of local
parishes.
 ARCHBISHOPS

The head of an archdiocese,

who bears responsibility for the
smaller neighboring dioceses
within his metropolitan
territory.
COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
The Cardinals constitute a special college and
they assist the Roman Pontiff collegially
when they are called together to deal with
questions of major importance; they do so
individually when they assist the Pope
especially in the daily care of the universal
Church by means of the different offices
which they perform.
The primary responsibility of a cardinal is to
elect a new pontiff when the seat of Peter is
vacant.
 THE POPE
Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Jesus Christ
Successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles
Supreme Pontiff of The Universal Church
He’s the bishop of Rome, which means he has
supreme, full, immediate, and universal jurisdiction
all over the world (although the title says “Rome”,
the job encompasses the whole Church). He’s the
head of the entire Catholic Church. As head of the
Church, the pope directs the faithful around the
world both directly and through mandates to the
bishops who oversee the administrative territories
known as dioceses. He also elevates bishops to the
rank of cardinal.
 THE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH
REMINDS US THAT GOD CALLS ALL OF US
TO BE FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST

THEY MINISTER IN OUR NAME AND

SACRIFICE THEIR LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF
THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
COMPOSE A PRAYER FOR THE CLERGY
AND FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH.

FORMAT:
GRATITUDE
PETITION
INTERCESSION