Glossary of some of the terms used in official appointments

Criterion staff report

In this week’s issue of The Criterion, we offer readers an explanation of several of the terms used in the appointments made by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson. (See all the appointments homepage on the archbishop's website)
 

—Pastor: This is a priest assigned to a parish to care for the spiritual needs of the parishioners and all within the territory of the parish. They also oversee the administration of the parish and its ministries. Pastors are appointed to a term of six years, which can be renewed once. Special circumstances (such as being within six years of retirement) can allow for a pastor to stay beyond his second term.

—Administrator: The same role and responsibilities as a pastor but without a specified term length. This title is generally given to priests who have never been a pastor for their first year leading a parish; to diocesan priests who are not incardinated in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis but are serving here with permission of the bishop of their diocese; or to a priest remaining in full-time ministry after the age of 75.

—Administrator Pro Tempore: The same role and responsibilities of a pastor, except it is only for a defined period of time. That could be until someone is named the pastor or administrator at the parish, or until the already-named pastor returns to the parish (i.e., from a sabbatical). This temporary title usually does not last for more than one year.

—Parochial Vicar: The canon law title for what has been previously known in the archdiocese as an associate pastor. The parochial vicar serves in a parish to assist the pastor or administrator in his responsibilities to ensure the spiritual needs of the faithful are met.

—Sacramental Assistant: This indicates a priest who will assist the pastor or administrator with liturgies and sacraments (confessions, weddings, baptisms, anointings and funerals) but not in the administration of the parish.

—Chaplain Coordinator: This is an assignment given in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for our deanery high schools (Roncalli, Bishop Chatard, Cardinal Ritter, Father Thomas Scecina Memorial and Our Lady of Providence). All priests of the deanery are involved in ministry at these high schools, but the chaplain coordinator is the first point of contact for the high school in covering the sacraments and the spiritual needs of the students and staff. This priest helps coordinate the other deanery priests to minister in the high school when he is unavailable.

—Chaplain: This appointment is given to a priest or priests responsible for the sacramental and spiritual care of colleges, hospitals, prisons or non-deanery high schools (Seton Catholic and Father Michael Shawe Memorial). Sometimes priests volunteer to take on the spiritual care of other entities without being officially and formally assigned by Archbishop Thompson to do so and are called chaplains as well (i.e., police departments, fire departments, professional sports teams, Scouts, Knights of Columbus, etc.).

—Parish Life Coordinator (PLC): This is an appointment given to someone who is not a priest (sometimes a deacon, sometimes a religious sister, sometimes a layperson) to oversee all the operations and ministries of a parish when a pastor or administrator is not appointed. Parishes with a PLC also have a priest sacramental minister assigned to provide for the sacraments, and a priest moderator to represent the parish in canonical matters on special rare occasions. †