Father Anthony Rapozo signs the “Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity” Aug. 14 at the priest’s installation ceremony as the new pastor of St. John Apostle and Evangelist Parish in Mililani. (Photo courtesy of Dann Ebina)
How was he chosen? What are his primary duties? How long will he stay?
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
His appointment is first announced in the bishop’s “official notices” in the Hawaii Catholic Herald. Then, customarily on July 1, the new pastor, unelected, mysteriously picked, moves into his assigned parish. After he has settled in, the bishop arrives to officially “install” him during a scheduled Mass.
It is a ritual many church-going Catholics are familiar with. But what exactly is a pastor? How is he picked? What are his duties and responsibilities?
According to diocesan judicial vicar, Father Mark Gantley, some of the “most beautiful canons in the Code of Canon Law” are those that describe the pastor’s role.
“The parish pastor is the proper shepherd of the parish entrusted to him,” the code says, “exercising the pastoral care of the community committed to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share.”
A pastor must see to it that “the word of God is proclaimed in its entirety to those living in the parish,” canon law says, including those who have “ceased the practice of their religion or do not profess the true faith.”
He must also make sure the Holy Eucharist is the “center of the parish assembly of the faithful.”
“He is to work so that the Christian faithful are nourished through the devout celebration of the sacraments,” the code says.
Strive to know the people
Father Gantley’s “favorite phrase” in the code is, “A pastor is to strive to know the faithful entrusted to his care.” It is an instruction “under-appreciated today with the rapid turnover of pastors,” he said.
The code continues, “Therefore he is to visit families, sharing especially in the cares, anxieties, and griefs of the faithful, strengthening them in the Lord, and prudently correcting them if they are failing in certain areas. With generous love he is to help the sick, particularly those close to death, by refreshing them solicitously with the sacraments and commending their souls to God; with particular diligence he is to seek out the poor, the afflicted, the lonely, those exiled from their country, and similarly those weighed down by special difficulties. He is to work so that spouses and parents are supported in fulfilling their proper duties and is to foster growth of Christian life in the family.”
On top of that, the pastor must take care that the facilities and other temporal goods of the parish are administered properly.
“Parishes in the Diocese of Honolulu are all territorial parishes,” Father Gantley said, “That is, all people who live in a certain territory belong to the parish, whether they register or not.”
“Having a defined territory gives a pastor a sense of responsibility for evangelization and service — these are the people he is meant to reach out to, to bring the face of Christ to,” he said.
“The pastor is not just there to serve Catholics, but he has a responsibility for ecumenism in the area and for preaching the Gospel message to those without faith,” Father Gantley said.
The church allows one pastor per parish. Other priests assigned to a parish to assist the pastor used to be called “associate pastors.” They are now known as
parochial vicars, roughly translated as the pastor’s representative or deputy.
In the Diocese of Honolulu, pastors are appointed to six-year terms, renewable for another six.
“Having terms provides stability,” Father Gantley said.
Bishop Larry Silva congratulates St. Anthony Parish in Kalihi’s new pastor, La Salette Father Arlan Intal, after his installation during a July 25 Mass. Father Intal is on his second stint at St. Anthony having spent a few months there before moving on to his previous assignment at St. Raphael Parish in Koloa on the Big Island. (Photo courtesy Dann Ebina)
Appointed after consultation
The diocesan bishop alone appoints pastors, but only after consultation with the diocesan Priest Personnel Board, an advisory group composed primarily of the vicars forane of the diocese’s nine vicariates. First, the Vicar for Clergy gives the board a list of parishes needing pastors and a list of priests available to fill the assignments. The bishop and the personnel board may also add to those lists.
“The board discusses and proposes” the priest whom they think is “best suited” for a parish, said diocesan Vicar for Clergy Father Gregorio Honorio.
“The discussion may take one meeting or several meetings before the bishop makes his final decision,” he said.
“Most of the time, Bishop Larry (Silva) agrees with the recommendation of the Priest Personnel Board,” Father Honorio said.
If a priest objects to an appointment, he is free to discuss it with the bishop, Father Honorio said, “and the priest can accept or refuse to accept the position.”
But ultimately, said canon lawyer Father Gantley, because a priest is bound by his promise of obedience to his bishop, the bishop has the last word. “But I do not think that the bishop will insist upon an assignment if the priest has reasonable objections.”
On the other hand, parishioners have no say in the process.
“We don’t usually consult them,” Father Honorio said. “However, some parishioners speak their mind once they’ve learned who will be coming to their parish.”
Hawaii parishes run by religious order priests — like the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts and the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette — are assigned pastors by a slightly different process.
The provincial superior of the order, advised by his governing council, recommends a pastor placement for the bishop’s consideration.
“Unless the bishop has a serious objection, the bishop confirms the proposed appointment,” Father Honorio said.
Msgr. Terrence Watanabe greets parishioners at his new pastoral assignment at St. Anthony Parish in Wailuku, Maui. (Courtesy photo)
Temporary administrators
The more than 20 priests serving in Hawaii parishes “on-loan” from other dioceses cannot be pastors. Instead, because they are here on a temporary basis, three or five years or longer, they are appointed as “administrators.”
A parish is given a “administrator” when there is no pastor available, explained Father Gantley. An administrator is meant to be temporary, until a pastor is appointed. Meanwhile, he serves like a pastor, “but he is not meant to make any innovations,” the judicial vicar said.
According to Father Gantley, the Vatican recently condemned the practice of appointing an administrator when it is possible to appoint a pastor, because the priest’s temporary status hinders parish stability and crimps evangelization efforts and pastoral care.
In the Diocese of Honolulu, administrators are not appointed to circumvent canon law, he said. But concerns remain.
“It is hard to imagine parish administrators getting to know the people as envisioned by canon law as a pastor can who serves with stability,” Father Gantley said. “The parish is just focused on surviving, not growing and reaching out.”
Order of installation
The final act in the assignment of a new pastor is the rite of installation, performed by the bishop during a Mass at the parish where the priest is named pastor. Parish administrators are usually not installed, Father Honorio said.
The Order of Installation, which is found in the church’s Book of Blessings, involves a presentation of the new pastor, his staff and parish council, to the congregation, and the pastor’s “Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity.”
The profession and oath consist of the Nicene Creed and a promise to adhere to church teaching. The document is signed on the altar by the new pastor and by the bishop as chief witness, and lists both the date of appointment and the date of installation.
Three copies are signed, one each for the pastor, the parish and the Office of Clergy.
