The Hierarchical Structure of The Church

THE HIERARCHICAL
STRUCTURE OF THE
CHURCH
The Church is a hierarchical community.
The word hierarchy comes from the Greek words:
hieros (sacred) and arche (rule). Etymologically, it
means a sacred order, rule or “the principle of order
organizing the Church.” The Church’s hierarchy is
oriented towards leadership and service. Those who
have been given the hierarchical authority are
Leaders who serve or simply, servants of their
brothers and sisters. (cf. Mt 20:25-28; Mk 10:42-45;
Lk 22:25-27, LG 18).
Biblical Foundation:
• Mt. 16:18-20 - Peter’s primacy and leadership in the Church
• Jn 21:15-17 - Jesus’ confirmation of Peter’s power and leadership over the
whole Church
• Mt 18:18 - The promise of apostolic jurisdiction
• Mt 28:18-20 - The empowerment of apostle with the power and duty to teach,
shepherd and sanctify the whole Church
• Mk 3:13-19/Mt 10:2-4/Lk 6:12-16 - Apostolic leadership in the Church
• Acts 2:15-26 - The appointment of Matthias as Judas’ successor by apostles
• Acts 6:1-7 - The appointment of seven deacons by apostles
• Acts 15:23-29 - The apostles and presbyters decided on doctrinal and
disciplinary matters in the Council of Jerusalem in which Peter, Paul and
James had preeminent roles
The Pope
Known also as the Bishop of Rome, Vicar
of Jesus Christ, Successor of Peter, Prince of
the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal
Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy,
Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman
Province, Sovereign of Vatican State Perpetual
and visible sign, center, guarantor and
foundation of unity for both the bishops and
all the faithful (Mt 16:18-19).
He is charged as the successor of Peter to
nourish, support, encourage and unity his
fellow Christians (Jn 21:15-17, Lk 22:32).
The head of the College of Bishops and the Pastor of the
Universal Church on earth He has the ordinary, supreme, full,
immediate and universal authority and power over the whole
Church.
He obtains his office by means of two events, namely: his
ordination as a bishop and his election and acceptance of it by
the College of Cardinals.
Conclave refers to the election of the pope.
The Bishops
The Bishops (from the Greek word:
episkopos, overseer or Superintendent)
Successors of the apostles by divine
institution. They play the central role in the
local Churches (dioceses). Pastors in the
Church, teachers of doctrines, priests of
sacred worship and ministers of governance.
They receive their powers/offices in their
episcopal ordination and can exercise them
only if they remain in communion with the
Pope in the College of Bishops.
College of Bishops is the permanent assembly of bishops or the
successor body to the College of Apostles and the subject of supreme
and full power in the universal Church. According to Canon Law 378, a
candidate for the office of a Bishop should:
a. be a good Christian with virtue, talent and a good reputation
b. be a priest, ordained at least 5 years and at least 35 years old
c. have a graduate degree in Scripture, Theology, Canon Law or at least
qualified in these disciplines.
Ranks of Bishops:
*Cardinal
 An honorific title and considered the highest dignity in the
Western Church after the pope.
 Can be a candidate for the papacy, papal elector and accountable
only to the Pope
 Endowed with special privileges that set him apart from other
bishops
 Freely chosen by the pope
Assists the Pope individually by serving in the various Roman
Curia and special assignments or collectively when called together
for that purpose.
• Archbishop heads an archdiocese or a metropolitan
Church.
• Nuncio/ Apostolic Delegate is the pope’s diplomatic
representative.
• Emeritus is a retired bishop.
• Diocesan Bishop heads a diocese.
• Coadjutor Bishop is an assistant to the diocesan
bishop with right to succession.
• Auxiliary Bishop is an assistant to the diocesan
bishop
• Prefect/Vicar Apostolic is the head of a territory which is
not a diocese.
• Prelate is the head of a prelature which is governed like a
diocese.
• College of Cardinals is the chief advisory body of the pope,
like a papal cabinet or senate and elects
• the pope in a conclave.
• Consistory refers to the meeting of cardinals in which
important matters of policy were commonly
• taken up with.
The Priests
 They are assistants to or helpers of bishops.
 They are heads of parishes/chaplaincies/shrines.
Diocesan priest is a priest who is under a diocesan bishop, serves a parish
within a diocese in his capacity and does not profess evangelical vows.
Religious priest is a priest who lives in a convent under a religious superior,
professes evangelical vows and has parochial or conventual’s duties.
The Deacons are ministers of the liturgy, of the Word and charity.
The Laity constitutes the Christian faithful who are not ordained or
professed members of the church.
The Religious constitutes those Christian faithful who profess evangelical
vows.
The Church is a visible and organized community:
The Roman Curia
 The central government of the Roman Catholic
Church made up various bodies (sacred
congregations, offices, tribunals, councils).
 It handles various aspects or concerns of the
Church presided either by the Pope or cardinals.
 It helps the Pope conducts his business for the
universal Church.
 It fulfills its duty in the name and authority of the
Pope for the good and service of Churches, to
strengthen the unity of faith and communion of the
people of God and promotes the mission proper to
the Church in the world.
The Diocese is a portion of God’s people entrusted to a bishop.
The Archdiocese is an ecclesiastical province composed of three to ten
dioceses (suffrages) headed by an archbishop known as the metropolitan of
the province.
The Prelature is a portion of God’s people whose care is entrusted for a
special reason to a prelate who govern it like a diocesan bishop.
The Vicariate/Prefecture is a certain portion of God’s people which for a
special reason is not yet constituted a diocese and whose care is entrusted to a
Vicar Apostolic or Prefect Apostolic who governs it in the name of the pope.
The Parish is an established and organized local Christian community within
a diocese whose care is entrusted to a parish priest.
The Family is the Church in the home, the foundation of the Basic Ecclesial
Communities and the seedbed of Christian vocation.
PCP II: The Church of the Poor and Basic Ecclesial Community
(BEC)
The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, or PCP II, is a council
that was held in Manila from January 20, 1991 to February 17, 1991.
PCP II aimed to change the ways of the Church in the Philippines from
the Second Vatican Council. PCP II was first planned in the 56th
Plenary Assembly of the CBCP.
The Church of the Poor
What is the Church of the poor? Let me quote the answer of the
Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) convened on Jan.
20-Feb. 17, 1991, to implement in our country the reforms proclaimed
in 1962-65 by the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II):
“A Church that embraces and practices the evangelical spirit of
poverty which combines detachment from possessions with a profound
trust in the Lord as the only source of salvation… A Church [that] will
courageously defend and vindicate the rights of the poor and the
oppressed even when doing so will mean alienation or persecution from
the rich and powerful… A Church where nobody is so poor as to have
nothing to give, and nobody so rich as to have nothing to receive.”
Indeed, the new leaders are steering the Church back to Jesus Christ
who identified Himself with the poor—“Truly, I say to you: whenever
you did this to one of the least, of these my brothers, you did it to me…
Truly, I say to you: whatever you did not do for one of the least of these,
you did not do for me” (Mt. 25:40,45).
By reaching out to the poor and liberating them from their misery,
our new shepherds echo Jesus Christ’s mission: “The spirit of the Lord
is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to
proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind; to free the
oppressed and announce the Lord’s year of mercy” (Lk 4:18)
The Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC)
“Our vision of the Church as communion, participation and mission,

about the Church as priestly, prophetic and kingly people, and a Church
of the poor, that is a renewed Church, is today finding expression in one
ecclesial movement, that is the movement to foster Basic Ecclesial
Communities” (PCP II 137).
“They are small communities of Christians, usually of families, who
gather around the Word of God and the Eucharist. These communities
are united to their pastors but are ministered to regularly by lay leaders.
The members know each other by name and share not only the Word of
God and the Eucharist but also their concerns both material and
spiritual. They have a strong sense of belongingness and of
responsibility for one another. (PCP II 138)
Usually emerging at the grassroots among poor farmers and workers,
Basic Ecclesial Communities consciously strive to integrate their faith
and their daily life. They are guided and encouraged by regular
catechesis. Poverty and their faith urge their members towards solidarity
with one another, action for justice, and towards a vibrant celebration of
life in the liturgy. (PCP II 139).
“Basic Ecclesial Communities under various names and forms –
BCCs, small Christian communities, covenant communities – must be
vigorously promoted for the full living of the Christian vocation in both
urban and rural areas.” (PCP II decrees, article 109)
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
is to issue an official statement on BECs, on their nature and
functions as recognized by the Church, making it clear that
they are not simply another organization. This official
statement of the CBCP shall be, among others things, for the
proper orienting of priests and seminarians. Training for work
with BECs shall be made part of seminary formation.” (PCP II
decrees, article 110)
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!
GOD BLESS EVERYONE.

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THE HIERARCHICAL

“Our vision of the Church as communion, participation and mission,

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