Priests’
Faculties
Catholic Diocese of Wichita
May 2012
February 2012
In order that you may better fulfill your pastoral ministry and
look after the needs of the faithful I grant you the following
faculties which have come to me in virtue of the ordinary power of my office. These faculties are granted for the duration of
your priestly ministry in the Diocese, or until they are revoked.
______________________________
Most Rev. Michael O. Jackels, STD
Bishop of Wichita
______________________________ Rev. John P. Lanzrath
Chancellor
Unless otherwise stated, the term “priest” or “priests” used in this
document includes those priests that are incardinated in the diocese,
or, are assigned to the diocese with a canonical mandate.
BAPTISM
1.
Priests are granted the faculty to baptize and confirm one
who has completed the fourteenth year, without previously
referring the matter to the diocesan bishop (cc. 863, 866).
A priest may baptize such persons only with the explicit
permission of the catechumen’s pastor.
The ordinary ministers of baptism are the bishop, priests and deacons
(c. 861). The pastor is entrusted with the administration of baptism
to those in his territory (c. 530. 1°). It should be noted that unless
it is a case of necessity, permission is required for one to administer
baptism in the territory of another (c. 862). You must have the pastor’s
permission to administer baptism in his parish. Unless a grave reason
prevents it, adults who are baptized are to be confirmed immediately
after baptism (c. 866). This faculty gives priests the ability to baptize
adults and to confirm those adults whom they baptize, without referral
to the bishop.
CONFIRMATION
2.
Priests are granted the faculty to confirm baptized Catholics
who never practiced their Catholic faith through no fault of their
own.
Priests are granted the faculty to confirm baptized Catholics
who missed confirmation in their youth; and, who are
not able to participate in either the annual celebration of
confirmation at the Cathedral on Pentecost; or, who are not
able to participate in the sacrament of confirmation with the
confirmation class at his or her local parish.
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Priests have the faculty to administer confirmation by virtue
of their office or a mandate of the Bishop of Wichita: to those
persons who have attained the use of reason and whom they
baptize; and, to those who have attained the use of reason
and are already baptized in another church or ecclesial
communion, when they are received by the priest into full
communion with the Church. All persons more than seven
years of age should be confirmed at the time of their baptism
or reception into the Catholic Church by the pastor or priest
who receives them. (c. 883.2˚).
EUCHARIST
3.
Priests are granted the faculty to celebrate the Eucharist
twice on weekdays and, if pastoral necessity requires it,
three times on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation (c.
905, §2). This canon requires that this be done only “for a
good reason.” To celebrate more masses on a regular basis
requires a papal indult.
4.
Priests are hereby granted the faculty to permit lay persons
affected by celiac disease to receive low-gluten hosts
(partially gluten-free). This permission is granted habitually,
for as long as the situation continues which occasioned the
granting of permission.
Hosts that are completely gluten-free are invalid matter for
celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Similarly, hosts made of
rice or any other substance than wheat, are invalid matter
for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Low-gluten hosts
must contain a sufficient amount of gluten to obtain the
confection of bread without the addition of foreign materials
and without the use of procedures that would alter the nature
of bread. A lay person affected by celiac disease who, is not
able to receive Holy Communion under the species of bread,
including low-gluten hosts, may receive Holy Communion
under the species of the Precious Blood only.
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PENANCE
5.
All priests enjoying these faculties are granted the habitual
faculty to hear confessions.
Priests who come to give missions, forty hours, etc., from
outside the diocese automatically have the faculties of
the diocese provided they already have the faculty to hear
confessions from their own local Ordinary, normally this is
the bishop of their place of incardination or domicile.
In this diocese, given our numbers and the pastoral
responsibility that priests exercise in providing opportunities
for individual confession, there are no circumstances that
would warrant general absolution.
The priest must be granted the faculty to hear confessions (c. 969).
Pastors enjoy the right to hear confessions by their office (c. 968, §1).
This faculty allows the priest to hear confessions anywhere, unless
the local ordinary of the place in which you are hearing confession
refuses permission.
6.
The faculty is granted to confessors to remit in the
internal sacramental forum any automatic censure of
excommunication or interdict which has not been juridically
declared, if it would be difficult for the penitent to remain
in the state of serious sin during the time necessary for the
competent authority to provide for the matter (c. 1357, §1).
The faculty is granted to remit the excommunication
attached to the procurement of an abortion (c. 1398) or that
attached to apostasy, heresy, or schism (c. 1364.1) without
prior consultation with the Bishop.
This faculty allows the confessor to remit the excommunication and
grant absolution in the hearing of the regularly scheduled confession.
Due to the seriousness of the offense, this remission should not be taken
lightly. It should provide an opportunity for the priest not only to offer
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pastoral assistance, but also educate the penitent in the seriousness
of the action. If the priest does not feel that excommunication was
incurred due to ignorance, the penitent should be educated in the
seriousness of the act. The penitent must understand his or her
responsibility in the situation, even when they may be acting out of
fear or under duress.
- Suggestions from the Bishop concerning absolution of sin and
removal of excommunication
1) the penance should be substantial, significant, perhaps
over a period of time (e.g., a series of prayers/Masses/
rosaries for others caught up in abortion or for the father
of the child);
2) suggest that the penitent name the child and treasure its
memory.
This faculty may be exercised, within the diocese, on behalf of any
person regardless of the person’s residence or the place where the
penalty was incurred. The faculty may be exercised outside the
diocese only when the recipient is a subject of the Diocese of Wichita.
MARRIAGE
7.
All priests who are incardinated in the diocese or who are
canonically assigned within the diocese are delegated to
witness marriages within the Diocese of Wichita.
This faculty does not require a priest to have permission or delegation
from the pastor in order to witness a marriage. It is assumed that the
priest will be properly respectful of the pastor’s wishes. Care should
be taken to ensure that the marriage is properly recorded in the parish
books (c. 1121).
Current Diocesan Guidelines concerning marriage.
>
Deacons and visiting priests (from other dioceses or religious
orders) need to be delegated in writing for each and every
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wedding. It is not enough to grant them permission to come.
They must be delegated. Use this language, “I delegate you
to witness the marriage of. . . .” All priests of the Diocese
of Wichita are given the power to subdelegate any qualified
visiting priest or deacon, who enjoys canonical faculties to
witness a particular marriage. Please remember to do so
BEFORE the wedding on the prenuptial forms (c. 1111, §2).
>
All priests incardinated in or assigned to the Diocese of
Wichita must be delegated to witness a marriage outside of
the Diocese of Wichita. This delegation must come from
the diocese in which the marriage takes place. You must
remember to get this delegation BEFORE the ceremony.
>
Saturday evening weddings after the Vigil Mass may not be
scheduled.
>
Marriage preparation is NOT optional. The essential elements
of preparation are: 1) planning and evaluation with the priest
celebrant; and, 2) participation either in a weekend marriage
preparation program or sessions with a mentor couple or
parish based preparation classes. Whenever possible, use of a
pre-marriage preparation instrument is highly recommended.
Four months is the minimal preparation time, which is to
be taken most seriously. If in the judgment of the pastor
an exception is to be made, the bishop asks that the pastor
send him a letter in each instance giving the reason for the
exception to the four-month preparation time (cc. 1063, 1064,
1067).
8.
Priests who are able to assist at marriages are granted the
faculty to dispense from all the impediments to marriages
which may be dispensed by the local Ordinary, when
everything has been prepared for the marriage and when
the marriage cannot be delayed without the probable danger
of grave harm until the dispensation can be obtained from
the competent authority (c. 1080). The priest assisting at
the marriage should immediately inform the local ordinary
of such dispensation and record it in the marriage register
(c.1081).
5
When a marriage is scheduled between a Catholic (who lives in
another diocese) and a non-Catholic - dispensation or permission for
the marriage must come from the archdiocese/diocese of the Catholic
party.
After permission is granted for a mixed marriage, or
dispensation is granted for disparity of cult marriage,
permission is granted to celebrate the marriage within the
mass in the Church, when the mass is requested by both the
Catholic and the non-Catholic party (c. 1125). According to
the general law of the Church, Communion is not to be given
to the non-Catholic (c. 844).
A reminder: When a priest from outside the diocese comes to witness a
marriage, he must be given delegation to do so. This is for the validity
of the sacrament of marriage. Proper notation for such delegation can
be found in the Pre-nuptial forms, page three.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
9.
The priest who by office has the pastoral care of the person
has the primary right and responsibility to administer the
anointing of the sick to that person (c. 1003, §2).
Priests are allowed to carry the oil of the sick in a suitable
place in case of necessity (c. 1003, §3) and to bless olive
oil or any natural oil in case of necessity, but only in the
celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (c.
999. 2°).
CHRISTIAN BURIAL
10.
Priests are granted the faculty to allow church funeral rites
for an unbaptized child, if the parents had intended to have
the child baptized.
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11.
Priests are granted the faculty to allow church funeral rites
for a baptized person belonging to a non-Catholic church or
ecclesial community, provided this is not clearly contrary to
the wishes of the deceased and provided a minister of the
faith of the deceased is not available.
The Christian funeral confers on the deceased neither a sacrament
nor sacramental. The order of Christian Funerals lists three types
of celebration in relation to where they are celebrated, the home, the
church and the cemetery. The celebration may include the Greeting,
the Liturgy of the Word, the Eucharistic Sacrifice, and the Farewell.
Since the assembly may contain those who rarely attend the liturgy or
those who are not Christian care should be taken to ensure that the
homily, “avoids the literary genre of funeral eulogy and illumine the
mystery of Christian death in the light of the risen Christ.” (Catechism
of the Catholic Church: 1680 - 1690)
DISPENSATIONS
12.
Priests may dispense, in individual cases and for just reason,
from the Eucharistic fast (c. 919, §1).
13.
Priests may dispense, in individual cases and for a just
reason, from the obligation of observing a day of precept or
a day of penance, or to commute the obligation into other
pious works. This faculty may be exercised on behalf of a
parishioner and a person visiting within the boundaries of
the parish (c. 1245).
14.
Priests may dispense from private vows made by a person
belonging to the parish to which they are assigned and
also by a visitor within the territory of the parish. This
dispensation may be granted only if no injury is done to the
acquired rights of others (c. 1196).
15.
Priests may commute to a lesser good what has been
promised by a private vow made by a person belonging to
the parish to which they are assigned and also by a visitor
within the territory of the parish (c.1197).
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16.
Priests may suspend, dispense or commute a promissory
oath. This faculty may not be exercised if the dispensation
from the oath would tend to prejudice those who refuse to
remit its obligation (c. 1203).
PREACHING
17.
Priests and deacons may preach everywhere with at least the
presumed consent of the pastor or rector of a church unless
restricted by the competent Ordinary (c. 764).
Pastors and administrators have a responsibility to see that
the Word of God is preached in its entirety to those living
in the parish (c. 528, §1). It is to be noted that the homily
within Mass is to be given only by a priest or a deacon (c.
767, §1).
To preach to religious in their own churches or oratories
requires the permission of the superior who is competent in
accord with the norm of their constitutions (c. 765).
ECUMENICAL RELATIONS
18.
Priests may administer the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance,
and Anointing of the Sick to members of the oriental churches
which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church
(and members of other churches when in the judgement of
the Apostolic See are in the same condition as the oriental
churches as far as these sacraments are concerned) when
the member of said church spontaneously asks for these
sacraments and is properly disposed (c. 844, §3). This
concession is given by the law itself. Respect should be
shown for the policies of the oriental churches, which may
be more restrictive.
At this time, the Apostolic See has not extended this sharing to any
churches other than the Oriental churches mentioned.
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19.
Priests may administer the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance,
and Anointing of the Sick to Christians other than those
covered by faculty #17 who do not have full communion with
the Catholic Church, who are in danger of death, when their
own minister is lacking and they spontaneously ask for them,
provided they are properly disposed and manifest the Catholic
faith toward these sacraments (c. 844, §4). This concession
is given by the law itself. To administer the same sacraments
other than in danger of death requires the prior judgement of
the bishop that a grave necessity exists (c. 844, §4).
20.
In liturgical celebrations taking place in other churches and
ecclesial communities, Catholics are encouraged to take part
in psalms, responses, hymns and common actions of the
church in which they are guests. If invited by their hosts,
they may read a lesson or preach (§ 118). The reading of
Scripture during a Eucharistic celebration in the Catholic
Church is to be done by members of that Church. On
exceptional occasions and for a just cause, the bishop of the
diocese may permit a member of another church or ecclesial
community to take on the task of reader (§ 133). (“1993
Directory on Ecumenism.” in Origins 23:9 July 23, 1993).
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
21.
Whenever it is not possible to schedule at the Cathedral the
Rite of Election or Recognition celebrated by the Bishop,
or there exist serious reasons impending catechumens or
candidates from participating in one or the other of these
diocesan celebrations, the parish priest will then hold this Rite
in the parish; in that case, he should arrange that the names
of the catechumens and candidates are sent to the Bishop to
be read and acknowledged in the diocesan celebration.
If the personal history and circumstances of the catechumens
indicate involvement in false worship, e.g., black magic,
satanic cult, etc., the parish priest may choose to insert in
the Rite of Acceptance a first exorcism and renunciation of
false worship.
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The National Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved
the inclusion of an optional presentation of a cross in the Rite
of Acceptance.
The National Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved
the use of the anointing with the oil of catechumens during
the period of the catechumenate as a kind of “rite of passage.”
SUITABILITY FOR MINISTRY
22.
Those priests that are invited into the diocese for Missions,
Retreats, Weddings or other acts of ministry should provide
proper proof that they are a priest in good standing within
their own diocese or religious order. A letter stating such
from that priest’s diocese or religious community would provide suitable documentation.
Diocesan Resources
Priests Web Page on the Diocesan Web Site
Username: Priest
Password: Shepherd
These faculties are granted with the understanding that further
clarification and definition will be forthcoming under a separate title
concerning diocesan and sacramental procedures.
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INDEX
Page
Abortion # 6
3
Anointing of Catechumens # 21
Anointing of the Sick # 9
Oil of the Sick
9
6
6
Baptism # 1
1
Christian Burial #10, 11
Funeral rites - unbaptized child # 10
Funeral rites - non-Catholic # 11
6
6
7
Confirmation # 2
Candidates # 2
Catechumens # 2
Non-practicing Catholics # 2
1
1
2
2
Diocesan Resources
10
Dispensations
Commute Vows # 15
Days of Penance # 13
Eucharistic Fast # 12
Impediments to marriage # 8
Private Vows # 14
Promissory Oaths # 16
7
7
7
5
8
8
Ecumenical Relations # 18 - 20
Common Prayer #20
Reader of Sacred Scripture # 20
Sacramental Sharing # 18 - 19
8
9
9
8-9
Eucharist # 3
Number of daily celebrations # 3
2
2
11
Excommunication - removal of # 6
3
Funeral Rites (see Christian Burial)
Marriage # 7 - 8
Delegation within diocese # 7
Delegation outside diocese
Diocesan Guidelines
Dispensation of impediments # 8
Marriage preparation
Mixed marriage within mass # 8
4-5
4
4
4
5
5
5
Penance # 5 - 6
General absolution # 5
Habitual faculty # 5
Removal of censures and interdicts
in conjunction with absolution # 6
Suggestions from Bishop regarding
sin of procured abortion
3-4
3
3
Preaching # 17
Homily reserved to priest - deacons
to Religious
Universality with presumed consent
8
8
8
8
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults # 21
Anointing of Catechumens
Rite of Acceptance
Rite of Election
9
9
9
9
Suitability for Ministry # 22
10
12
3
4