The Chaplain. Canon 564 defines the role of the chaplain: “A chaplain is a priest to whom is entrusted in a stable manner the pastoral care, at least in part, of some community or particular group of the Christian faithful, to be exercised in accord with universal and particular law.” Moreover, the chaplain is given all the faculties that are needed for the proper pastoral care of his flock (Cannon 566) and is “appointed for those who cannot avail themselves of the ordinary care of the pastor because of the condition of life such as migrants, exiles, refugees, nomads, sailors, etc. (Cannon 568).” Thus, chaplaincies are set-up for special people who does not reside in the territory but need personal care.
The Campus Minister. The Catholic Church defines for those working within the university the role of ministers including the Chaplain and the Campus Minister “Since a true education must strive for the integral formation of the human person, a formation which looks toward the person’s final end, and at the same time toward the common good of societies, children and young people are to be reared that they can develop harmoniously their physical, moral and intellectual talents, that they acquire a more perfect sense of responsibility and a correct use of freedom, and that they be educated for active participation in social life (Can 795).” And thus, the Church directs the diocesan bishop “to have serious pastoral concern for students by erecting a parish for them or by assigning a priest for this purpose on a stable basis; he is also to provide for Catholic university centers at universities, even non-Catholic ones, to give assistance, to young people (Can 813).” It is important to note that ‘young people’ here means all of them regardless of religion.
credits: Fr. Jboy Gonzales (http://upchaplaincy.wordpress.com)
Filed under: Trivial | Tagged: Campus Ministry
