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Faith Fundamentals

Faith Fundamentals

How are Catholic bishops chosen?

A bishop is chosen by the Holy Father, the pope (Canon 377.1). A priest does not decide for himself that he is called to be a bishop, nor does he conduct a campaign and run for office. There is no search committee or interview process. The parishioners of a parish or the Catholics of a diocese do not choose a priest to be their bishop, nor does a president, king, or government official elect, nominate, present or designate the bishop for a state, province or country. The Catholic Church has a carefully organized process for the selection of bishops.
Faith Fundamentals

The bishop as teacher

The Church is built on the foundations of the Apostles (see Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14), the first generation of teachers, who were instructed by Jesus to carry on his teaching mission (see Mt 28:19), and the bishops, the successors of the Apostles, continue their teaching ministry.
Faith Fundamentals

Biblical foundations of the episcopate

Jesus chose the Apostles to continue the ministry that he began. After much prayer (Lk 6:12), Jesus handpicked his Twelve Apostles (Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16). He commissioned them to preach (Mk 3:14), to go on missionary journeys, to drive out demons (Mt 10:1; Mk 3: 15, 6:7), to anoint the sick with oil and cure them (Mt 10:1; Mk 6:13).
Faith Fundamentals

St. Charles Borromeo, patron saint of bishops

St. Charles Borromeo was an exceptional bishop and a truly holy man. He had a brilliant mind. He was a solid theologian. He was one of the Catholic Church’s greatest leaders during and after the Protestant Reformation. He spearheaded Church reform. He led the Church of Milan as bishop for 18 years. He insisted on the solid formation of new priests and the ongoing formation of ordained priests.
Faith Fundamentals

The bishops hall of fame: Bishops included in the Roman Missal

A bishop who is canonized, included in the Roman Missal, and given a place on the liturgical calendar is a member of the bishops hall of fame.
Faith Fundamentals

Different kinds of bishops

The word bishop is the general term for a member of the ordained clergy who possesses the fullness of Holy Orders and is a successor to the Apostles. A bishop exercises his pastoral office over the portion of the people of God who are assigned to him (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 886). There are different kinds of bishops with various titles based on their jurisdiction over a geographic area or their special form of ministry.
Faith Fundamentals

Symbols of the office of bishop

The four main symbols of the office of bishop are the crosier, miter, pectoral cross and ring.
Faith Fundamentals

The 3 dimensions of the ministry of a bishop

Holy orders is one of the seven sacraments. It, along with the sacrament of marriage, belongs to a special group of sacraments known as the sacraments of commitment. These two sacraments are “sacraments at the service of communion,” “directed toward the salvation of others,” and “serve to build up the people of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church No. 1534).
Faith Fundamentals

The order of bishop

Holy orders is one of the seven sacraments. It, along with the sacrament of marriage, belongs to a special group of sacraments known as the sacraments of commitment. These two sacraments are “sacraments at the service of communion,” “directed toward the salvation of others,” and “serve to build up the people of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1534).
Faith Fundamentals

The joy of being a priest

It is a tremendous joy for me to be a priest. I could not have predicted what a joy the priesthood would be. I have never regretted being a priest, not for a minute.
Faith Fundamentals

The priest as prophet

There is a prophetic dimension to the ministry of a priest — not according to the dictionary definition of a prophet, but rather a spiritual prophet like the prophets of the Bible, many in the Old Testament, and best exemplified by Jesus himself.
Faith Fundamentals

The priest as shepherd

Jesus is the good shepherd (Jn 10:11,14); he knows, protects and loves his sheep and he willingly laid down his life for his sheep. A priest takes his cues from his Master and strives to be a good shepherd who has a deep and abiding love for his people, the sheep of his flock, and willingly lays down his life for their well-being and the salvation of their souls.
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