Parish administration question

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chewchoo

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can a pastor of the parish fire, or otherwise dismiss, an associate pastor?

if so, are there specific grounds for doing this, or can it be for anything, like a personality conflict?

or would this only occur with the diocese prompting?
 
The pastor is responsible for the administration of the parish. While I don’t think the pastor can dismiss the associate pastor or make him leave the parish he can determine what the associates duties will be. For example the pastor would determine the mass schedule and which of them would celebrate which masses.

The priests take a vow of obedience to the bishop but I don’t think that automatically extends to the pastor unless the bishop approves of the pastors actions. Of course the associate pastor must rely on the pastor to allow them to lead various parish prayer groups if that is what they want. In other words the pastor controls what the associate’s duties will be in the parish as well as the parish purse strings. The associate pastor is also expected to defer to the pastor regarding parish matters since he is expected to learn from the pastor in preparation for his own parish assignment. Think of it as an apprenticeship.
 
Not every associate pastor/parochial vicar is preparing to be a pastor, just as not every assistant principal of a school wishes to be a principal. Some are satisifed with their work without the added burdens of responsibililty.
 
to add to my original question.

there is pastor of a cluster of 3 churches.
an associate pastor was recently assigned.
they shared in the masses that were needed each weekend for all 3 churches.
then the associate was relieved of his pastorial duties (apparently by the pastor).
i would think the pastor was shooting himself in the foot with the decision 🤷

if a priest is available to say mass, why would you deny parishoners the chance to have mass said?
 
if a priest is available to say mass, why would you deny parishoners the chance to have mass said?
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For good and grave reasons, would be my assumption.
 
While the pastor does not have the authority to dismiss the assisstant, I suspect he can have a strong influence on the bishop in the matter.

In most cases if there is a disagreement I think they would mutually agree to ask the bishop to make a transfer.
 
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