CHAPTERVIII. Rectors of Churches and Chaplains

Art. 1. Rectors of Churches

Can.556 Rectors of churches are understood here as priests to whom is committed the care of some church which

is neither parochial nor capitular nor connected to a house of a religious community or society of apostolic life which

celebrates services in it.

Can.557 §1. The diocesan bishop freely appoints the rector of a church, without prejudice to the right of election

or presentation if someone legitimately has it; in that case, it is for the diocesan bishop to confirm or install the rector.

§2. Even if a church belongs to some clerical religious institute of pontifical right, the diocesan bishop is

competent to install the rector presented by the superior.

§3. The rector of a church which is connected with a seminary or other college which is governed by clerics

is the rector of the seminary or college unless the diocesan bishop has determined otherwise.

Can.558 Without prejudice to the prescript of can. 262, a rector is not permitted to perform the parochial functions

mentioned in can. 530, nn. 1–6 in the church entrusted to him unless the pastor consents or, if the matter warrants

it, delegates.

Can.559 A rector can perform liturgical celebrations, even solemn ones, in the church entrusted to him, without

prejudice to the legitimate laws of the foundation, and provided that, in the judgment of the local ordinary, they

do not harm parochial ministry in any way.

Can.560 When the local ordinary considers it opportune, he can order a rector to celebrate in his church particular

functions, even parochial ones, for the people and to make the church available for certain groups of the Christian

faithful to conduct liturgical celebrations there.

Can.561 No one is permitted to celebrate the Eucharist, administer the sacraments, or perform other sacred

functions in the church without the permission of the rector or another legitimate superior; this permission must be

granted or denied according to the norm of law.

Can.562 The rector of a church, under the authority of the local ordinary and observing the legitimate statutes and

acquired rights, is obliged to see to it that sacred functions are celebrated worthily in the church according to the

liturgical norms and prescripts of the canons, that obligations are fulfilled faithfully, that goods are administered

diligently, that the maintenance and beauty of sacred furnishings and buildings are provided for, and that nothing

whatever occurs which is in any way unfitting to the holiness of the place and the reverence due to a house of God.

Can.563 Without prejudice to the prescript of can. 682, §2, the local ordinary, for a just cause and according to his

own prudent judgment, can remove the rector of a church from office, even if he had been elected or presented

by others.