Stages in Canonical Provision of the Office of Pastor under the Current Polish Synodal Legislation

According to Polish synodal legislation, similarly to the Code of Canon Law, the provision of the office of pastor consists of three stages: 1) designation of a person, 2) conferral of the title, and 3) taking possession of the office. In accordance with both universal and particular law, the provision may be free or dependent. The diocesan bishop confers the office freely (cc. 523–525). In the case of a dependent provision, however, another competent ecclesiastical authority nominates a candidate, and the diocesan bishop only confers the title to the office (c. 525; 682, §1). According to legislators of particular law, the conferral of a legal title to an office should take place by a nomination decree. The decree should meet the requirements of a singular administrative act (cc. 48–57). The placement in the possession of a parish by the local ordinary or his delegate and the assumption of the office by a pastor is the final stage of the provision. Under particular law, two aspects of this act are distinguished: the legal aspect (the drawing up and signing of a handover protocol by the pastor and other competent bodies), and the liturgical one (solemn entry of a new pastor into the parish church according to the ritual of a specific particular Church). Legislators of particular law also places the presbyter who has been promoted to the office of pastor under an obligation to make a profession of faith (c. 833, 6°) and take the oath of fidelity, according to the formulas approved by the Holy See.