1. HIERARCHY of GOD

2. Hierarchy (Gr. Hierarchia; from hieros, sacred; archein, rule, command). The hierarchy connotes the totality of powers established in the Church for the guiding of man to his eternal salvation, but divided into various orders or grades, in which the inferior are subject to and yield obedience to the higher ones. The "Hierarcha" is he who has actual care of these things He who both obeys and commands, but does not obey those he commands.

3. There is a necessary gradation among hierarchs; This gradation exists among the angels in the heavenly hierarchy Therefore, It must also by necessity be found in a human assembly subject to sin within which it works for peace and harmony

4. The angels are represented throughout scripture as a body of spiritual beings intermediate between God and men: "You have made him (man) a little less than the angels" (Psalm 8:6). We know on the authority of Scripture that there are nine orders of angels Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Throne, Cherubim and Seraphim.

5. St. Thomas (Summa Theologica I:108) divides the angels into three hierarchies each of which contains three orders. Their proximity to the Supreme Being serves as the basis of this division. In the first hierarchy he places the Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones; In the second, the Dominations, Virtues, and Powers; In the third, the Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.

6. The hierarchy of order exercises its power over the Real Body of Christ in the Eucharist; –grace, which comes to us principally through the sacraments, The hierarchy of jurisdiction exercises its power over His Mystical Body, the Church –good works, which are the fruit of grace. (Catech. Conc. Trid., pt. II, c. vii, n. 6). It is usual to distinguish a twofold hierarchy in the Church corresponding to the twofold means of sanctification,

7. THE ORDERS of the CHURCH Order of the of the Bishops Bishops Order of the of the Deacons DeaconsOrder of the of the Priests Priests Order of the of the Catechumens Catechumens Order of the of the Faithful Faithful

8. Christ did not give to all the faithful the power to administer His sacraments or to offer public worship. This was reserved to those who, having received the sacrament of Holy Orders, belong to the Hierarchy of Order. (Except in the case of baptism and matrimony)

9. Hierarchy of Order The Divine institution of the first three grades of the hierarchy of order are defined as: episcopate priesthood diaconate The other orders are of ecclesiastical institution. subdeacon, acolyte, exorcist, lector, and porter

10. ORDAINED EPISCOPATEPRIESTHOOD Diocesan SecularReligious CommunityDIACONATE TransitionalPermanent (Before Priesthood) Non-Ordained Seminarians Students for priesthood before Diaconate

11. The organization of the Hierarchy of Order is strict, sometimes overlapping: Order of Episcopacy Pope: Head of the church, he is based at the Vatican. The pope is infallible in defining matters of faith and morals. Cardinal: Appointed by the pope they make up the College of Cardinals. As a body it advises the pope and, on his death, elects a new pope. Archbishop: An archbishop is a bishop of a main or metropolitan diocese, also called an archdiocese. A cardinal can concurrently hold the title. Bishop: A bishop, like a priest, is ordained to this station. He is a teacher of church doctrine, a priest of sacred worship, and a minister of church government.

12. The organization of the Hierarchy of Order is strict, sometimes overlapping: Priest: An ordained minister who can administer most of the sacraments, including the Eucharist, baptism, and Anointing of the Sick. He can be with a religious order or committed to serving a congregation. Deacon: Permanent deacons can be married and assist a priest by performing some of the sacraments and performing ministries of service. Transitional deacon is studying for the priesthood.

13. RELIGIOUS ORDERS Contemplative Orders Cloistered Monasteries MonksNuns Active Religious Congregations Apostolic Works Missionaries PriestsBrothers Sisters Secular Institutes-Third Order Dedicated life Work in the World Private Vows

14. LAITY

15. Christ entrusted the guidance of the faithful along the paths of duty and in the practice of good works to a religious authority, and for this purpose He established a Hierarchy of Jurisdiction. Christ established His Church as a visible, external, and perfect society; He conferred on its hierarchy the right to legislate for the good of that society.

16. The hierarchy of jurisdiction is endowed with the following rights: Legislative power: The right to frame and sanction laws which it considers useful or necessary Judicial power: The right to judge how the faithful observe these laws Coercive power: The right to enforce obedience, and to punish disobedience to its laws Administrative power: The right to make all due provision for the proper celebration of worship Power of Jurisdiction: The right to exercise the power of order. The acts of the power or order are always valid except in the sacrament of Penance, which requires in addition a power of jurisdiction. These powers serve a double purpose, the sanctification of souls and the good or welfare of religious society

17. In the hierarchy of jurisdiction the episcopate and the papacy are of Divine origin; all the other grades are of ecclesiastical institution. According to the Vatican Council the Bishop of Rome, as successor of St. Peter, has been established by Christ as the visible head of the whole Church militant, and possesses a real primacy of jurisdiction, in virtue of which he has supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal Church in matters of faith, morals, discipline, and the government of the Church. This power is ordinary and immediate over all the Churches, and over each one in particular, over all the pastors and faithful, collectively and individually (Const. de Eccl. Christi, cap. i-3).

18. By virtue of his primacy, supreme authority over the whole Church belongs to the pope, who is at the same time Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Jesus Christ Successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Supreme Pontiff of The Universal Church Patriarch of The West Primate of Italy Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province Sovereign of Vatican City State

19. The government of the Church is strictly monarchical. The bishops are the successors of the Apostles, but do not inherit their personal prerogatives, such as universal jurisdiction and infallibility (Conc. Trid., Sess. XXIII, De sacramento ordinis, cap. iv). The pope is bound to establish bishops who enjoy genuine ordinary power in the Church Who are not merely his delegates or vicars.

20. All Church Councils connect the supreme magisterial power of the pope with his primacy of jurisdiction Moreover, the power of jurisdiction implies the right of imposing on the faithful a real obligation to believe what the Church teaches. In the Church, no one can teach without a missio canonica, or authorization from ecclesiastical superiors, which brings us back again to the power of jurisdiction.

21. Magisterium of the Catholic Church The Magisterium, as the supreme governing body of the Catholic Church, consists of the Roman Pontiff, the successor of Peter, and the Bishops joined together with him and never without him in one apostolic college to provide for the common good of the Church. (canons 330,331,336)

22. ORDINARY MAGISTERIUM

23. Hierarchy of the Bishops Pope Patriarch Minor Patriarch Archbishop Primate (west), Exarch (east) Metropolitan episcopi comprovinciales or provinciales suffraqanei or suffragans Bishop Diocesan (exempt) Bishops Co-Adujtor Auxiliary Titular Prelate

24. Patriarchs have a jurisdiction higher than that of archbishops over the territories included within their patriarchates. The Bishop of Rome for the West Bishop of Alexandria East Bishop of Antioch East Bishop of Jerusalem East Bishop of Constantinople East

25. Metropolitans have been also known as Archbishops. Metropolitans have real rights over the bishops within their ecclesiastical province, and over the province itself. Metropolitans are obliged at stated times to summon provincial synods, to legislate for the whole province. Archbishop Daniel DiNardo

26. The Ecclesiastical Province of Galveston-Houston comprises the eastern counties of the state of Texas. Texas Archdiocese of Galveston- HoustonArchdiocese of Galveston- Houston Diocese of Austin Diocese of Beaumont Diocese of Brownsville Diocese of Corpus Christi Diocese of Tyler Diocese of Victoria in TexasDiocese of Victoria in Texas

27. After the archbishops come the bishops, who of Divine right administer the dioceses entrusted to them by the Holy See If they are not subject to the authority of an archbishop, they are known as exempt bishops, and are directly subject to the Holy See. Bishop Vincent Rizzotto (retired) Bishop Joseph Fiorenza (retired)

28. Besides the diocesan bishops there are also titular bishops, these receive episcopal consecration, but have no jurisdiction over the dioceses of which they bear the title. They may be appointed by the pope as auxiliary bishops or coadjutors to diocesan bishops. Bishop Joseph Vasquez

29. After the bishops in the hierarchy of jurisdiction come the Prelates They exercise episcopal authority over a territory not belonging to any diocese; They must be carefully distinguished from those who exercise a quasi- episcopal authority over a territory which forms part of a diocese And from superiors of exempt religious colleges, whether secular or regular who have authority only over the personnel of their own community. Bishop Javier Echevarria Prelate of Opus Dei

30. In the government of his diocese the bishop is assisted by various ecclesiastics. At present the bishop's chief assistant is known as his vicar-general, an institution dating back to the thirteenth century.

31. At the head of a parish is the pastor (parochus), with ordinary jurisdiction. Assistants to the pastor are referred to as parochial vicars Where parishes have not been canonically erected, The pastors place is taken by a "rector", whose jurisdiction is merely delegated, but whose rights and duties are those of a parish priest. Rev. Joseph Gietl Rev. Patrick Garrett

32. Monsignor is the name of an ecclesiastical title of honor bestowed on some priests. The title gives no extra sacramental powers. However, it is common that a Vicar General is made monsignor as part of his office. Though there were more degrees in former times, there are now three ranks of monsignor: Prothonotary Apostolic (the highest and least common form) –Prothonotaries Apostolic have the privilege of pontificating at Mass under certain conditions. Prelate of Honor (formerly "Domestic Prelate") Chaplain to His Holiness (formerly "Papal Chamberlain")

33. The diaconate is one of the ordained offices. The word deacon is derived from the Greek word diakonos, which is often translated servant or more specifically waiter. The office of deacon originated in the selection of seven men (among them Saint Stephen) to assist with the pastoral and administrative needs of the early church. (Acts 6)

34. Deacons assist priests in their pastoral and administrative duties, but report directly to the bishop. They have a distinctive role in the liturgy, their main tasks being to read the Gospel, to call the people to prayer of petition and assist in the administration of the Eucharist. In the Roman Catholic church the vestment most particularly associated with the deacon is the Dalmatic.

35. In the actual discipline of the Church, the cardinals hold second place. They are the pope's advisers in the more important matters concerning the universal Church, and exercise their jurisdiction in the various congregations, tribunals, and offices instituted by the pope for the government of the universal Church.

36. THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS Assist the Roman Pontiff collegially when they are called together to deal with questions of major importance. They do so individually when they assist the Pope especially in the daily care of the universal Church by means of the different offices which they perform (canons 349, 350).

37. THE ROMAN CURIA

38. The College of Cardinals consists of three ranks: Cardinal-Bishops, Cardinal-Priests, and Cardinal-Deacons. The Cardinals who are under eighty years of age elect the popes successor. At the moment the maximum number of Cardinal electors must not exceed 120.