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The question comes from Gina Nepacena:
“Good afternoon, Father. Since the theme during this morning's Misa de Gallo focused on religious life, what is the difference between a diocesan priest and a religious or missionary priest? Thank you, and God bless.”
My response will be straightforward.
Diocesan priests are also referred to as secular priests. The Latin word for "world" is saeculum, from which the term "secular priests" originates, denoting priests who live and serve within the world, ministering to the people of God. This is the original meaning of the term.
Religious priests, on the other hand, make three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience. There are also religious who are not priests, such as sisters, nuns, brothers, and monks. However, there are monks who are also priests, serving their monastic community.
Strictly speaking, the term "missionary" in our context often refers to those sent to distant places to spread the Word of God. However, this is not exclusive to religious priests, as there are also diocesan priests and even laypersons in mission territories. Broadly speaking, any ministry, whether in remote areas, urban settings, or academia, can be considered a mission. Thus, it would not be accurate to say that only religious priests are missionary priests. Nonetheless, it is true that the term "missionary" is more commonly associated with religious priests.
ESSENTIALLY, the three public canonical vows (poverty, chastity, and obedience) distinguish religious priests from secular priests. Secular priests do not make these vows. However, at their ordination, diocesan priests promise obedience to their bishop as their spiritual leader for the diocese and commit to celibacy (remaining unmarried). Diocesan priests are under their diocesan bishop, while religious priests are under their superior. Of course, if a religious priest serves as a parish priest, he operates under the bishop in matters concerning the parish but not in religious life.
Diocesan priests may own personal property, while religious priests are part of a community that holds collective ownership. Religious priests surrender their stipends to their superior through the treasurer and receive a monthly allowance. Whether diocesan or religious, priests are expected to live a life of simplicity.
IN MINISTRY, diocesan priests typically serve as parish priests within a diocese. Religious priests, on the other hand, serve according to the authorization granted to them. Some are restricted to diocesan service, others may minister across the Philippines, and some even have universal (worldwide) ministry. Their ministry also depends on the charism of their order or congregation, which may focus on academic formation, missions, justice and peace advocacy, hospital apostolate, and more.
TECHNICALLY, religious priests can be identified by the initials of their order or congregation (aside from honorary or academic degrees) at the end of their names. For example:
- Rev. Fr. Noel Castillon, SVD (Societas Verbi Divini, Society of the Divine Word)
- Rev. Fr. Miel Sandoval, OFM Conv (Order of Friars Minor Conventuals)
- Rev. Fr. Vince Sealongo, MCCJ (Missionarii Comboniani Cordis Jesu, Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus)
Other examples include Jesuits, Dominicans, La Salettes, Josephites, and others.
Diocesan or secular priests typically do not have initials at the end of their names.
These are the basic differences.
Basic lamang po ang aking isasagot dito.
Ang diocesan priests ay tinatawag ding secular priests. Ang salitang Latin para sa "world" ay saeculum, at dito nanggaling ang ekspresyong "secular priests," na tumutukoy sa mga pari na nasa mundo, naglilingkod sa mga tao ng Diyos. ‘Yun po ang orihinal na kahulugan.
Ang religious priests naman po ay nangangako ng tatlong vows: poverty, chastity, at obedience. Mayroon din pong mga religious na hindi pari, tulad ng mga madre, mongha, brothers, at monghe. Gayunpaman, may mga monghe na pari din, na naglilingkod sa kanilang monastic community.
Strictly speaking, ang connotation ng salitang missionary sa atin ay tumutukoy sa mga ipinapadala sa malalayong lugar upang ipalaganap ang salita ng Diyos. Subalit, hindi lamang ito nalilimitahan sa mga religious dahil may mga diocesan priests din na nasa mission territories, at pati mga lay persons. Broadly speaking, kahit ikaw ay nasa malalayong lugar, urban area, o nasa academe, maituturing itong mission. Kaya’t hindi natin maaaring sabihin na religious priests lamang ang missionary priests. Gayunpaman, totoo na mas karaniwang iniuugnay ang mission sa mga religious.
ESSENTIALLY, ang tatlong public canonical vows (poverty, chastity, at obedience) ang nagtatangi sa isang religious mula sa isang secular priest. Ang secular priests ay hindi nangangako ng tatlong vows na ito. Gayunpaman, sa kanilang ordination, nangangako sila sa kanilang obispo na susunod sa kanya bilang spiritual leader para sa partikular na diocese, at nangangako rin sila na mananatiling celibate (hindi mag-aasawa). Ang diocesan priests ay nasa ilalim ng diocesan bishop, habang ang religious priests ay nasa ilalim ng kanilang superior. Syempre, kung ang isang religious ay parish priest, sa pamamalakad ng parokya, siya ay nasa ilalim ng bishop (parochial matters lamang at hindi sa religious life).
Ang diocesan priests ay maaaring magkaroon ng personal na ari-arian, habang ang religious priests ay pag-aari ng kanilang komunidad. Ang stipends ng religious priests ay isinusuko sa superior sa pamamagitan ng treasurer, at bawat religious priest ay may natatanggap na buwanang allowance. Diocesan man o religious, kinakailangang mamuhay nang simple.
SA MINISTRY, ang mga diocesan priests ay karaniwang naglilingkod bilang parish priest sa isang diocese. Ang mga religious naman ay depende sa authorization na ibinigay. Ang ilan ay limitado sa diocesan level lamang, ang iba ay maaaring maglingkod saanman sa Pilipinas, at ang ilan ay may universal (worldwide) ministry. Depende rin sa charism ng kanilang order o congregation ang kanilang ministry, tulad ng academic formation, mission, justice and peace advocacy, hospital apostolate, at iba pa.
TECHNICALLY, ang initials ng kanilang order o congregation (bukod sa honorary at academic degrees) ay nasa dulo ng pangalan ng mga religious priests. Halimbawa:
- Rev. Fr. Noel Castillon, SVD (Societas Verbi Divini)
- Rev. Fr. Miel Sandoval, OFM Conv (Order of Friars Minor Conventuals)
- Rev. Fr. Vince Sealongo, MCCJ (Missionarii Comboniani Cordis Jesu)
Ilan pang halimbawa ay ang Jesuits, Dominicans, La Salettes, Josephites, at iba pa.
Ang diocesan priests o secular priests ay karaniwang walang initials sa dulo ng kanilang pangalan.
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God bless you!