Submitted on May 13, 2019
Generally speaking, there isn’t much of a difference between pastor and administrator, as far as the day-to-day duties go. Canon Law notes that “a parochial administrator is bound by the same duties and possesses the same rights as a pastor unless the diocesan bishop establishes otherwise” (Can. 540 ยง1).
Canon Law also notes that bishops generally have greater flexibility in assigning a priest who has a designation of administrator. Sometimes the administrator title will be given to a priest who is new to the role of pastor, for example, and then later will have the title changed to pastor after having some experience in the role.
