The Diocese of Charlotte announced that longtime Bishop Peter J. Jugis, 67, is retiring due to health limitations, and that Pope Francis has appointed Father Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., of Atlanta, as his successor to lead the growing diocese.
A bishop is the highest order of ordained ministry in the Catholic Church (the other two orders are deacons and priests). While there are several types of bishops, the most common is a diocesan bishop.
A diocesan bishop is in charge of a geographic territory known as a diocese – one of the ways the Catholic Church organizes the People of God across the world (all 1.3 billion of them!).
The bishop is responsible for the pastoral care of all the people within that territory. The Bishop of Charlotte serves a diocesan territory encompassing the 46 counties of the western half of North Carolina – about 20,700 square miles – that includes 92 parishes and missions, 20 schools and over 50 ministries. About 5.5 million people live within the Diocese of Charlotte, about 530,000 of whom (10%) are Catholic.
The word “bishop” has its roots in the Greek word “episkopos.” The prefix “epi” means over, and “skopeo” means to watch. So “episkopos” means someone who watches over others. In Latin, the word became “episcopus,” then in Old English “bisceop,” and in modern English “bishop.”
5 things to know about a bishop
• Each Catholic bishop is personally appointed by the pope and reports directly to him. Once every five years or so, he must visit the pope in Rome during what’s called an “ad limina” visit.
• Every Catholic bishop is ordained by at least one other bishop, and they can connect their ordinations all the way back to the Twelve Apostles called by Jesus Christ. This unbroken lineage is called “apostolic succession.”
• A bishop wears a custom-designed ring on the third finger of his right hand, like a wedding band, that symbolizes his fidelity to the Church. People often kiss this ring as a sign of respect and greeting.
• Bishops must be at least 35 years old and must have been a priest for at least 5 years.
• A bishop formally takes up his post – what’s called “taking canonical possession” of his diocese – the moment when he first sits in the cathedra (the bishop’s chair). This prayerful and joyous ceremony is held at the diocesan cathedral, and is a historic moment in the life of a diocese.
What does a bishop do?
A bishop is responsible for the pastoral care of the People of God within his territory. As shepherd – directly appointed by the pope – he is the principal cleric responsible for teaching, governing and sanctifying the faithful.
As the diocese’s chief teacher, he has a duty to preach the Word of God and ensure that clergy and catechists in his diocese are preaching the Gospel and teaching sound doctrine.
As leader of the diocese, he is its chief lawmaker – making local laws and judging local Church matters; overseeing the liturgy, worship, and administration of the sacraments; and ensuring that the local community’s material and spiritual needs are met, including training priests and overseeing the diocese’s property and finances.
As the diocese’s principal prelate, he oversees the training, calls to holy orders, and ordains the diocese’s priests and deacons. He also usually administers the sacrament of confirmation.
His responsibilities also include being a mentor and spiritual father to his fellow priests – ensuring they are supported in their spiritual, emotional and intellectual life; and making sure they are faithfully fulfilling their obligations.
He has the unique task of blessing the sacred oils used each year in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, ordinations, and consecration of churches and altars. In addition, he ensures that Mass is celebrated in his diocese every Sunday and on major feast days.
Bishops must regularly visit each part of their diocese. They must also visit Rome to meet with the pope at least once every five years or so and visit the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, in what’s called an “ad limina” visit.
How does a bishop get appointed?
The ultimate decision on appointing bishops rests with the pope, and he is free to select anyone he chooses. But how does he know whom to select?
The process for selecting bishop candidates normally begins at the diocesan level and works its way through a series of consultations until it reaches Rome. It is a process bound by strict confidentiality and involves a number of important players – the most influential being the apostolic nuncio (the pope’s ambassador in each country), the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, and the pope. It can be a time-consuming process, often taking eight months or more to complete, and involves something called a “ternus.”
Read more at: https://www.usccb.org/offices/general-secretariat/appointing-bishops
Symbols of a bishop
• Crozier: A staff used on ceremonial occasions, symbolizing a bishop’s role as shepherd of the people in his diocese.
• Miter: A triangular-shaped hat with two cloth bands hanging down the back and two points at the top, representing the Old and New Testaments. The word comes from the Greek word “mitra,” meaning “turban.”
• Pectoral cross: A large ornamental cross hanging from a green cord intertwined with gold threads. It gets its name because it is worn over the chest (“pectus” in Latin).
• Ring: A custom-designed ring worn on the third finger of a bishop’s right hand, like a wedding band, symbolizing his fidelity to the Church.
• Zucchetto: A small skullcap worn by clergy. For bishops, the cap is amaranth red in color.
• Coat of arms: A symbol of heraldry chosen by a bishop appropriate to himself and his diocese. The diocesan arms may occupy the left side while his personal arms occupy the right.
• Motto: To motivate the faithful and to set himself a specific direction, a new bishop selects a set of meaningful words, often written in Latin at the bottom of his coat of arms.
• Cathedra: The Latin word for the presider’s chair located near the altar in a cathedral, the bishop’s principal church and “seat” of the diocese. Only a bishop may sit in this chair. It represents his authority as chief teacher of the diocese, and it is a sign of unity of believers in the faith that the bishop proclaims as shepherd.
Read more:
Diocese welcomes bishop-elect at press conference
First day: Bishop-elect greeted by smiles as he travels the region
Friends, family and faithful react to Bishop-Elect Martin’s assignment in Charlotte diocese
Fun facts with Bishop-Elect Martin