What are the roles of a Catholic bishop?

Answer 1

Catholic Answer

A bishop is a successor of the Apostles, he has received the fullness of Christ's priesthood. His most distinctive and unique role is ordination - to ordain priests and other bishops. In most cases, a bishop is in charge of a diocese, even if it is only titular - there are over two thousand ancient Catholic dioceses and archdiocese which have been destroyed by the Moslems; the titles are now given to auxiliary, coadjutor, and other Bishops who do not have a residential see.

A Bishop may only ordain another Bishop with express permission from the reigning Pope. The Bishop is the head and fullness of the Catholic Church in his diocese, he wears a ring to symbolize his authority and carries a shepherd's staff for the same reason.

Answer 2

Duties

Duties of a diocesan bishop are to "teach, sanctify and govern": that is, to oversee preaching of the Gospel and Catholic education in all its forms; to oversee and provide for the administration of the sacraments; and to legislate, administer and act as judge for Canon Law within his diocese. He serves as the spiritual leader of the diocese and has responsibility for the pastoral care of all Catholics living within his ecclesiastical and ritual jurisdiction. He is obliged to celebrate Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation with the intention of praying for those in his care (pro populo), assign clergy to their posts in various institutions and oversee finances. Latin Catholic bishops also must make regular ad limina visits to the Holy See every five years.

Only a bishop normally possesses the power to confer the sacrament of Holy Orders, but some exceptions exist. For example, in the Byzantine rite, a monastic Archimandrite may tonsure and ordain his subjects to minor orders. The sacrament of Confirmation is normally administered by a bishop in the Latin Rite, but any priest has the sacramental power to do so and may under various circumstances, and in the Eastern Catholic Churches, Confirmation (called Chrismation) is normally administered by priests. Moreover, it is only within the power of the bishop or eparch to consecrate churches and bless altars.

Latin Catholic bishops, on Holy Thursday, preside over the Mass of the Chrism. Though Oil of the Sick for the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, which is blessed at this Mass, may also be blessed by any priest, only a bishop may consecrate Chrism. Chrism, in the Eastern Catholic Churches, is consecrated only by heads of Churches 'sui juris', and ordinary bishops may not consecrate Chrism.

Only a bishop or other ordinary may grant Imprimaturs for theological books, certifying that they are free from doctrinal or moral error, as part of his teaching authority.

In former times, it was also the duty of the bishop to consecrate the paten and chalice that would be used during the Mass. Today, a simple blessing is used which may be given by any priest.

Catholic AnswerThe Bishops' job is to be a successor to the Apostles, and exercise the full priesthood of Jesus Christ - to bring all man to salvation.

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd editionThe teaching office 888 Bishops, with priests as co-workers, have as their first task "to preach the Gospel of God to all men," in keeping with the Lord's command. They are "heralds of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic teachers" of the apostolic faith "endowed with the authority of Christ." The sanctifying office 893 The bishop is "the steward of the grace of the supreme priesthood," especially in the Eucharist which he offers personally or whose offering he assures through the priests, his co-workers. The Eucharist is the center of the life of the particular Church. The bishop and priests sanctify the Church by their prayer and work, by their ministry of the word and of the sacraments. They sanctify her by their example, "not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock." Thus, "together with the flock entrusted to them, they may attain to eternal life." The governing office895 "The bishops, as vicars and legates of Christ, govern the particular Churches assigned to them by their counsels, exhortations, and example, but over and above that also by the authority and sacred power" which indeed they ought to exercise so as to edify, in the spirit of service which is that of their Master.

Answer 3

According to "The Catechism of the Catholic Church," 2nd edition:

The teaching office

Bishops, with priests as co-workers, have as their first task "to preach the Gospel of God to all men," in keeping with the Lord's command. They are "heralds of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic teachers" of the apostolic faith "endowed with the authority of Christ."

The sanctifying office

The bishop is "the steward of the grace of the supreme priesthood," especially in the Eucharist which he offers personally or whose offering he assures through the priests, his co-workers. The Eucharist is the center of the life of the particular Church. The bishop and priests sanctify the Church by their prayer and work, by their ministry of the word and of the sacraments. They sanctify her by their example, "not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock." Thus, "together with the flock entrusted to them, they may attain to eternal life."

The governing office

"The bishops, as vicars and legates of Christ, govern the particular Churches assigned to them by their counsels, exhortations, and example, but over and above that also by the authority and sacred power" which indeed they ought to exercise so as to edify, in the spirit of service which is that of their Master.

Answer 4

A Bishop looks after church communities and IS COOL!!