Roman Catholic Church Hierarchy

The structure of the clergy body in authority within a Christian church.

Pope

Head of the Catholic church and he is based at the Vatican. The Pope is also Bishop of Rome and Peter�s successor, Also known as "Vicar of Christ" and the "Supreme Pontiff" of the Universal Church, and also a less formal title as the "Servant of the Servants of God". The pope is infallible in defining matters of faith and morals. He is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful. 

Cardinal

Are princes of the Church appointed.by the Pope and they make up the College of Cardinals, whom provides advise the Pope. They are chosen from head departments of the Roman Curia or important episcopal sees throughout the world.Cardinals under the age of 80 also have duty on electing a new Pope upon death or resignation of the current Pope.

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of a main or metropolitan diocese also known as an archdiocese. A cardinal can concurrently hold the title.

Bishop (Diocesan Bishop)

A bishop, like a priest, is ordained to this position/ranking. Ordained to the episcopate is the fullness of the priesthood, are considered the successors of the Apostles. He is a teacher of church doctrine, a priest of sacred worship, and a minister of church government within the diocese or sees he is ordained bishop. The Pope himself is a bishop (the bishop of Rome).

Priest

An ordained priest who can administer most of the sacraments, including the Eucharist, baptism, and marriage in a given congregation. He can be with a particular religious order or committed to serving a congregation.

Deacon

A transitional deacon is a seminarian studying for the priesthood. A permanent deacon can be married and assists a bishop or priest by performing some of the sacraments.

St. Nicholas, Bishop (Optional Memorial) ~ 6 December

December 6, the feast day of Saint Nicholas. Both Eastern and Western Christians, recognizes this memorial of this advent season saint. Saint Nicholas of Myra, a Turkish bishop, is undoubtedly one of the Western world most popular saints and is remembered in the United States for the unique personality of Saint Claus, the jolly, rotund, white-bearded gentleman who captivates children with promises of gifts on Christmas Eve. He is known for his giving generosity to the poor and is an intercessor for financial problems.He is the patron saint of children, and also invoked by sailors, merchants, bakers, travellers, pilgrims, poor people, unmarried girls and pawnbrokers. He is also known as a patron against imprisonment, against robberies and against robbers. Together with Saint Andrew, he is honoured as the co-patron of Russia.

In a traditional legend tells of a family with three daughters of a poor family. The father could not afford to pay the dowries required for his daughters to marry. If he is unable to get his daughters married then they would be forced into prostitution or slavery to earn money. When Nicholas found out about this family�s plight, he visited the house three times, each time tossing a bag of gold into the house through a window. These three bag of gold became the dowry for each of  the daughter. This legend could have been the reason Saint Nicholas is the patron unmarried girls.

We humbly implore your mercy, 

Lord protect us in all dangers 

through the prayers of the Bishop Saint Nicholas, 

that the way of salvation may lie open before us. 

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you in the unity 

of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

AMEN.

St. Nicholas, glorious Confessor of Christ, 

assist us in thy loving kindness. 

Amen.

Friday, 6 December, 2013
St. Nicholas, Bishop (Optional Memorial)

Reading

Isaiah 29: 17 - 24
17	Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18	In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.
19	The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
20	For the ruthless shall come to nought and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
21	who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.
22	Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: "Jacob shall no more be ashamed, no more shall his face grow pale.
23	For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24	And those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction."

Psalm

Psalms 27: 1, 4, 13 - 14
1	The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
4	One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
13	I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14	Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD!

Gospel

Matthew 9: 27 - 31
27	And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David."
28	When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord."
29	Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."
30	And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it."
31	But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

A Prayer to Saint Nicholas

Glorious St. Nicholas, my special patron, from thy throne in glory, where thou dost enjoy the presence of God, turn thine eyes in pity upon me and obtain for me from our Lord the graces and helps that I need in my spiritual and temporal necessities and especially this favour 

(mention your request), 

provided that it be profitable to my salvation). Be mindful, likewise, O glorious and saintly Bishop, of our Sovereign Pontiff, of Holy Church, and of all Christian people. Bring back to the right way of salvation all those who are living steeped in sin and blinded by the darkness of ignorance, error, and heresy. Comfort the afflicted, provide for the needy, strengthen the fearful, defend the oppressed, give health to the infirm; cause all men to experience the effects of thy powerful intercession with the supreme Giver of every good and perfect gift. Amen.

Year of Faith Closing ~ Message from His Lordship Bishop Rt. Rev. Sebastian Francis, D.D.

English

Malay 

Chinese

Tamil

St. Josaphat, Bishop, Martyr (Memorial)

12 November is the memorial of St. Josaphat, a Catholic of the Ruthenian rite. Josaphat Kuncewitcz born in the Ukraine of Orthodox parents about the year 1580. In 1604 he joined the Ukrainian Order of Saint Basil (Basilians) and later became as a famous preacher who worked to bring unity among the faithful, and bring strayed Christians back to the Church. n 1614 he was appointed archimandrite of Vilna, Russia and four years later archbishop of Polotzk; in this position he worked untiringly for Church reunion. On day when he visited Vitebsk (now in Russia), his enemies attacked his lodging and murdered a number of his companions. Meekly the man of God hastened toward the mob and, full of love, cried, "My children, what are you doing? If you have something against me, see, here I am." With furious cries of "Kill the papist!", they rushed upon him with gun and sword. Josaphat's body was thrown into the river but emerged, surrounded by rays of light, and was recovered. His murderers, when sentenced to death, repented their crime and became Catholics. In 1867, Josaphat was canonized by Pope Pius IX, becoming the first saint of the Eastern Church to be formally canonized by Rome. St. Josaphat is the patron saint of the Ukraine.

Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat as he laid down his life for the sheep, so that through his intercession we, too, may be strengthened by the same Spirit and not be afraid to lay down our life for others. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Tuesday, 12 November, 2013
St. Josaphat, Bishop, Martyr (Memorial)

Reading 1

Wisdom 2: 23 - 24 - 3: 1 - 9
23	for God created man for incorruption, and made him in the image of his own eternity,
24	but through the devil's envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his party experience it.

1	But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.
2	In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction,
3	and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.
4	For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality.
5	Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
6	like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
7	In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble.
8	They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever.
9	Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.

Psalm

Psalms 34: 2 - 3, 16 - 19
2	My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3	O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
16	The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17	When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18	The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
19	Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Gospel

Luke 17: 7 - 10
7	"Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down at table'?
8	Will he not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink'?
9	Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?
10	So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"