Still not clear about the difference between vicar and priest.
Are the two words interchangeable when people mean about the man who perform the Mass in Catholic churches and take the responsibility for the whole church?
In the Catholic and Orthodox churches all ordained men are priests. In the Roman Catholic Church, priests are not permitted to marry.
In the Anglo-Catholic/Church of England, priests hold various parochial offices, of which "vicar" is one. A Vicar/Rector can conduct the service for a Mass or Holy Communion. A Deacon may not conduct such a service but can take any other service. The Vicar/Rector has charge over a parish or parishes.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the priest in charge of a parish is technically its "Pastor" and is usually addressed as "Father ..."; they may be assisted by "Parochial Vicars" or "Associate Priests".
The answer seems to be that if you are talking of the Roman Catholic Church [certainly in England] , "Vicar" may be used but it is a colloquial use and not the proper title.
Just to clear things up: there are three orders of ministry in the Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox churches, namely Deacon, Priest and Bishop. 'Vicar' is not a holy order, but the job title of a priest who has 'freehold' of a parish under English law, i.e. basically the priest in charge of a parish. A given church may have several priests, but only one of them will be the Vicar. Some parishes, for historic reasons, may have a Rector instead of a Vicar.
In other words, all vicars are priests, but not all priests are vicars! For example, chaplains in universities, the Armed Forces etc. are all priests, but are not vicars, because they are not in charge of a parish. The distinction is between one's holy orders and one's role. Clear?
One of the Pope's titles is 'The Vicar Of Christ'.
Clive
Are the two words interchangeable when people mean about the man who perform the Mass in Catholic churches and take the responsibility for the whole church?
In the Anglo-Catholic/Church of England, priests hold various parochial offices, of which "vicar" is one. A Vicar/Rector can conduct the service for a Mass or Holy Communion. A Deacon may not conduct such a service but can take any other service. The Vicar/Rector has charge over a parish or parishes.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the priest in charge of a parish is technically its "Pastor" and is usually addressed as "Father ..."; they may be assisted by "Parochial Vicars" or "Associate Priests".
The answer seems to be that if you are talking of the Roman Catholic Church [certainly in England] , "Vicar" may be used but it is a colloquial use and not the proper title.
In other words, all vicars are priests, but not all priests are vicars! For example, chaplains in universities, the Armed Forces etc. are all priests, but are not vicars, because they are not in charge of a parish. The distinction is between one's holy orders and one's role. Clear?