Antistite nostro: The Episcopal Ministry in the Life of the Local Church

The richness of the Catholic Church is found in the bonds of communion between the universal church and the local church. The bishop―the antistite, or high priest, as he is entitled in the Canon of the Mass―is the apostolic successor who, though always in communion with the pope, is likewise a vicar of Christ in his own right. Thus, the role of the bishop―and his understanding of his own ministry―can shape the personality of a diocese as well as its understanding of its place in the worldwide church. This Festschrift, written in honor of a bishop who has sought to enliven his diocese and remind it of its bonds of communion with the whole, aims to provide a multi-disciplined approach to the ministry of the diocesan bishop at a time when authority is held in suspicion, communion is seen as constricting, and obedience to those in authority is treated as an artifact of a bygone age. The assembled essays approach the question of the episcopal ministry from the perspective of the Catholic Church's theological tradition and aim to enlighten clergy and laity about the ministry of their bishops and encourage bishops themselves in exercising their sacred office.