Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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RECTOR

The head of a religious community of men, or of an educational institution. Popularly applied to designate a pastor, and hence the term rectory. But in canonical language a rector is the priest in charge of a church that is neither parochial nor capitular nor annexed to the house of a religious community for its religious functions. (Etym. Latin rector, ruler, leader, director.)