Missio cum cura animarum
Missio cum cura animarum (Eng. Mission with pastoral care ) is a term from Catholic canon law that describes a certain form of organization of communities that do not have the status of a parish . Most of them are communities for language minorities . Many German-speaking Catholic communities in the predominantly Protestant areas of northern Germany also emerged in this legal form.
A prerequisite for the establishment of such a mission, which is incumbent on the responsible local bishop, is a sufficient number of Catholics of one language, who are thus capable of forming a congregation. A priest is always in charge, but he does not have to be a pastor. The bishop determines which area the mission parish is responsible for. The church can bear the name of a saint.
In the German-speaking area, the election of a pastoral council as a co-determination body for the laity is usually required. In Germany the missiones cum cura animurum are not state bodies under public law . Your concerns are represented to the state authorities by the diocese or another parish.
According to church law, according to can. 516, §1 ( CIC ) the legal status of the quasi- parish can be granted. In ecclesiological terms they have the same rank in pastoral care as a canonically established parish. The congregations for Catholics of another mother tongue each include the believers of a language group who have their place of residence in the area of this congregation or, in the absence of such, their habitual residence. The purpose and duration of the stay are irrelevant. In contrast to membership in a personal parish, the believer remains a member of his home parish.
The pastor of a mission parish has the same rights and duties as the pastor of the diocese. For example, he is responsible for keeping church records. The congregation must conclude permanent contracts for the use of premises that are suitable for church services and necessary for their administration.