Vicariër

Vicariër is a Dutch term for vicar, a church official who acts as a deputy or representative of a higher authority. The word derives from Latin vicarius, meaning substitute or deputy. In religious contexts, a vicariër exercises pastoral or administrative duties on behalf of a bishop or a parish priest.

At parish level, a vicariër is typically a priest or cleric appointed to assist the parochus (parish priest) with pastoral care, liturgical duties, catechesis, and administrative tasks. In larger parishes there may be more than one vicariër, and their authority is delegated by the parish priest or, in some cases, by the bishop. The position is not a rank by itself but a function or mandate within the parish community.

In diocesan governance, a bishop may appoint vicaries to oversee parts of the diocese or to carry out specific mandates. The senior fe­ature in this realm is the vicarius generalis (vicar general), who exercises the bishop’s ordinary authority in the diocese in many matters. Related terms used in canonical contexts include vicarius foraneus (vicar forane), who supervises a group of parishes within a vicariate or deanery.

Usage and scope: The term vicariër appears predominantly in Catholic church texts and Dutch ecclesiastical documents. In contemporary Dutch usage, it remains a specialized term for canonical roles; in Protestant churches and secular contexts, the word is far less common and often replaced by other designations for deputy or assistant roles.