hulprelaties

Hulprelaties, often translated as auxiliary prelatures or territorial prelatures, refer to a category of ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the Catholic Church. A prelature is a jurisdiction headed by a prelate and is not a diocese. A territorial prelature covers a defined geographic area that is not yet organized as a diocese, typically because the Catholic community there is small or dispersed, or because the region is in a mission phase of development.

Within a territorial prelature, the prelate exercises ordinary governance over pastoral, liturgical, disciplinary, and administrative matters in the territory. The structure mirrors that of a diocese in many respects, but it remains distinct in status and is directly subject to the Holy See. The prelate may be a bishop or a priest appointed to oversee the territory, and he will usually appoint local pastors, oversee sacramental life, and coordinate evangelization and social-ministry efforts in coordination with canon law.

Hulprelaties are different from personal prelatures, which are defined by the personal status of the faithful rather than a geographic area (for example, Opus Dei). They are also distinct from apostolic vicariates, which are missionary jurisdictions governed by a vicar apostolic rather than a prelate and are typically transitional steps toward establishing a diocese.

The creation and modification of territorial prelatures are decisions of the Holy See, made through papal provisions. They can be erected, altered, elevated to a diocese, or suppressed as demographic and pastoral needs evolve. In modern use, hulprelaties remain relatively rare and are primarily associated with specific mission or transitional contexts within the Latin Church.

See also: Territorial prelature, Personal prelature, Apostolic vicariate, Canon law, Prelate.