The in-house pastor of a parish, who exercises pastoral care for the community entrusted to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop, is the pastor. The diocesan bishop is to be concerned with securing the continuity of pastoral care in the parish in the event of a vacancy or inability to fulfill the pastoral ministry of the pastor. The article presents the canonical institutions of pastor and parish administrator and their relationship to each other. An attempt is made to answer the following questions-problems: what are the prerequisites for the appointment of a parish administrator? What rights and duties a parish administrator has? and what is the difference between the legal institution of pastor and parish administrator?