Just What is a Rectory in the Catholic Church?
If you've ever found yourself walking past a large, somewhat mysterious-looking house right next to a parish building, you've probably asked yourself what is a rectory in the Catholic Church and why it's always tucked so close to the sanctuary. It's one of those terms that sounds a bit old-fashioned, maybe even a little formal, but the reality of what goes on inside is usually pretty down-to-earth. At its simplest level, a rectory is just the house where the priest lives. But if you think it's just a bachelor pad with a lot of crucifixes on the walls, you're only getting half the story. ...