Apostolic prefect

Okay kiddo, so you know how sometimes there are people who are in charge of things like schools or stores, right? Well, in the Catholic Church, there are people who are in charge of different areas, kind of like bosses. One of these bosses is called an apostolic prefect.

An apostolic prefect is basically someone who is appointed by the Pope, who is the leader of the Catholic Church, to be in charge of a specific area that isn't quite big enough to need a bishop yet. A bishop is someone who is in charge of a larger area, like a whole city or region.

So, let's say there is a small group of Catholics living in a city that is just starting to grow. They might have a priest who is taking care of them, but they might also need someone to help them organize and make sure things are running smoothly. That's where an apostolic prefect comes in.

The apostolic prefect is like the boss for that small group of Catholics. They make sure that everything is working well in that area, from the church services to the Catholic schools, if there are any. They also help to promote the Catholic faith in that area and make sure that all of the Catholic teachings are being followed.

So, although an apostolic prefect is kind of like a boss, they're really more like a helper for the people in that area. They make sure everyone has what they need to practice their faith, and they're there to answer any questions or concerns that might come up.