Last Updated: 2/21/2020
I. Objetivo
This policy outlines a process of selecting and welcoming International Clergy for service in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and sets forth the requirements for International Clergy providing service in the Archdiocese.
II. Definiciones
“Archbishop” means the sitting Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis ( or the appointed Apostolic Administrator).
"Archidiócesis" means the certain corporate entity formed, maintained and existing under Minnesota Section 315.16 with Minnesota Business Name: “The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis”.
“Clergy” means any persons ordained – bishops, priests, and deacons – who administer the rites of the Catholic Church.
“Cleric” miembro del clero.
“Code of Conduct” se refiere al Código de Conducta para el Clero, el Código de Conducta para el Personal de la Iglesia, el Código de Conducta para Voluntarios Adultos y el Código de Conducta para Voluntarios Jóvenes, según corresponda.
“Director of Clergy Personnel” means the person appointed by the Archbishop to oversee and manage the assignment of Clergy in the Archdiocese
“Essential 3” means 1) acknowledgement of the Code of Conduct 2) Virtus, or equivalent, child protection training and 3) a criminal background check.
“International Clergy” means priests and deacons who are incardinated in a country other than the United States.
"Pastor" se entiende un párroco o un administrador parroquial, según el caso.
“Vicar for Clergy” means the priest appointed by the Archbishop to serve as the Archbishop’s representative in matters relating to Clergy that the Archbishop does not reserve to himself.
III. Política
International Clergy will be accepted into the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis based on the needs of this local Church or some specific and discernable benefit to the overall ministry of the Presbyterate. A formal request to respond to this need and requirements to fulfill it will be made in writing to the Archbishop. Once the proposed recruitment of international clergy to meet the need has been approved by the Archbishop, he will communicate that need to the Director of Clergy Personnel, who will coordinate the overall process of searching for candidates.
A. Process of Selection
Selection will be based on comprehensive criteria, including a personal interview utilizing appropriate means to determine language ability. The interview will occur after candidates submit a letter from their bishop or religious superior granting preliminary permission to engage in a selection process that may lead to ministry, assignment and admission in the Archdiocese, and review the entire file from home diocese. The completed admission from the diocesan bishop will include a statement related to language skills and proficiency, the potential for adapting to the cultural life of the United States and relationship with Parish structures and people; the moral, intellectual, physical and psychological attributes of the candidate; documents attesting to the Cleric’s ordination and incardination; a complete assignment history since the time of ordination; a completed Application for Ministerial Faculties form; and any information related to experience of the candidate in their service to any other diocese.
The Director of Clergy Personnel will request appropriate references in order to gauge the Cleric’s readiness for pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese. The Cleric will be required to complete a U.S. and international criminal background check before beginning any visa or immigration processes.
At the time of selection, the Chancellor for Canonical Affairs will establish a clergy file for the candidate. All documentation related to the process of selection will be included in the Cleric’s file.
Once a mutually agreeable candidate has been identified, a written agreement is to be drawn up between the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and the Diocesan Bishop or religious superior of the sending diocese, or religious community and the candidate setting forth in detail all of the duties and responsibilities of the parties (Agreement). All parties must sign the Agreement before the candidate arrives in the Archdiocese.
At the time of selection, consideration is to be given to the visa process and a specific assignment. Terms of both the visa process and a specific assignment should be included in the Agreement between the Archdiocese, and the Diocesan Bishop or religious superior of the sending diocese, or religious community. The costs related to the application of a visa are to be paid by the Cleric coming to the Archdiocese. The
Agreement of international clergy for service in the Archdiocese will include these provisions unless otherwise stated by the Archbishop.
The Agreement must also address the issues of 1) initial duration and options of renewal that allow for the sending ordinary to reserve the right to call the Cleric home for just cause; 2) faculties, remuneration, and providing for an annual evaluation; 3) financial obligations of the sending diocese; 4) health care provisions; 5) pension; 6) other issues such as graduate studies, if applicable; and 7) additional issues as set forth in this Policy.
Once the above steps have been completed, then the United States visa process will begin through the Director of Clergy Personnel.
Absent a written Agreement, the Archdiocese will not pay for any expenses for Clergy coming to the Archdiocese on an F-1 or R-1 Visa, and in such circumstances the Clergy member coming to the Archdiocese, or his diocese or Order, is fully responsible for all of their living expenses, health insurance, housing, tuition, legal expenses, transportation, and other financial support.
B. Arrival
The arrival process should begin once the visa process is started. The arrival process will begin with the assignment to a parish or institution and include the assignment of a mentor priest outside of the parish pastor or institutional supervisor. The Director of Clergy Personnel will make appropriate arrangements for the Cleric’s arrival and enculturation process, and will work with the Pastor or supervisor of the assignment to prepare the receiving community for the Cleric’s arrival.
The Cleric can make travel arrangements to the Archdiocese once the United States visa has been granted by the Department of Homeland Security. Travel costs are to be paid by the Cleric coming to the Archdiocese with this provision noted in the Agreement between the Archdiocese and sending diocese or religious community. The Agreement by international clergy for service in the Archdiocese must include these provisions.
The Cleric cannot begin public ministry until all safe environment requirements of the Archdiocese are completed and ministerial faculties are granted by the Archbishop.
The Director of Clergy Personnel and the receiving pastor or supervisor are to consult the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the United States and appropriate sections related to pre-welcome, welcome, orientation, and ongoing support.
Any costs for enculturation including accent reduction and language skills are considered costs of continuing education as outlined in the current Compensation Schedule for Priests. Any additional costs beyond the limits of the Compensation Schedule are to be paid by the individual Cleric.
C. Salary and International Priests Retirement Reserve Fund
During the time the Cleric is serving in the Archdiocese, he will receive remuneration commensurate with the Archdiocese’s Comprehensive Schedule for priests, which shall be paid by the Archdiocese during the enculturation period and thereafter by the institution where the Cleric is providing ministry.
A) The Cleric will also receive health and dental insurance similar to those of diocesan priests serving within the Archdiocese which benefits shall initially be paid by the Archdiocese during the enculturation period and thereafter by the institution where the Cleric is providing ministry.
B) Payments will be made to the International Priests Retirement Reserve Fund (IPRRF) pursuant to the current schedule of the Archdiocese for such contributions. Said payments may be made by the Archdiocese during the enculturation period and thereafter shall be made by the institution where the Cleric is providing ministry. When the Cleric is no longer assigned to ministry in the Archdiocese, the amount to be provided from the IPRRF to the home diocese of the Cleric for the Cleric’s service in the Archdiocese will be calculated by multiplying the number of years of service in the Archdiocese times $4,000. The factor for the partial years of service will be rounded to the nearest whole month.
C) In order for the home diocese of the Cleric to receive any payments from the IPRRF, the Parish where the Cleric is assigned must make all required payments into the IPRRF during the time the Cleric serves at that parish. If the parish does not pay in full to the IPRRF as invoiced by the Archdiocese, the amount the Archdiocese will remit to the home diocese of the Cleric will be reduced on a pro-rata basis based upon the amount the parish actually pays into the IPRRF versus the amount the parish was invoiced. The Cleric shall have no right to receive any payments directly from the IPRRF.
Attached hereto as an addendum is a memo on the legal requirements and restrictions relating to Student Visas and Religious Worker Visas.
