Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the United States

G-2 | Reception and Orientation

Apart from a formal pre-arrival program, the

internet, social media, mobile phone apps, and the

tools of distance learning can facilitate this process

in three ways: (1) to deliver information and give a

sense of cultural context to international ministers

before their arrival; (2) to begin establishing rapport

between the international ministers and the com-

munities that will receive them; and (3) to assist the

vetting process, for example, by conducting initial

assessment interviews or testing.

After a potential international pastoral minis-

ter applies for service in the United States, a video

link can enable an interview. This interview form

offers a way to assess linguistic competency. A video

interview can also facilitate initial psychological

screening with, of course, appropriate safeguards

for privacy in place. These forms of electronic

communication do not allow for a comprehensive

screening process, but they offer the possibility

of an important initial assessment.

Finally, in a

very helpful way, video interviews can be used in

advance of a visa process.

The various receiving church communities can

produce web-based introductory content for interna-

tional pastoral ministers prior to their arrival. The

content might include basic information about life

in the United States, about the region where the

ministers will serve, and about the particular com-

munity where the ministers will serve. The content

can be delivered by means of documents, videos, and

other interactive learning tools. The creation and

maintenance of these pre-arrival programs is rela-

tively inexpensive and not labor intensive once the

content has been developed. These programs can be

developed collaboratively by groups of institutions

and communities. The flexibility of the different

learning tools allows for a mix of formal content

and more personal “snapshots” of the receiving com-

munity. Finally, the content of these programs can

2 In the course of managing its pastoral grant programs, the Office of

National Collections of the USCCB works closely and extensively

with many dioceses, eparchies, and religious communities through-

out the world. Consider contacting the National Collections Office

for background information regarding sending dioceses, eparchies,

societies, or institutes of other countries related to the exchange of

pastoral ministers. National or regional associations of international

clergy and religious in the United States can also be helpful for the

vetting process and for reception, for example: African Conference of

Catholic Clergy and Religious in the United States. (ACCCRUS);

African Catholic Clergy Association (ACCA); African Women

Religious Conference (AWRC); Asociación Nacional de Sacerdotes

Hispanos (ANSH); Asociación de Religiosas Hispanas en los

Estados Unidos (ARHEU); Federation of Vietnamese Catholics in

the USA; Korean American Priests Association (KAPA).

provide testimonials from international pastoral

ministers who are already serving in the region.

Internet and video connections can link inter-

national pastoral ministers with the specific commu-

nity that they will serve, if that designation has been

made. This pre-arrival contact enables the individ-

ual minister’s smooth entry into the community and

establishes their connection with it. Video contact

can also surface potential difficulties that might

need attention.

The diocese, eparchy, institute, or society should

assemble a packet of documents to inform interna-

tional pastoral ministers of policies and practical

details of their ministry in the United States.

These

documents can be sent in advance by email. The

content of the packet will vary according to the

size, conditions, and policies of the diocese, epar-

chy, institute, or society. In those instances where

the local assignment is already established, the

packet may include information pertaining to that

particular assignment.

When a diocese, eparchy, institute, or society

receives multiple ministers from the same region,

officials or representatives of the receiving commu-

nity might visit the sending community and meet

with potential ministers in their home environment.

Although such a visit entails an expenditure of time

and money, it clearly demonstrates respect for the

sending community and offers an effective means

to achieve genuine insight into the qualities of the

potential ministers.

Stage 2: Welcome and

Initial Orientation

Welcome

The quality of the first “hello” is crucial to the success

of the reception process. Two considerations need

to be kept in mind. The first is the extraordinarily

high stress level of the journey itself. The arriving

individuals are likely to be physically exhausted by

the journey and emotionally spent after the fare-

wells to family, friends, and community. They will

probably have been subject to intrusive and lengthy

3 The canon law considerations chapter of the

Guidelines

calls for a

written agreement governing the work and living arrangements of

the minister. That document will cover most of the information

suggested here. Nonetheless, it is likely that the more technical lan-

guage and information of such an agreement may need to be supple-

mented by this packet.