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Reception and Orientation | G-5
Evaluative elements can appropriately enter
into this first phase. Testing for proper idiomatic
American English as well as culturally-appropriate
psychological testing should take place in the first
three months after arrival in the United States.
Such tests may indicate the need for more than
routine cultural orientation, or they may raise the
question of the suitability of a given pastoral min-
ister for service in the United States. It is preferred
that the arrangements for testing be handled at
the diocesan, eparchial, institute, or society level.
Likewise, responsibility for any course of action
resulting from such testing rests with the diocesan,
eparchial, institute, or society leadership. Of course,
all precautions must be taken to protect the privacy
of medical records. When language needs are iden-
tified, there is no need to await formal orientation
to address those needs. Language instruction or
assistance with idiomatic US pronunciation should
begin as soon as the need is identified. In the US
context, language needs may extend beyond English
because of the multiethnic composition of many US
Catholic communities.
Stage 3: Formal Orientation
Cultural Orientation for the Minister
While initial orientation should be local, ad hoc,
and specific to the personal and cultural context
of individuals, formal orientation should include
a clear curriculum and expert guidance. This stage
lends itself to cooperation among various receiving
communities. Although a large diocese, eparchy,
institute, or society may wish to conduct its own
program, most may wish to utilize existing national
programs or develop programs in concert with other
dioceses, eparchies, institutes, or societies.
5
Current
data indicate that only about one third of arriving
clergy, seminarians, and consecrated persons have
had an opportunity for formal orientation. Although
the commitment of time and money needed to pro-
vide this orientation is considerable, a formal pro-
gram of orientation is an indispensable part of any
comprehensive reception process.
Formal orientation programs should begin
between three and nine months after arrival.
5 Many Catholic Charities agencies throughout the United States
offer such programs in the context of assistance and welcome for
newly-arrived immigrants and refugees, including some who may be
from the same home country as the arriving pastoral ministers.
Programs vary and can be as long as one week or
involve several one or two weeks sessions over sev-
eral months. For formal orientation, one week should
be considered the minimum. Ideally, the program
will involve more than one meeting. Some programs
include follow-up. Several programs have a national
outreach;
6
other programs serve the needs of a par-
ticular diocese, eparchy, institute, society, or region.
Case Study 2
Father B. was ordained for a rural Latin American dio-
cese. Before his ordination, two of his siblings immi-
grated to theUnited States. During visits to his family in
the United States, he was moved by the pastoral needs
of Spanish-speaking immigrants and he felt a desire to
be close to his family in the United States. With his
bishop’s permission, he came to the United States to
serve as an international priest. The local bishop wel-
comed him enthusiastically because of the vast and
often unmet needs of Spanish-speakers in his diocese.
Eventually, the diocesan bishop in the United
States incardinated him, although his English was very
limited and the parameters of his ministry were very
narrowly confined to the Hispanic community. The
diocese did not have an operative program for orien-
tation and even less so did it have a process of integra-
tion into the presbyterate. So, Father B. was busy with
his ministry but also isolated. An unscrupulous real
estate lawyer convinced him that he could serve the
community by co-signing on mortgage loans for immi-
grant families, including his own. In fact, unknown to
Father B., the mortgage loans were part of a fraudulent
scheme that was eventually uncovered by the district
attorney, and Father B. was convicted of several crimi-
nal offenses for his complicity in the scheme.
This case illustrates how a priest’s initial good
intentions and zeal are not enough. The lack of ori-
entation and the failure to integrate Father B. into the
presbyterate and life of the local Church resulted in sad
consequences, which could have been avoided.
Orientation programs should always consider
the particular needs and circumstances of the partici-
pants. The schedule should allow for daily Eucharist,
prayer in common, and opportunity for fellowship.
A comprehensive program will include international
ministers among its faculty. Such a program provides
international ministers with the opportunity to step
outside of their ministerial assignment to engage in a
6 A listing of national programs can be found in the “Further
Resources” section at the end of the
Guidelines
.