Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the USA

superior is open to the possibility, he or she should write to the diocesan bishop in the United States.

Case Study 2 The Congregation of Perpetual Devotion is a reli gious institute of diocesan right whose mother house is located in the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The congregation’s primary apostolate is perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. While in Brazil for the celebration of World Youth Day, Bishop A., of a small but growing diocese in the southern United States, had the occasion to meet the supreme moder ator of the congregation. During their conversation, Bishop A. mentioned his need for assistance in cate chizing a growing population of Brazilian immigrants in his diocese. Shortly after his return from Brazil, Bishop A. received a letter from the supreme modera tor in which she graciously offered to send three sisters to work among Brazilian immigrants in the diocese. Due to increased demands resulting from his absence from the diocese, Bishop A. had not yet found a suit able opportunity to pen a thoughtful response to the supreme moderator’s kind offer. Today, the diocese received a call from the superior of the three sisters announcing that they had arrived in the United States and were asking where they were supposed to live. This case illustrates the complexity of the canon ical issues involved when considering the reception of groups of persons in consecrated life to temporarily exercise works of the apostolate within a diocese. It serves to highlight the importance of mutual consul tation between the diocesan bishop and supreme mod erator of the religious institute, the diocesan bishop’s determination of the genuine ecclesial need for the ministry provided by the sisters in the diocese, and the necessity of a formal agreement between the diocesan bishop and supreme moderator prior to welcoming the sisters into the diocese. Frequently Asked Questions Q1. Is it appropriate for a member of an inter national religious institute, completing his or her doctorate in theology in Rome, to initiate contact with a diocesan bishop in the United States to inquire about serving in the dio cese so as to “gain experience of the educa tional and pastoral practices of the Church in United States”? A1. No, the religious should make his or her request known to his or her major superior. If the major

Q2. Father K., a diocesan priest from Nigeria, is being sent by his diocesan bishop to pursue graduate studies in theology at a US university. What should he do? A2. Father K. should contact the university to begin the admissions process. He should also begin to fulfill the immigration requirements to study in the United States. If he wishes to serve in a parish while pursuing his degree and possesses the proper immigration visa to do so, his diocesan bishop should write the diocesan bishop where the university is located to inquire about the possibility of Father K. exercising the sacred min istry there. The priest’s diocesan bishop will need to provide the receiving diocesan bishop with a compre hensive and honest written assessment of the priest’s probity of life as well as his capability and suitability for studies and pastoral work. If the receiving bishop decides to grant diocesan faculties to the priest, it is recommended that the temporary nature of this grant be expressly indicated. A written agreement between the sending and receiving dioceses should also be developed acknowledging the canonical rights and responsibilities of the priest while he is in the diocese. Q3. A deacon incardinated in a diocese in Central America has, with the approval of his diocesan bishop, been assigned to the Office of Hispanic Ministry for a US diocese. Four years after his arrival, he wrote to the receiving diocesan bishop asking to be incardinated in the US diocese. A copy of this letter was sent to his own diocesan bishop. More than a year has passed but neither bishop has replied.Has the deacon’s incardination changed? A3: Yes. The deacon is now incardinated in the US diocese by the law itself ( ipso iure ). The change of incardination occurred because of the failure of the sending or the receiving diocesan bishop to express opposition to the request in writing within the pre scribed time limit and due to the fact that the deacon has served legitimately in the US diocese for five years. Q4. Can an Eastern Catholic permanent dea con be granted bi-ritual faculties to exercise ministry in a Latin Church diocese?

Canon Law Considerations | B-7