Information for Incoming Extern Priests
If a diocesan or religious extern priest intends to minister in the Archdiocese of Detroit for a period of two months or more, the following requirements must be satisfied before he begins any type of public ministry, including hearing confessions. (NB – The information below does not apply to priests visiting on a short-term basis; for those cases, please review the information here.)
- Letter of Suitability: The priest’s ordinary or superior must send a letter of suitability for the priest to the Office for Clergy and Consecrated Life. This letter should be sent at least one month prior to the priest’s arrival, when possible, and needs to specify the assignment (type and duration) that is being proposed by the ordinary/superior. Letters of suitability should be mailed to the chancery in Detroit, but it is also helpful if an electronic copy is sent to vicarforclergy@aod.org.
- Priest Information Form: Click here to complete the online form.
- Criminal Background Check: Once a letter of suitability is received and the Priest Information Form is submitted, the Clergy Office will email the incoming priest a link to complete an online criminal background check.
- Safe Environment Training:
- Every priest ministering in the Archdiocese of Detroit must have a VIRTUS account linked to the Archdiocese of Detroit. If a priest already has a VIRTUS account linked to another (arch)diocese, he must request that a duplicate account be created for Detroit. (Or, if he will be moving here permanently, he can request his account be transferred to Detroit.) This request must be submitted to helpdesk@virtus.org.
- Once the account is duplicated/transferred, the Clergy Office will review the account to determine if any additional training is needed. In general, if a priest has not completed the Online Awareness Session 4.0 and Vulnerable Adults 2.0 training module, he will need to complete this training before he can minister in the Archdiocese of Detroit. This is an online training video that does not need to be completed in one sitting. Additional training modules may be required in certain circumstances.
- If a priest does not already have a VIRTUS account, he will note this on the Priest Information Form, and the Clergy Office will create an account for him. All required training will be assigned to his account for completion.
- An incoming priest will also need to electronically sign the Pastoral Code of Conduct through his VIRTUS account.
Depending on the incoming priest’s circumstances, other requirements may apply. Incoming priests should be aware that it can take several weeks to grant faculties or permission to minister. Such priests may not engage in public ministry until they have received notification that faculties or permission have been granted.
Please note that extern priests are not permitted to solicit funds or goods from parishioners, individuals, or parish groups, including for charitable causes in their home country or diocese, unless it has been expressly permitted by the Archbishop of Detroit.
An international extern priest is only permitted to minister here (on a long-term basis of two months or more) if, prior to his arrival in the Archdiocese of Detroit:
- an agreement between the extern’s ordinary and the Archbishop of Detroit has been signed; AND
- the priest has received an assignment from the Archbishop of Detroit.
