Appendix A Temporary Appointment and Incardination of Priests

APPENDIX ATEMPORARY APPOINTMENT AND INCARDINATION OF PRIESTSPRINCIPLES and PROCEDURESI. PREAMBLEThe Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton welcomes those ordained priests who, with the permission andblessing of their ordinary or religious superior, seek to work in the Archdiocese on a temporary basis orwho may eventually wish to be incardinated into the Edmonton Archdiocese. It is deemed to be essentialthat any priest seeking to work on a temporary basis or who may eventually wish to be incardinated taketime to pray and to reflect on his decision in order to help ensure that his choice is the one that will bestallow him to live out his ministry and his priesthood. It is also of critical importance that the Archdioceseconducts an in depth review of each person’s application to help ascertain if the applicant’s skills, abilities,and vocational calling is congruent with the needs and cultural milieu of the Edmonton Archdiocese. In thisthe Archbishop appreciates that he must judge the suitability of the cleric on the same basis as he would bejudged for orders.The Principles and Procedures that are contained herein have been established to guide the Archbishopthrough the process of determining if a priest should be granted a temporary appointment and if he shouldeventually be incardinated into the Edmonton Archdiocese. The Principles and Procedures are designed tohelp ensure that any such decisions are in the best interests of the applicant and in the best interests of theCatholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.The Principles and Procedures that guide the Catholic Archdiocese Temporary Appointment andIncardination of Priests process are governed by the Code of Canon Law and in this most specifically bycanons 267-271; 273; 276 & 277.II. PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT AND INCARDINATIONPROCESS1. The critical and central role of the ordained priesthood in the pastoral and sacramental lifeof the Church is fully recognized.2. The universality of the Catholic Church is fully recognized.3. Within the Universal Church the duties and rights legitimately conferred on an individualthrough the right of ordination may be exercised in a diocese other than his diocese ofordination.

4. To be an effective diocesan priest:a) is one who is able to be an integral and intimate member of a parish community;b) is one who is able to communicate with and understand the members of thatcommunity;c) is one who is accepted by the majority of members of the parish community as theirspiritual and pastoral leader;d) is one who is willing to work under the supervision and direction of the Archbishop;e) is one who is prepared to be a full, collaborative, and cooperative member of thepresbyterate;f) is one whose life is visibly marked by regular prayer, reflection, and spiritual devotion.5. The Archbishop must be sure that the individual seeking a temporary appointment orincardination can make a substantial contribution to and successfully fulfill a ministrywithin the Archdiocese of Edmonton (c. 269, §1). [It is to be noted that a pressing need forclergy never justifies the incardination of an unworthy individual.]6. A priest can apply to be incardinated into the Edmonton Archdiocese after he hasspent a minimum of two years as a temporary appointee in the Archdiocese.III. APPLICATION PROCEDURES1. Each priest seeking a temporary appointment must complete the form, CatholicArchdiocese of Edmonton: Temporary Appointment of Priests - Application forAppointment and, with such application, submit all required documentation.a) Two letters from other priests in the applicant’s diocese of incardination attesting tohis potential to make a valuable contribution to the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmontonmust be sent directly to the Archbishop of Edmonton.b) A copy of the applicant’s transcripts (c. 269, §2);c) A letter from a medical doctor attesting to the fact that the applicant is in good health,free of any major infection, free from any chronic or debilitating illness, and is able,from a medical point of view, to carry out the tasks associated with being a priest andpastor in the Edmonton Archdiocese;d) A recent security clearance check from the appropriate authority of the country oforigin and any other country where the applicant resided;e) A driver’s record and proof of vehicle insurance.Temporary Appointment and Incardination of Priests – Principles and ProceduresRevised August 2009Page 2

2. The priest’s Application to be considered for a Temporary Appointment must be supportedby his Bishop of Incardination approving of such an appointment. The form, TemporaryAppointment of Priests: Bishop/Religious Superior Reference can be used to satisfy thisrequirement wherein the Bishop of Incardination attests to the fact that the applicant hasfunctioned effectively as a priest, that he has been moral and ethical in his behavior, thatthere are no impediments to a temporary appointment, and that he could make a valuablecontribution to the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton (c. 269, §3).3. Upon and after arrivala. The applicant must be willing to enroll in a program or programs as identified bythe Archbishop:that will familiarize him with the Church of the Edmonton Archdiocese;that will assist him to adjust to and understand the culture of theEdmonton Archdiocese;that will help ensure that he has effective communication skills.b. The applicant will be assigned a mentor who will help guide him through hisorientation (internship), education, and training from the time he arrives to work inthe Archdiocese until he leaves or until he is incardinated. As the period oforientation (internship) progresses the Archbishop may assign different mentors.c. The applicant agrees to a period of pastoral internship in a parish or parishes thatwill provide the opportunity:for the applicant to become familiar and knowledgeable about thedynamics of a parish in the Edmonton Archdiocese and to learn to exerciseeffective pastoral leadership;for experienced pastors and parish leaders to assess the applicant’s skills,abilities, and dedication;for the Archbishop to gather information in order to determine, from aparish perspective, if the applicant should be incardinated into theEdmonton Archdiocese in the eventuality that he makes such a request.d. The applicant will undergo a series of appraisals under the direction of theArchbishop to determine:if the Priest’s skills, abilities, and personal characteristics are such that hecan make a valuable contribution to the Edmonton Archdiocese;if, as a result of the programs in which he is registered and as a result of hisinternship experience, he is making appropriate progress in his growth anddevelopment such that there is a positive prognosis for success as a priestin the Edmonton Archdiocese;if the Edmonton Archdiocese is an appropriate setting for the applicant tolive out his priestly vocation.e. A detailed file (portfolio) will be maintained on each applicant which will contain allrelevant information accumulated as part of the application procedures. Suchinformation might include but would not be limited to reports prepared by:Temporary Appointment and Incardination of Priests – Principles and ProceduresRevised August 2009Page 3