Information for Incoming Extern Priests

If a diocesan or religious extern priest intends to minister in the Archdiocese of Detroit for a period of 90 days or more, the following requirements must be satisfied before he begins any type of public ministry, including hearing confessions. Depending on the nature of a priest’s assignment and other circumstances, additional requirements may apply. Because it can take several weeks to grant faculties or permission to minister, incoming priests should begin working on these requirements as early as possible and may not engage in public ministry or any priestly ministry that requires faculties until they have been notified that the necessary faculties/permission have been granted.

Note: The information below does not apply to priests visiting on a short-term basis (i.e., less than 90 days); for those cases, please review the information here.

Click here for a quick checklist of requirements. A more detailed summary of these requirements can be found below.

Letter of Suitability

Your ordinary or superior must send a letter of suitability to the Office for Clergy and Consecrated Life. This letter should be sent at least one month prior to your 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 sent to clergyandconsecratedlife@aod.org or mailed to the chancery (Office for Clergy and Consecrated Life, 12 State Street, Detroit, Michigan 48226).

Priest Information Form

Please complete this online form.

Fingerprinting

You will required to be fingerprinted within 10 days of your arrival in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Fingerprinting sessions can be scheduled at the chancery, private fingerprinting agencies, or various government locations (such as select courthouses, police departments, and sheriff offices). Regardless of where you will be fingerprinted, you will need to bring (1) a valid passport or driver’s license and (2) two required fingerprinting forms (click here to download the forms).

To schedule an appointment at the chancery, click here. Street parking is available near the chancery through the Park Detroit app (it costs about $1 for an hour of parking). Parking is also available in nearby lots and covered garages, but the cost can be significantly higher, especially when events are taking place in Detroit.
For a list of other fingerprinting locations, click here. Please call the agency to schedule an appointment (some also offer online scheduling). When scheduling, you will need to provide the following information:
- Agency ID: 94148L
- Fingerprinting code: CPE

If you are not fingerprinted at the chancery, there will be a fee for the service. You can submit your receipt to fingerprinting@aod.org to be reimbursed for this fee.

Safe Environment Training

Every priest ministering in the Archdiocese of Detroit must have a VIRTUS account linked to the Archdiocese of Detroit. If you already have a VIRTUS account linked to another (arch)diocese, you will need to request that a duplicate account be created for Detroit. (Or, if you will be moving here permanently, you can request your account be transferred to Detroit.) This request must be submitted using this form or by emailing helpdesk@virtus.org. If you do not already have a VIRTUS account, you will be able to indicate this on the Priest Information Form, and the Clergy Office will create an account for you.

Once your account is transferred or created, the Clergy Office will assign the necessary training that must be completed prior to arrival. In general:

All priests must complete mandated reporter training.
All priests must complete the training module entitled “Protecting God’s Children: Online Awareness Session 4.0 and Vulnerable Adults 2.0”; however, this requirement is waived for priests who complete annual Praesidium training through their religious institute.

Additional training modules may be required in certain circumstances.

Code of Pastoral Conduct

You will need to electronically sign the Code of Pastoral Conduct through your VIRTUS account.

Important Policies

Incoming diocesan externs are expected to maintain the habitual faculty to hear confessions from their diocese of incardination.
Incoming religious externs who are granted a pagella will only receive the habitual faculty to hear confessions if they are attached to a canonically-erected religious house within the Archdiocese of Detroit; those who receive a pagella and who are not attached to a religious house within the Archdiocese of Detroit are only granted the faculty to hear confessions within the territory of the archdiocese. For this second group, they would not be able to hear confessions outside of the archdiocese unless they (a) have received the habitual faculty to do so from the diocese where their religious house is located; or (b) have received the faculty to do so from the diocese they are visiting, without prejudice to canon 967§2.
It is archdiocesan policy that extern priests may not 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 90 days or more) if, prior to his arrival in the Archdiocese of Detroit (1) an agreement between the extern’s ordinary and the Archbishop of Detroit has been signed; AND (2) the priest has received an assignment from the Archbishop of Detroit.

Questions

Questions about incoming priest policies and requirements should be directed to (313) 596-7102 or clergyandconsecratedlife@aod.org.

Information for Incoming Extern Priests