New Pastor Process Midsummer a questionnaire is sent to all priests asking them to decide if they would like to be in the pastor pool process. In August, the Cardinal and the Bishops meet and we give them the list of possible parishes in their vicariates that might be in the pool for the next year placement. (Pastors who are reaching retirement age, the end of an extended term or the end of a second term -12 years). They edit the list, and then the Bishops start contacting the parishes to schedule a date. They then inform the Board of the date so we can get the consultation team together and send out a packet regarding: information/data needed from the parish, general information about a bulletin notice to inform the parishioners of the parish meeting, and a transition workbook that is given to the new pastor. Also a letter confirming the times of the 3 or 4 meetings: the meeting with the pastor; the meeting with the parish staff; sometimes the parish or finance council; the meeting with the parishioners The Parish consultations are held from September thru December. The summations and reports on each parish are then compiled for a profile that will be handed out at a “parish information” night in January to interested candidates. The interested candidates come to meet with representatives from the parishes who provide them with insight about the parish. This also provides an overview of what is changing in the vicariate and through out the diocese. We give the priests the profiles of parishes they are interested in and they start their discernment process. They are encouraged to go out and visit each facility/physical plant of interest, talk to the pastor and ask questions. After about three weeks they inform the Board of their preferences. At the end of February or early March there is a Pastor Assignment Meeting with all the Vicars, the Cardinal, the Vicar General, the Vicars for Priests and all of the Personnel Board. They go over the specifics of each parish, and the preferences and qualifications of each candidate and match them up. At the end of the two-day meeting, someone contacts each candidate about the decision to see if they are willing to accept the recommendation, and then the parishes are contacted. All assignments begin July 1st that year. - The Priests’ Placement Board