Certification Process for the Pastoral Associate

Definition of the Pastoral Associate

A "pastoral associate" is a professional person under the direction of the pastor who cooperates in the overall care of the parish. He or she is a member of the parish staff, usually full-time, and is accountable to the pastor. The work of the pastoral associate is comprehensive, related to all aspects of parish life. At the same time, the pastoral associate has designated responsibilities, for example, in the areas of liturgy, faith formation and development, sacramental preparation, administration, pastoral care, and/or social outreach.

The responsibilities of the pastoral associate designated by the pastor are dependent upon the needs of the parish, the background, experience, education, and abilities of the pastoral associate, as well as the responsibilities of the other members of the pastoral staff.

Ministries In Today’s Church

All ministry and service n the Church are rooted in the sacraments, specifically, baptism and holy orders. As we look at any specific ministry or service in the Church, we reflect on how Christ established his Church to carry on his mission in the world.

In the sacrament of baptism, a person is differentiated from the world and becomes a member of Christ’s Church. When the waters of baptism are poured over the person being initiated into the Church, a whole old order begins to pass away and a new creation comes to be. The faith of the Church clearly expressed in the New Testament is that Christ came to establish a kingdom of the Spirit. Through his death and resurrection, Christ won for God a new people, a holy people, a people set apart--marked with God’s Spirit.

Flowing from the sacrament of baptism is the empowerment of each person to participate in the life and mission of the Church. The challenge of the believer--fully initiated into the life of the Church--is to share in its task of spreading the gospel. The second Vatican Council explains in the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity: In the concrete, their apostolate is exercised when they work at the evangelization and sanctification of men; it is exercised too when they endeavor to have the Gospel spirit permeate and improve the temporal order, going about it in a way that bears clear witness to Christ and help forward the salvation of men. (AA 2).

Others are differentiated in this body of the faithful to minister to the Church in a particular manner. The sacrament of orders allows one to participate in Christ’s mission in a unique way. It makes the recipient an authentic, authoritative and special representative of Christ as head of the Church. Christ, at the Last Supper, instituted the ministerial priesthood as a distinct sacrament. Thus the priesthood of the ordained is different and distinct form the priesthood common to all of the faithful. It is because of the call to minister in the person of Christ to the whole body that the Catechism of the Catholic Church identifies holy orders as a sacrament at the service of communion.

The Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church reminds us that "Divinely instituted ecclesiastical ministry is exercised in different degrees by those who even from ancient times have been called bishops, priests, and deacons" (cf. LG 28). From the earliest days, Catholic teaching and the constant practice of the Church have recognized that there are two degrees of ministerial participation on the priesthood of Christ: the episcopate and the presbyter ate. The diaconate, the catechism affirms, "is

intended to help and serve them" (1554). Holy orders is manifest in its fullness in the episcopate--bishops who are successors to the apostles. The sacrament is also found in priests or presbyters who are co-workers with the bishops. Finally, holy orders is seen in the diaconate which exists to assist those in priestly orders.

In addition to the ordained ministers in the Church, there are a variety of other ministries and services that reflect the outpouring of God’s grace on the whole Church. Women and men in consecrated life show by the dedication of their lives in the evangelical councils of poverty, chastity and obedience a particularly valuable gift to the church. Religious communities that undertake specific apostolates in the Church do so as a reflection of the grace of God so freely poured out among all of the faithful.

The Church’s mission of salvation in the world is realized not only by the ministers in virtue of the Sacrament of Orders or the ministers in virtue of religious profession but also by all the lay faithful; indeed, because of their Baptismal state and their specific vocation in the measure proper to each person, the lay faithful participate in the priestly, prophetic and kingly mission of Christ. (cf. Christifideles Laici, 23).

Each lay member of the Church is also called upon to participate fully in the life of the Church by offering their talents, abilities, time and resources to further the work of the Church in evangelizing and sanctifying the world. One way in which lay persons assist in this effort, particularly in parish life, is to offer their talents in a variety of volunteer services, such as, religious instruction, sacramental preparation, sanctuary service, ushering, choir and the active participation in a host of parish organizations and programs that further the work of the Church.

Sometimes a lay ministry or service will be structured to provide full-time involvement. One such service is known throughout the United States by the name "pastoral associate." This work is not an ordained ministry nor is it an expression of the consecrated life even though a religious may serve as a pastoral associate.

A pastoral associate is a lay person employed by the pastor to work under his direction and with him in the myriad of tasks and works that are a part of ordinary parish life. The following guidelines offer a description of what this position is and how women and men become prepared and certified for it.

Pastoral Associate Certification

The Institute for Ministries provides a certification process for pastoral associates in accordance with the approved (October 1998) certification process. Rationale behind pastoral associate certification:

To establish greater credibility, continuity and accountability for the role of pastoral associate by clarifying the specific status of and standards for that role.

To increase the potential of effective ministry by advocating competence for the role of pastoral associate.

To be both just and realistic, by dealing equitably with ministers in various roles and creating procedures to acknowledge prior education and experience.

To enhance the value of collaboration in the Church by affirming the interdependence of distinct ministerial roles.

Eligibility Requirements for the Certification of the Parish Business Manager

In order to use the designation Pastoral associate, a parish minister must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Personal Competencies
The candidate shall have demonstrated in previous positions a fidelity to the faith and tradition of the universal Church, and shall manifest the intention to adhere in future work to the faith, tradition, and discipline of the universal Church, the local diocesan Church, and the parish. The candidate shall demonstrate a willingness to pursue continuing education.

The candidate shall have the good physical and psychological health commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and shall possess personal qualities which exhibit a prayerful spirit, maturity (both personal and spiritual), flexibility, initiative, adaptability to pastoral situations, and strong interpersonal skills.

Theological Competencies
The candidate shall have a master of divinity, Master of Arts degree in theology, or its equivalent. The degree will be assessed by the diocese.

Professional Competencies
The candidate shall have formal training in leadership skills and a practicum in pastoral theology, parish life, or some similar clinical pastoral education.

The candidate shall have at least three years of pastoral experience with demonstrated leadership skills, administrative ability, community service commitment, and facility in interpersonal relationships.

Process for Certification

• Candidate contacts the director of the Institute for Ministry for certification material.
• Candidate shall provide a completed application form and pertinent information.
• An interview will be scheduled with the candidate.
• The candidate will be notified whether or not certification has been granted.

Information can be obtained from:

Institute for Ministries
2900 Noblestown Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15205

(412) 456-3067
(412) 928-5921 (fax)

E-mail: instministries@diopitt.org