Inquiries for ordination
If you believe you’re called to the ministry of a priest, have a conversation with your parish priest. Then you can contact the Diocesan Executive Assistant to the Bishop of Toronto.
Inquirers who expect to complete the academic requirements for ordination in the next two years may be invited to make formal application for Postulancy. The application period gives the Diocese its main opportunity to discern and affirm priestly vocation, so the screening involved at this stage is extensive.
Vacancies
When a parish becomes vacant, the bishop, regional dean and churchwardens review its needs and expectations. The College of Bishops draws up a preliminary list of suitable candidates and advertises the vacancy on the diocesan website.
If you’d like to be considered for a vacancy, contact your bishop. To help discern your call to ministry, you can consult the list and explanation of core values for parish ministry.
Clergy application resource
This step-by-step application resource will help you understand the recruitment process and give you a better idea of when you’re likely to hear from the bishop and what to expect next. It includes information on:
- the appointment process
- resume preparation
- the applicant list
- types of interviews
- the parish selection committee visit
- offer of appointment
It also includes a sample resume format. Your resume should be as accurate as possible and reflect your true nature so parishes can make better choices, and you may have clearer discernment of God’s call. Start by filling out the simpler sections like “Events, Programs, Special Projects…” and end with “Ministry Style.”
Here are a few things to consider before you start:
- Resumes should be easy to read, so avoid fancy fonts, elaborate graphic design and coloured paper.
- Pages might be separated, so make sure each sheet includes your name and the date.
- Humility is an important Christian virtue, but don’t hide your light under a bushel.
- State your gifts and objectives clearly, because that’s what the interviewers are expecting.
You might also want to use the list and explanation of core values for parish ministry.
Leaving your current appointment
As your current appointment comes to an end, read Leaving your Current Appointment, which includes information and resources to help during the transition period.
Moving cost contribution
As stated in Canon 11, “When a cleric assumes a new appointment within the Diocese or retires on pension from an appointment within the Diocese; or where the surviving spouse of a cleric moves from a rectory on the death of the cleric prior to retirement, a contribution to the moving costs up to an amount to be determined annually by the Diocesan Council will be a charge on the Diocesan Budget.” Currently the maximum reimbursement amount is $1,500 (as of January 1, 2016).
Parishes or retiring clergy can seek a contribution from the Diocese toward moving costs by submitting the moving cost reimbursement form and documented receipts.