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Qualifications required for Associates
Age: There is no minimum age limit. A more significant factor is the length of active pastoral ministry since ordination to priesthood. Before going overseas to work in another culture and in another church an Associate needs to be well grounded in his own culture and priesthood and church. This requires a minimum of 5 years of priesthood. The maximum age has been set at 40 because the older one gets, the more difficult it becomes to learn another language and adjust to another culture. But this is subject to negotiation on a case-to-case basis.
Health: Good health is an essential requirement because of the challenges and difficulties of adjusting to a different climate, different food and different culture and language etc. Medical services may be lacking in the country of assignment. Before being accepted into the Associate program each candidate will be asked to undergo a thorough medical examination by a doctor nominated by the Columban Society..
Balance: This includes a lot of things – an ability to see and live with other viewpoints, a basic contentment and happiness in the priesthood, a full commitment to personal celibacy, a mature acceptance of the limitations inherent in any form of apostolate, and a refusal to be easily discouraged or frustrated.
Adaptability: The capacity to adapt to and get on with other people, even frustrating people, is vitally important. It will be important to remember that no matter how long an Associate stays in his country of assignment he will always be a guest there; he will have to adapt to the ways of his host. He must be prepared to learn and receive as well as to teach and to give. He will also need to be adaptable to working with a team, especially with lay people. Columbans give a lot of emphasis to a preferential option for the poor, to a BEC model of church, to empowering the laity, lay leadership training, collaborative ministry.
For further information, contact
Fr. Pat Baker
Priest Associate Program Coordinator
St. Columban’s
P.O. Box 1066
7200 OZAMIZ CITY
Tel. (088) 521 – 0324
Fax (088) 521 - 2167
Cellphone: 0919 – 352 - 2257
E-mail: pbaker@ozamiz.com