Residence path opens for priests

Catholic churches in New Zealand can breathe a collective sigh of relief with the introduction of a special priest¹s visa by Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Religious communities will benefit from changes giving religious workers a pathway to residence. "This new policy provides a path to residency for religious workers as well as an updated temporary work visa for shorter stays. Previously there was no residence option available to religious workers, so some communities were having trouble filling positions long-term," Dr Coleman says.

"Religious leaders play an important role in the spiritual lives of many New Zealanders. We consulted widely on the policy and made some changes that now meet the needs of many communities. If they meet criteria, religious workers can apply for residence from later this year."

Some of the key residence criteria religious workers will need to meet include: being sponsored by a religious organization to work here; the organization must demonstrate a long-term need for the person; religious workers must have previously spent three years in New Zealand on a temporary visa.

Under the changes, which come into effect in November, an updated temporary visa for religious workers will be introduced. The temporary visa allows a person to stay for up to four years, at the end of which they can apply for residence. Over 1,100 migrant religious workers were in New Zealand in 2009/10.

The new policy offering residence for priests is an excellent development, says Paul Bayliss, general manger of the Wellington Archdiocese. He told FMN that the Church looks forward to the opportunity to work with officials on the operational details of the policy.

Currently the immigration laws discriminate against religious workers for responding to a "calling", not a job advertisement says Bayliss. The Catholic Church, which does not pay priests for their services, has been struggling with immigration laws that were increasingly centred on "market-based principles", he adds.

It has been almost impossible for priests from other countries to gain residency in New Zealand because the church does not technically employ the priest and many of the categories available for obtaining residency require evidence of paid employment, reports CathNews.

Shortage of priests a worry

There is a growing shortage of Kiwi priests in New Zealand, with a worrying number of priests due to retire in the next 10 years. At the moment about a quarter of Catholic priests in New Zealand are estimated to hail from overseas, mostly from Ireland, other English-speaking countries and the Pacific Islands, says Paul Bayliss, general manger of the Wellington Archdiocese.

In November 2010, there were 15 Filipino priests and deacons working in the Auckland diocese, writes Patrick Dunn, Bishop of Auckland in his foreword for Faith Bearers.

According to Catholic News, the shortage of priests in New Zealand was mentioned by Archbishop John Dew in a recent homily. He told his congregation that in the six years he has been Archbishop of Wellington he has ordained one priest.

In Cardinal Williams, his predecessor's, first six years, 32 men were ordained to the priesthood.

Paul Bayliss told FMN that: In the past when there has been a shortage of priests, New Zealand has brought in priests from overseas. In Auckland priests have been coming from the Pacific Islands, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and Korea.

In the 50's and 60's we brought in priests from Ireland. In the 60's and 70's there was an increase in the number seminarians from New Zealand. The 70's saw an increase in the number of Pacific Island and Filipino parishioners. Separate Samoan and Filipino chaplaincies add-ed another expression of spirituality in the Church.

Balmoral is the base of the Filipino chaplaincy in New Zealand. Although Auckland is the centre of the chaplaincy in New Zealand, there are other Filipino chaplaincies in Wellington and Christchurch, though not well established compared to Auckland, says Lito Banal, the former chairperson of the Auckland chaplaincy.