visiting clergy

Pilgrimage Information Concerning Visiting Clergy

Please read very carefully.

  • Any visiting priest or deacon incardinated outside the Diocese of Toledo coming into the diocese (for a pilgrimage, mission, presentation, conference, Mass, etc.), which also includes coming to Our Lady of Consolation Basilica & Shrine, must provide a Letter of Suitability (Certificate of Aptitude) from an official of his diocese of incardination (the diocese to which he belongs) or from his Religious Superior / Provincial Director of the religious order or Institute of Apostolic Life of which he is a member. 
  • This Letter of Suitability (Certificate of Aptitude) must be current and bearing the seal of the diocese of incardination (the diocese to which he belongs) or of the religious order or institute of apostolic life to which he belongs and mailed to the Chancellor of the Diocese of Toledo. This is necessary to receive permission to (con)celebrate Mass or perform any other ministry at Our Lady of Consolation Basilica & Shrine.
  • Obtaining such information for permission to minister in another diocese (or eparchy) of one's incardination is now the common practice and requirement throughout the United States.
  • The letter must clearly state the purpose and dates for your visitation to Our Lady of Conslation Basilica & Shrine.
  • This letter must be on file at the Chancery of the Diocese of Toledo before the visiting priest or deacon is granted permission to perform any ministry or (con)celebrate Mass at the Basilica & Shrine.
  • A copy of the letter must be sent to the Rector of Our Lady of Consolation Basilica & Shrine even though the Chancellor of the Diocese of Toledo forwards a copy of the letter to the Rector. This is to ensure that proper documentation is received at both ends, especially if there are any problems or questions that might arise.
  • The appropriate addresses are noted below.
  • Providing this information and the sending of it to the Chancellor should not be done at the last minute or put off to the end. If so, there is a good possibility the letter or other required information might not arrive in time. If so, the required permission will not be granted and an embarrassing situation for all involved could arise.

 

Without the proper permission granted by the Chancellor of the Diocese of Toledo no ministry may be preformed nor may Mass (con)celebrated at Our Lady of Consolation Basilica & Shrine by the visiting priest or deacon. This is strictly enforced by the Rector of Our Lady of Consolation Shrine.

  • It is to be clearly understood that a CELEBRET is no longer sufficient or accepted as proof to (con)celebrate at Mass or perform other ministries in the dioceses of the United States. This regulation applies to all priests or deacons coming to Our Lady of Consolation Basilica & Shrine, even to those coming from outside of the United States.

 

Addresses:

Rev. Michael Dandurand
Vicar for Clergy and Senior Director of Clergy, Consecrated Life, & Vocations
Diocese of Toledo
1933 Spielbusch Ave
Toledo, OH 43604
P 419.244.6711
F 419.244.4791


Letters of Suitability request by email:
Ingrid Cooper
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Copy sent to:
Basilica & National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation
Father Thomas Merrill, OFM Conv., Rector
315 Clay Street
Carey, Ohio 43316

 

Please email a copy to:
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