How to apply for a Priest Reference Letter to the Catholic School Board
When people apply for a job, they often need reference letters. Issuing such a letter presupposes that the one writing it has known the applicant well, for several years, and is able to speak to some aspects or qualifications that are important for the position to which they apply.
These general considerations apply to the “pastoral reference” that Catholic School Boards in Ontario require from people when applying for a teaching job or other positions within the Catholic school system, e.g. chaplain, (vice) principal. Normally, the pastor of the parish to which the applicant belongs should be the one writing the reference. Only exceptionally should other priests do it.
The pastor’s reference will address the applicants’ relationship to God and to the Church, their religious convictions and practices, and their general suitability for the vocation and ministry as Catholic teachers. Applicants are expected to be practising Catholics in good standing. What this means is briefly explained in this video.
For this purpose, our local Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) has developed Policies for teachers and for Chaplains, and a special form. Other School Boards use similar forms, or expect letters covering the same topics. The OCSB form also explains various areas in which Catholics practice their faith, and through which the priest might know them personally.
This last fact – whether the priest knows an applicant or not – is the condition without which writing a reference is impossible. It must be avoided, therefore, that the applicant speak with the priest for the first time at the moment of requesting a reference letter.
Catholic School Boards (and with them, Catholics in general, esp. parents) expect from teachers, and even more from chaplains, that they be Catholic Christians in more than a formal sense. The School Boards are directly interested in knowing something about the personal, interior dispositions of applicants: about their personal commitment to God, the Church, and the faith; about their familiarity with the life of the Church (including knowing something about the basics of doctrine and discipline, and personally adhering to it, as expressed also in their own values and attitudes). There are also external aspects to consider, however, like attending Mass, contributing to the parish, being married in church. These visible aspects should not be underestimated or discounted as mere formalities; instead, they are manifestations of inner, spiritual realities.
As people move into and forward in their career, these expectations evolve and deepen. Here are some criteria for how this could look like:
For students applying to a Catholic School Board for the first time:
Attend Mass on Sunday at your home parish or another church
Invest in your formation as a Christian (e.g. faith studies, retreats)
Be a (registered) member of a parish for 3 years.
For teachers applying for a permanent position:
Attend Mass on Sunday at your home parish
Lead a life consistent with the gospel and the teachings of the Catholic church
Be a (registered) member of a parish for 5 years or more
Contribute to the life and mission of the church/parish by service and financially
For those applying for chaplain, principal and other leadership positions:
Attend Mass regularly at your home parish
Live a life of Christian discipleship and contribute to the mission of the Church with your gifts and talents
Invest in your ongoing formation in the faith
Be a registered and contributing member of your parish for 10 years or more
Be a leader in the parish or/and the wider Catholic community for 3 years or more
What should be avoided in any case is asking for a reference if you are not connected to the church community/parish and/or do not know the priest personally. Catholic Schools need teachers, chaplains and principals who are committed to the faith, who without any arrogance know and appreciate the difference between Public and Catholic Schools. Teachers at Catholic Schools are important witnesses to the faith, in the various aspects and parts of their lives, personally, at school, with their families, in their parishes, and publicly.
Any pastor will be happy to write a reference for someone who is a member of his parish community. In the long run, both students and teachers themselves will benefit from being part of the life of the local church community. And, as Jesus puts it, “their reward in heaven will be great.”