Requests for Letters of Good Standing need to be received a minimum of 2 weeks prior to your event and VIRTUS training needs to be completed within 2.5 years to process your request.  You will be required to enter your VIRTUS completion date to request a LGS. When your LGS is ready, a copy of your completed LGS is emailed to your sfarch.org email. If you are unable to access your sfarch.org email, contact the Vicar for Clergy office, 415-614-5611

Request for Letter of Good Standing

Letter of Good Standing Templates

Priests And Deacons With Faculties In The Archdiocese Of San Francisco (02-04-2025)

Pastors, Administrators, & Rectors – Contact List (07-08-2024)

Deanery List (8-04-2023)

2023 – 2024 Priest Personnel Board

2024 – 2025 Confidential Annual Update Form

Application Form for Priestly Ministry – Non-incardinated Priests

1. A Letter of Good Standing printed on Diocese or Provincial letterhead stationery and embossed with their Seal is required, whenever a visiting priest is expected for one-time ministry, supply ministry, or overnight visits (no ministry) within the boundaries of the Archdiocese.
2. The Archdiocese of San Francisco requires a current and specifically worded Letter of Good Standing (LGS), to include effective dates, location, being able to work with minors, and purpose of their visit from the visitor’s Provincial or Bishop (see sample form below). You may forward by email the sample LGS form on to your visiting priest when you are making initial arrangements with him. Ask him to forward the form to his Bishop or Provincial to be completed and signed.
3. A copy of the signed LGS should then be emailed back to you/your staff and emailed to Vicar for Clergy, Fr. Spyrow at [email protected]. Once Fr. Spyrow reviews the Letter of Good Standing, he will stamp it with his “Approval”, granting temporary faculties or “Not Approved”. A copy of the Letter of Good Standing will be sent to the parish the priest is visiting and the Dioceses or provincial with his decision.
4. A priest in good standing (completed a variation of Protecting God’s Children) with a valid LGS may minister.  If they plan to stay 31 days or more, we will request the completion of ADSF Compliance (VIRTUS and Fingerprinting). 
   
   
   If there are any questions, please contact the Office of the Vicar for Clergy at 415-614-5611.

• Visiting Clergy Letter of Good Standing Template (PDF format)
• Visiting Clergy Letter of Good Standing Template in Spanish (PDF Format)

FOR ALL PRIESTS SERVING IN THE ARCHDIOCESE 30 DAYS OR MORE,
THREE COMPLIANCE STEPS MUST BE UNDERTAKEN:

1. Safe Environment Training (needs to be renewed every 3 years):  VIRTUS Online
2. Safe Environment Guidelines and Appendices for Distribution
3. Livescan Fingerprinting Form (Priest, Deacons, Seminarians)
   – Livescan Fingerprinting Locations
4. Photo (chest up)

CLERGY WHO ARE IN COMPLIANCE MAY REQUEST A CELEBRET CARD BELOW

Celebret Request Form

• CLERGY PERSONNEL POLICY – TABLE OF CONTENTS – Oct 2009
• Series 1000, Pastoral Responsibilities of Priests – Oct 2009
  • Section 1236 Clergy Pet Policy – 2-10-2017
• Series 2000, Personnel Board – Oct 2009
  • Section 2400 Incardination Policy – Revised 2-15-2018
• Series 3000, Ongoing Formation & Continuing Education – Oct 2009
• Series 4000, Priests’ Benefits– Oct 2009
  • Section 4610 (Revised) – Board and Lodging (Statute 185)
• Series 5000, Keeping Faith With Our Retired Priests – Oct 2009
• POLICY for Priests under the age of 65 who unable to minister 2023
• POLICY Regarding Use & Monitoring of Internet, E-Mail, and Other Technology (E-2, 10/01)
• Decrees from Archbishop Cordileone – Province wide – April 2015
• Decree on Unification of Saint Thomas the Apostle and Saint Monica – 12-8-2016
• MASS OFFERINGS, and ATTENDANCE AT CLERGY GATHERINGS – Jan 2018
• GUIDELINES FOR THE RECEPTION OF COMMUNION – July 2019
• MEMO to Pastors Regarding Flu and Viruses – 2-20-2020

• Archdiocesan Policy Index – comprehensive, Archdiocesan-wide

BENEFITS

• 2024-2025 Employee Benefits – Kaiser – Blue Shield – Dental – Vision
• What’s New in 2023_Vision Care Provider for Blue Shield participants 01-01-2023
• 2023 EyeMed Vision Care
• 2023 EyeMed Vision Care Summary of Benefits
• Geo Blue Trekker Information Brochure and Enrollment Form (plan covers every trip taken, up to 70 days in length)
• Geo Blue REQUEST FORM for Vicar for Clergy to submit the application for Travel Insurance
• Payment Request Form 12-21-2023
• Mileage & Travel Reimbursement Form 2025
• 2020 ACH Request Reimbursement
• Monthly Food Reimbursement Request
• Mileage Reimbursement Policy
• Expense Reimbursement Policy
• RETA TRUST Benefit Website

COMPENSATION

• Priests Compensation – Annual Memo, Fiscal Year 2024-2025
• Direct Deposit Form – ADSF Payroll 
• ACH Authorization for Direct Payment via ACH 2024
• W-9 Form 
• Income Taxes for Priests Only Guide 2024
• IRS Clergy Compensation Guide Form 517 2016
• Visiting Priests Stipend 10-09

BENEFITS AVAILABLE AT 65 YEARS OF AGE

• Medicare Part A enrollment (Hospital coverage) – Contact Social Security Office prior to your 65^th Birthday.
• Medicare Part B enrollment (80% Medical coverage) – Contact Vicar for Clergy Office, 415-614-5611.
• Medicare Part D enrollment (Drug coverage) – Contact Vicar for Clergy Office, 415-614-5611.
• Medicare Supplemental plan (20% Medical coverage) – Contact Vicar for Clergy Office, 415-614-5611.
• Kaiser Senior Advantage enrollment (Call 877-588-5739 or kp.org/seniors before the end of prior month of coverage)

New Pastor ADSF Training Program Videos

[ask Vicar for Clergy office for the password]

• Training Videos for New Pastors: A Secure Page

Homiletic resources

• ePriest.com homily packs
• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops homiletics page
• Weekly Homily Preparation Sessions (live and recorded)

Previous study days presentations and handouts

• Study Day, November 12, 2020 (Weblink):  https://www.sfparishconnect.com/clergy-study-days-2020 
• Study Day, February 26, 2019:  PowerPoint presentation and handout by Dr. Christiauria Welland

Previous advent day

• Advent Day, December 18, 2020 (Weblink): https://www.sfparishconnect.com/clergy-advent-reflection

Sabbaticals:

• If interested in a Sabbatical, e-mail to Fr Gregory Heidenblut, O.S.A. at [email protected].

Note: Forms and notices are in PDF format.  If unable to open, download FREE ADOBE ACROBAT READER

Being a priest is a life-long commitment.  After dedicating their lives to the Church, many retired priests continue to serve the people in our community.  We currently care for nearly 300 retired priests who have faithfully served our Church.  The Annual Appeal supplements the cost of maintaining our retirement home for priests at Serra Clergy House.
(please contact Rachel Alvelais, if you’d like to arrange for a tour/dinner at Serra Clergy House)

RETIREMENT PLANNING

• Priests Retirement Plan Booklet – July 2023
• RETA Trust Life Insurance Beneficiary Form
• 403(b) Retirement Savings with Fidelity
  • Enroll in Fidelity NetBenefits® at www.netbenefits.com/atwork or call a Fidelity representative
    at 800-343-0860 . To use the EasyEnroll feature and enroll in the Plan, go to www.netbenefits.com/easy.
  • ADSF 403(b) Plan Highlights_atwork
  • ADSF 403(b) Plan Highlights 
  • ADSF 403(b) Education Site
• Medicare Part A & Part B Sign Up Period
• Medicare Part B Only Enrollment
• Medicare Part B, EmployEE Form CMS-40B 
• Medicare Part B, EmployER Form CMS-L564
  • Submit your Medicare Part B application by:
    • Apply Online https://secure.ssa.gov/mpboa/medicare-part-b-online-application/
    • Fax or Mail to your local Social Security Office:  https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp#officeResults
• Medicare Part D and Supplemental Plan: Contact Vicar for Clergy
• Pension information 2020
• Pension Direct Deposit Form 2020
• Pension Withholding Form – Federal – W-4P 2024
• Pension Withholding Form – State – de4p 2023
• Social Security Office – Change address, Retirement Estimator and more 

MEDICARE INSURANCE IS AVAILABLE AT 65 YEARS OF AGE

• Medicare Part A enrollment (Hospital coverage) (Contact Social Security Office prior to your 65th Birthday)
• Medicare Part B enrollment (80% Medical coverage) – Contact Vicar for Clergy Office, 415-614-5611.
• Medicare Part D enrollment (Drug coverage) – Contact Vicar for Clergy Office, 415-614-5611.
• Medicare Supplemental plan (20% Medical coverage) – Contact Vicar for Clergy Office, 415-614-5611
• Kaiser Senior Advantage enrollment (Call 877-588-5739 or kp.org/seniors before the end of prior month of coverage)

ESTATE PLANNING

• Sr. Mary Gemma O’Keeffe, RSM, Attorney at Law, 415-664-6788
• Sr. Mary Gemma O’Keeffe, RSM: Estate Planning Handout
• Power Of Attorney For Finance Form
• State Bar of California

CARE MANAGEMENT

• Priest Baseline Health Assessment Form
• Catholic Guide to End-of-Life’s Critical Decisions: Advance Directives
• Advance Health Care Directive (fillable) 
• HIPAA – Authorization for Release of Health Information Form
• Cost of Living Benefit 2020
• Serra Clergy House Information 
• Addl. Financial Support for Retired Priests – Needing Assisted Living

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS 

• Funeral Arrangements Form (fillable)
• Funeral Brochure
• Funeral Companion Guide to “Preparing for a Catholic Funeral”
• “Death and Dying, The Catholic Tradition” by Fr. Gerald Coleman, PSS (power point)
• Holy Cross Catholic Cemeteries, Monica Williams, Director 650-756-2060
• Holy Cross Donation Policy Brochure

Note: Forms and notices are in PDF format.  If unable to open, download FREE ADOBE ACROBAT READER

ARCHBISHOP CORDILEONE FORMS

For the Archbishop forms, please contact Karen McLaughlin at [email protected]
or Fr. Armando Gutierrez at [email protected].

BISHOP JUSTICE EMERITUS FORMS

• Liturgy Form (fillable)
• Event Form (fillable)
• Confirmation Sacramental Guidelines
• Confirmation Checklist for Parishes
• Confirmation within the Mass (fillable)  
• Rite of Confirmation – Renewal of Baptismal Promises

ADSF Norms for Church Construction and Renovation

ADSF Wedding Music Guidelines

HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION 2024

Misal Romano 4-5-2018

USCCB Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture and Worship

USCCB Guidelines for Concelebration of the Eucharist 11-12-2003