BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Today, as the number of international priests and pastoral ministers serving in the United States increases, the nation's bishops are being encouraged to consult the newly revised "Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the United States."

"In many places throughout the United States, presbyterates are changing rapidly, in part reflecting the increasing number of new cultural groups and the pastoral demand placed on a decreasing number of priests," said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, of Raleigh, North Carolina, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.

He told bishops Nov. 11 during their fall general assembly in Baltimore that the resource, which is the booklet's third edition, will provide information for dioceses, eparchies and religious communities to prepare international pastoral ministers for their service and the communities that receive them.

The guidelines do not provide any new norms, he said, but he said they were an excellent resource and he hoped they would not just be another "binder on a shelf" for the bishops. He also urged bishops to attend regional workshops taking place next year that will explain the revised guidelines in further detail.

"This updated resource provides a reliable treatment of the basic principles that every bishop or religious superior should keep in mind when developing their own policies and protocols to ensure the successful ministry of international priests, sisters, brothers and seminarians," said Bishop Burbidge.

The guidelines are an update from the 1999 original document, which was revised in 2003. The booklet addresses concerns about immigration documentation, proper screening, evaluations, credible background checks, requirements for youth protection, adequate orientation and continuing formation of the receiving community and the international ministers.

The Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations worked on the updates in collaboration with several committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bishop Burbidge also reminded bishops of the upcoming Year of Consecrated Life, which begins the weekend of Nov. 29-30 this year -- the first Sunday of Advent is Nov. 30. It will end Feb. 2, 2016, the World Day of Consecrated Life.

He said the observance will not just be a time to learn about religious life, but an opportunity for a family focus since families can take part in open houses of communities of men and women religious next Feb. 8 or participate in summer service activities with religious. A day of prayer for consecrated life is scheduled for next Sept. 13.

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Editor's Note: The guidelines for international parish minister are available to the public in three formats: in print; pdf downloadable from the myUSCCB Web service; and viewable on the Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations website. More information on how to obtain a copy and on the upcoming workshops can be found at: www.usccb.org/cclv. Prayers intentions, prayer cards, a video on consecrated life and other resources are available at www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/consecrated-life/year-of-consecrated-life/index.cfm.