Child's hero in Paris on vacation with clergy (9)

I believe the answer is:

preachers

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'child's hero in paris on vacation with clergy' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'child's hero in paris on vacation' is the wordplay.
'child's hero' becomes 'Reacher' (Jack Reacher, character in books by Lee Child).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'on vacation' suggests removing the centre (after the inside letters have vacated the word).
'paris' with its centre taken out is 'ps'.
'reacher' put inside 'ps' is 'PREACHERS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for preachers that I've seen before include "ministers" , "They deliver sermons" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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