Holy Orders

Holy Orders

In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a man who is a full member of the Catholic Church is ordained into the priesthood of Christ.  The sacrament has three levels: diaconate (deacon), presbyterate (priest) and episcopate (bishop).  Each level of ordination confers special graces:

• Deacons - the faculty to preach
• Priests - the faculty to act in the person of Christ to offer the Mass
• Bishops - a special grace of strength, which allows him to teach and lead his flock as Christ did.

The essential rite of the sacrament of Holy Orders consists of the bishop's placing of his hands on the head of the ordinand and in his consecratory prayer asking God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts proper to the ministry to which the candidate is being ordained.  

If you are interested in the diaconate or priesthood, please contact the parish office.  Additional information regarding formation can be found on the diocesan webpages linked below.   
Information for those discerning priesthood

Information on the diaconate