WHAT IS HOLY ORDERS?
Holy Orders is when a man is ordained and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, which gives him a sacred authority that is conferred upon him through the bishop. Someone who is ordained has received the sacrament of Holy Orders as a deacon, priest, or bishop. It is one of the sacraments of communion and mission, in which there are three degrees. These three degrees include bishop (episcopate), priest (presbyteriate), and deacon (diaconate). The minister of Holy Orders is the diocesan bishop. He is allowed to ordain priests and deacons as he sees fit to serve in his diocese. The priests and deacons that will be ordained must vow to be obedient to the diocesan bishop's leadership. A bishop may ordain other bishops with permission from the pope. The form of Holy Orders is the bishop's specific prayer. This prayer asks God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts proper to the ministry to which the candidate is being ordained. The matter for Holy Orders is the laying on of the bishop's hands with the consecratory prayer. The rite of Holy Order starts off with the calling of the candidate, the presentation of the candidate, and the election of the candidate by the bishop and the consent of the pope. Next, is the homily and the examination of the candidate. Following that is the promise of obedience, the litany of the saints, laying on of hands, and prayer of consecration. Lastly is the investiture with stole and chasuble, anointing of the hands, presentation of the gifts, and the kiss of peace. You may ask, who can receive Holy Orders? The answer is a baptized man who has been called for ordination by God. To become a priest or bishop in the Roman Catholic Church, a man must be celibate. Deacons in the Roman Catholic Church although, may be married at the time of their ordination. A man must not have any impediments to undergo ordination. A person can receive Holy Orders once per stage. As said before there are 3 degrees a person may go through, which are a deacon, priest, and bishop. Like many sacraments, Holy Orders also has many effects. These effects include a special relationship to Christ to lead and minister to the Church sacramentally in the place of Christ, and an indelible spiritual mark imprinted on the soul.
DEACONS AT MY PARISH
There are two deacons at my parish, Deacon Lachlan and Deacon Douglas.
PRIESTS AT MY PARISH
The priest at my parish is Father Grieco.
IS THERE A BISHOP IN MY PARISH?
No, there are not any bishops in my parish.
RELIGIOUS LIFE
There are two kinds of priests, a parish or a "diocesan" priest and a religious priest. The first kind of priest is a parish priest. This type of priest will live and work in a diocese, or a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church. In that diocese, each parish will have its own assigned priest. The main work of the priest is to preach the Gospel, offer Mass, anoint the sick and dying, baptize, celebrate marriages, bury the dead and console those who need help. In summary, the basic role of a parish priest is to help those in need in the particular parish. A parish priest will not promise poverty. In order to fulfill his priestly duties, the priest usually owns their own possessions, such as a car. A parish priest will also make 3 promises to the diocesan bishop. These 3 promises include praying the Liturgy of the Hours, to obey and be loyal to his bishop, and finally, to live a celibate life so that he can completely give his own life to Christ.
The other type of priest is a religious priest. A religious priest will make three solemn vows before they are even ordained. These vows are also known as the evangelical counsels. These three vows are poverty, chastity, and obedience. The first vow, poverty means that these priests will own little and share with their community. The second vow is obedience to his religious superior. And finally, the last vow, chastity means he will not get married. The religious priests live in a religious community based on its lifestyle or charism and mission. There are many different communities that a religious priest may be apart of to fulfill their mission.
The other type of priest is a religious priest. A religious priest will make three solemn vows before they are even ordained. These vows are also known as the evangelical counsels. These three vows are poverty, chastity, and obedience. The first vow, poverty means that these priests will own little and share with their community. The second vow is obedience to his religious superior. And finally, the last vow, chastity means he will not get married. The religious priests live in a religious community based on its lifestyle or charism and mission. There are many different communities that a religious priest may be apart of to fulfill their mission.