Holy Orders is the sacrament in which a baptised man receives the authority and ability to share in the particular mission that Christ entrusted to his apostles. There are three orders of this sacrament: bishop, priest and deacon.
Holy Orders come from Jesus Christ, who chose twelve men whom he called ‘apostles’. He gave them the commission and power to govern, teach and sanctify. The apostles conferred Holy Orders on their successors, the bishops. These in turn ordained further bishops, priests and deacons through the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration according to the rite of the Church.
Bishops are the successors of the apostles and usually govern diocese. They confer Holy Orders and normally administer Confirmation. United with the Pope, they exercise an infallible teaching authority in the Church. Priests are co-workers of the bishops, particularly in the administering parishes where they also teach and sanctify the faithful through the sacraments. Deacons assist the work of the bishop and his priests. Following Christ’s example, a promise of lifelong celibacy is the normal condition for receiving Holy Orders in the West, although a permanent deacon may be married.
Jesus taught us that the call to Holy Orders is his initiative rather than ours, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). The call is discerned and freely accepted by the man who receives it. The Church tests this call and prepares the candidate for Holy Orders by means of spiritual, human, academic and pastoral formation, usually in a seminary.
In the Diocese:
The 4th Sunday of Easter is also known as ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’ or ‘Vocations Sunday’, and a day where we celebrate, promote, support and pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It is vitally important to support each response to the call of vocation and to make sure that each kind of vocation is encouraged as a viable and worthwhile option for people today.
In July 2017, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference established the National Vocations Office to assist the Diocesan Vocation Directors to promote vocations to the Diocesan ministry. https://vocations.ie
If you would like to know more, Fr Séamus McEntee is the Diocesan Director of Vocations and may be contacted on 086 775 0177 or at vocations@dublindiocese.ie. Fr Bill O’Shaughnessy is the Assistant Director of Vocations.
You can also look at the diocesan website: www.dublindiocese.ie/vocations
