The Sacrament of Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission is entrusted by Christ to his apostles and continues to be exercised in the Church: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. There are three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate and deaconate. (CCC1536)
The Priesthood
All Catholics by their baptism belong to the common priesthood of faithful. However, some men are called by Christ to an ordained priesthood.
Christ established the common priesthood of the baptized to share in the Spirit's work of sanctifying the world. Christ established the ordained priesthood to share in the Spirit's work of sanctifying the faithful.
Because of his sacred responsibility, the ordained priest has a special obligation to deepen his spiritual sensibilities, grow in his union with Christ and inspire people to know, love and serve God.
Religious Life for Women
Consecrated women religious by their lives witness the joy of eternal union with God. Freed from earthly cares, they more fully manifest the Kingdom of God to all Christians. The structure of the vowed life frees consecrated women religious to live entirely for God and others.
Their prayer, community and mission speak eloquently of a wholehearted reponse to God's overwhelming love and care. Through their lives of service they make the presence of Jesus visible in a world desperately in need of faith, hope and love. They are called to be icons, transparent images of the Triune God.
"The consecrated life thus becomes one of the tangible seals which the Trinity impresses upon history, so that people can sense with longing the attraction of divine beauty" (Vita Consecrata, 20).
Explore more!
Visit the Diocese of Toledo Vocations website to read more, hear about the call experienced by some priests and sisters and connect with other resources. Visit www.toledovocations.com.
The ministry of a deacon is similar to, but different from, that of a priest or bishop. A deacon is ordained ad missioned by Christ through the bishop to minister to the needy and the poor and to be a minister of Word and Sacrament, working in obedience to his bishop and in close fraternal cooperation with priests. While all Christians are called to serve others, the deacon is an official sign of this service and he solemnly promises to be a living example of such service for others.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS: The deacon is called personally and ecclesially to serve after the manner of Jesus. He is first and foremost a Christian man in his usual employment and lifestyle, trained and formed by additional study and prayer for a special ministry in the community as an ordained minister. Consideration is given to the following as a man's suitability for the Diaconate Formation Program:
- Age: at least 35 at the time of ordination
- Status: a Roman Catholic, married or single, of sound moral character, mature faith and possessing a sense of vocation to service
- Family: If married, a partner in a stable marriage for at least eight to 10 years, who has the expressed consent and support of his wife, and whose children are of such an age and adjustment so as to not be unduly affected by their father's pursuit of a life that involves a special apostolic commitments
- Natural Gifts: Demonstrates the basic potential to develop the ministerial skills relatig to people, speaking well and being a spiritual leader
- Spirituality: A man of prayer willing to make personal sacrifices to be a consecrated sign of God's love for others in his vocation to serve
- Education: At least two years of college or its academic equivalent
- Employment: A person who reflects prior stability in career or work
- Church and Community Service, Involvement: A man living the Christian life who has demonstrated active apostolic involvement and leadership among the people of God.
