Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
Isaiah 6:8
Ordination, from “The Seven Sacraments”
Johann Anton Riedel
Holy Orders
Through the ordained ministry, especially that of bishops and priests, the presence of Christ as head of the Church is made visible in the midst of the community of believers. In the beautiful expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch, the bishop is typos tou Patros: he is like the living image of God the Father.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1549
Holy Orders or Ordination gives the ordained person a sacred power in the name and authority of Christ and through the Holy Spirit, to serve the people of God.
There are three different orders or dimensions of ordination in the Catholic Church: bishop, priest and deacon.
In the Roman Catholic Church, bishops and priests take a vow of celibacy at their ordination. Married men may be ordained as deacons.
In the ordination ceremony, the bishop places his hands on the head of the person being ordained and prays that God will give him the special gifts of the Holy Spirit needed to carry out his ministry.
Archdiocese of Brisbane
Orders:
The bishop, who has the fullest of orders, has a three-fold ministry of prophet, priest and shepherd.
As a prophet, the bishop speaks for God or on behalf of God.
In his priestly role, the bishop has responsibility for the proper celebration of the liturgy and the sacraments in his diocese.
As a shepherd, the bishop cares for all people in the diocese where he is appointed to serve, especially the poor and the suffering. The bishop’s staff (the crosier) symbolises his role as spiritual shepherd of his flock.
Archdiocese of Brisbane
A priest shares in the ministry of the bishop. The main roles of the priest are preaching, celebrating the sacraments and leadership for building up the community of the church. The priest is called to serve his people in word and in sacrament and by leadership after the model of our Lord.
Becoming a priest
The Catholic priesthood is the second of the three ordained ministries of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The others are diaconate (for deacons) and episcopate (for bishops).
The Order of Priesthood gives the ordained person the office of offering the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist and of forgiving sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In and through the exercise of these ministries the ordained priest is further charged with celebrating the sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony and Anointing of the Sick.
Priesthood also embraces the exercise of spiritual leadership, the teaching of faith and morals, formation of lay leaders and whatever other duties are deemed necessary by his bishop or religious superior.
Priesthood requires holiness of life, moral integrity, and celibacy.
Archdiocese of Brisbane
A deacon is ordained to serve the Church through ministry of word, worship, pastoral care and charity. A deacon may baptise, preach, officiate at marriages and funerals but cannot preside at Eucharist or give absolution.
Before someone is ordained a priest, he is first ordained as a deacon. There are also ‘permanent’ deacons who have been ordained and function as deacons who will not be ordained to the priesthood.
Life of the Deacon
Deacons serve as the bishop directs. This may be in a parish, or anywhere the bishop discerns a need. Deacons are called to carry Christ and the gospel to their workplaces, places of relaxation and to the heart of their family life.
The work of the deacon has been described as being commissioned by the bishop to discern the needs of people, and bringing back word of need to the diocesan and/or parish community. Deacons were in early times referred to as “the eyes and ears” of the bishop.
The Permanent Diaconate is an ordained ministry, but the deacon is not a substitute priest and cannot preside at the celebration of the Eucharist. Nor is he a pastoral associate. Deacons are not in competition with lay ministers, including those in leadership positions.
Diaconal ministry should be in harmony with the ministry of ordained priests and lay leaders. Part of the deacon’s role is to promote and support the apostolic activities of the laity.
Since the Second Vatican Council, Catholic teaching has emphasised a balanced diaconal ministry of preaching and sacramental ministry.
Becoming a deacon
It is the responsibility of the diocesan bishop to discern a vocation to the diaconate. To be a suitable candidate for ordination, a person must:
be a Catholic man of sound moral character and mature faith, who has demonstrated a sense of vocation to service,
demonstrate prayerfulness and an openness to further spiritual formation,
be at least 35 years of age at the time of ordination, and should not normally be older than the commonly accepted retirement age,
have adequate physical and mental health, and
have the support of their parish priest.
Those wishing to become a deacon should also have the ability to complete undergraduate studies and be able to make time for formation without detriment to their family and work commitments.
Archdiocese of Brisbane
St John Vianney
The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus. When you see the priest, think of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Discerning Your Vocation
Sometimes, we can know that God is calling us, but it can be hard to hear a specific direction to the call. In following the will of God, it is important to discern properly. The below steps are useful tools on the discernment journey.
Pray – We always begin with prayer. Developing an intimate relationship with God is essential if we are to discover His plan for us. Saint John Paul II wrote, “this call, this mysterious inner voice of Christ, is heard most clearly in silence and prayer. The acceptance of the call is an act of faith”. Essential to any vocation is staying near to Jesus through the Sacraments. Regular participation in the Eucharist and receiving healing and mercy through the Sacrament of Penance also helps us to be attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Seek a mentor/spiritual director – Having someone to share the journey with is important in vocational discernment. It’s helpful to find a trusted person with whom you can share your thoughts, feelings and prayer experiences. Mentors and spiritual directors can help shed light on your prayer experiences and can be a voice of wisdom in helping with the discernment process. You will be empowered to answer the call in your own life with greater clarity.
Belong to a community/parish – We do not discern our vocation without having a community that calls us forward. The Church (the Body of Christ) are called to build each other up. No man or woman is an island, and we all need a community to grow in our faith. Engaging in the life of the Church through a community or parish is a sign of commitment.
Trust in God’s providence – Often, it’s scary to take the first step and express a concrete desire to follow a particular state of life. Yet we must be willing to take a risk, have the courage to go against the ordinary and be bold in following Christ with our lives. Many people spend too long waiting, afraid to take that first step. The process of discernment will eventually lead you to make a choice in faith, one that will give you peace, even if it’s scary and challenging.
Get in touch with the Vocation Brisbane team – Set up a meeting to chat with our team and learn more about our discernment programs. We are also here to support your journey and connect you to the right people to help you discern your calling.
Daily prayer for vocations
Gracious God,
We give you thanks and praise that our lives,
in union with the Church, are filled with the presence of your love. You are opening our hearts to the world and the needs of those around us. Through this need, you instil in us an eagerness to make a difference. Quiet the fears and distractions of our hearts, long enough to listen to the movement of your Holy Spirit and to hear your gentle invitation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen
Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church, Pray for us.
St Joseph, Pray for us.
St Mary of the Cross Mackillop, Pray for us,
Vocation Brisbane
To discern your vocation, please speak with Fr Michael or contact Vocation Brisbane.
(07) 3336 9392
[email protected]
https://www.vocationbrisbane.com/
Christ Bearing The Cross
Nicolaos Tzafouris