Holy Orders is "the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate (bishops), presbyterate (priests), and diaconate (deacons)...No one claims this office for himself; he is called to it by God" (CCC #1536, CCC #1578).
Holy Orders is a Sacrament of Service of Communion and and Mission of the Faithful. Like Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders is "directed towards the salvation of others" and it "[confers] a particular mission in the Church and [serves] to build up the People of God." It is "through these sacraments those already consecrated by Baptism and Confirmation for the common priesthood of all the faithful can receive particular consecrations" (CCC #1534-1535).
If you are discerning a call to the priesthood (or any sort of religious life), please contact Fr. Steve using the link below or contact the Vocations Office at the Diocese of Lansing. We are blessed at the Church of the Resurrection to have a handful of young men currently studying in Seminary, and we pray in coming years to have a growing number of young men in the parish explore the call to the priesthood! At our parish and school, we also have a local mission of sisters from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist (out of Ann Arbor) who are a beautiful witness to our community. Fr. Steve, the sisters, and all of us at the Church of the Resurrection, would love to help you pray and discern your vocation! Contact us today!
