Holy Orders (Priesthood) 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.
Holy Orders in the Catholic Church includes three orders: bishop, priest, and deacon. The Church regards ordination as a Sacrament. In the phrase “Holy Orders”, the word “holy” simply means “set apart for some purpose.” The word order (ordo, in Latin) designates an established civil body or corporation with a hierarchy, and ordination means legal incorporation into an ordo. In context, therefore, a Holy Order is simply a group with a hierarchical structure that is set apart for ministry in the Church.
If you are contemplating a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate or religious life, please contact any one of our parish priests for guidance.