SACRAMENT

OF
HOLY ORDERS
(PRIESTHOOD)

THE CHURCH-COMMUNITY REMEMBERS:

HOLY ORDERS
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the
continuation of Christ's priesthood, which He
bestowed upon His Apostles; thus, the Catechism
of the Catholic Church refers to the Sacrament of
Holy Orders as "the sacrament of apostolic
ministry.
Holy Order designates an ecclesial body into
which one enters by means of a special
consecration, ordination. These are those who
carry on a certain official functions such as:
teaching, sanctifying and governing in the
church. Through the special gifts of the Holy
Spirit, the ordained exercises a sacred power in
the name of and with the authority of Christ for
the service of the People of God. In Holy Orders,
Christians are consecrated in Christ name to
feed the church by the word and grace of
God.

 The
broader
reality
or
sacramentality involved in
Holy Orders is that of Christian
ministry
and
commitment
through Christian Leadership.
Christian leadership is a
vocation. It is a call to service
and
love.
Because
all
communities need leaders, we
believe as Christians that
Christ wants us to have
leaders
in
the
church.
Christian
leadership
is
basically
ServantLeadership

Eligibility of the Sacrament

The Sacrament of Holy Orders can be validly
conferred only on baptized men, following the
example set by Christ and His Apostles, who
chose only men as their successors and
collaborators. A man cannot demand ordination.
The Church has the authority to determine
eligibility for the sacrament. While the episcopate
is reserved to unmarried men, the discipline
regarding the priesthood varies in East and West.
The Eastern Churches allow married men to be
ordained priests, while the Western Church insists
n celibacy. Once a man has received the
Sacrament of Holy Orders, however , he cannot
marry either the Eastern and Western Churches.

Three Degrees in the Sacrament of

Holy Orders
Ordination of Bishops
A bishop receives the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy
Orders. He is the head or Ordinary of the local church. The local
area entrusted to him called a diocese. Has the authority for all
seven sacraments.
Ordination of Priests
A priest serve the community in various ways. They may be
called to serve in their diocese or as religious order priests,
carrying out the mission of a particular religious community.
They preside at liturgies, preach, administer 5 sacraments,
counsel people, serve as pastors, and teach.
Ordination of Deacons
A deacon help and serve bishops by serving the needs of the
Church, proclaiming the gospel, teaching and preaching,
baptizing, witnessing marriages and assisting the priest
celebrant at liturgies. Can celebrate Baptism and Matrimony,
provided that its a wedding without a Nuptial Mass.

Essential Rite of Sacrament of Holy Orders

The essential rite of the
sacrament of Holy Orders for
all three degrees consists in
the bishops imposition of
hands on the head of the
ordinand
and
in
the
bishops
specific
consecratory
prayer
asking
God
for
the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
and his gifts proper to the
ministry
to
which
the
candidate is being ordained.

Effects of the Sacrament of

Holy Orders
The Sacrament of Holy Orders, like theSacrament of
Baptismand theSacrament of Confirmation, can only
be received once for each level of ordination. Once a man
has been ordained, he is spiritually changed, which is the
origin of the saying, "Once a priest, always a priest."
He can be dispensed of his obligations as a priest (or even
forbidden to act as a priest); but he remains a priest
forever.
Each level of ordination confers special graces, from the
ability to preach, granted to deacons; to the ability to act in
the person of Christ to offer the Mass, granted to priests; to
a special grace of strength, granted to bishops, which
allows him to teach and lead his flock, even to the point of
dying as Christ did.

THE CHURCH-COMMUNITY BELIEVES:

Jesus unique priesthood is present in the church
today in two modes: in the common
priesthood of all who are baptized and in the
ministerial priesthood of the ordained or those
who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders.
All of us are priest, prophet and king. It reminds
the laity that they are the People of God and are
called to offer their life to God as a fitting
sacrifice. The ordained on the other hand discover
and appreciate more their ministerial priesthood
because of the laity. Ordained ministers are
servant leaders of the community for the good of
all in in the Spirit of Him who gives.

THE CHURCH-COMMUNITY CELEBRATES:

What is most important and most significant
in Holy Orders is the ordinandis gift of
themselves to others. This self-gift of the
person being ordain mirrors Gods own action
of love in self-giving. The call to leadership is
address to all Christians. Those who receive
holy orders become a living sign of what it
means to offer ones life for others in
service
through
acceptance
of
responsibility and leadership.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD-PASTORAL LEADERSHIP:

Peter the shepherd who tends and feed his
flock
The shepherd is a leader, a strong and
courageous figure at the head of his flock. His
concern is focused on those entrusted to his
care , even to the point of surrendering his life
through his own death and resurrection.

THE CHURCH-COMMUNITY LIVES/LOVES:

Motivation is behind our actions as leaders is what
underpins servant leadership. It is other centered
rather than self-centered.
The primary motivation is loving service.
CALLING
VISION
PRINCIPLES
Thinking like servant-leaders requires EMPOWERMENT by the
Holy Spirit and above all.
The primary purpose of Church is to serve God and
Humanity.
The Church has the duty to transform the face of the earth by
promoting justice, peace, and integrity of creation.
The Church must respond to the needs of the poor, the
needy and exploited.
The primary mission of the Church is to work for the
realization of the kingdom of God on earth.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a

holy nation, God's own people, that you may
declare the
wonderful deeds of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light.
(1 Peter 2:9)