Sacrament of Holy Orders

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. It is therefore the sacrament of apostolic ministry, and it includes three degrees: bishop, priest and deacon.

The Church uses the term “ordination” for the sacramental act that incorporates a man into the order of bishops, priests or deacons. Ordination is celebrated by the laying on of hands and a consecratory prayer, which is the visible sign of the gift given for ministry in the Church. 

Holy Orders serves the whole People of God. While all the baptised share in the “common priesthood” of the faithful, Holy Orders confers a distinct ministerial service, exercised through teaching, divine worship and pastoral governance.

The sacrament configures the ordained to Christ by a particular grace of the Holy Spirit so that he may serve as Christ’s instrument for the Church. Like Baptism and Confirmation, Holy Orders confers an indelible spiritual character and is not repeated.

If you would like to enquire about ordained ministry or vocation discernment, please contact Fr Barry.