Holy Orders
From the earliest days of the church, certain individuals were singled out for special ministries to the Christian community through the laying on of hands. First bishops, then deacons, and later priests were assigned distinctive roles to serve the People of God. In time, these three clerical orders — bishop, priest and deacon — were called Holy Orders, and those called to these ministries were ordained.
From age to age, countless numbers of Christians have answered the call of the Holy Spirit to give their lives in service through ordained ministry. And this age is no different, for God is calling some members of St. Brendan Church even today to serve as ordained ministers. Those who wish to better understand if God is calling them to ordained ministry are invited to enter upon a process called discernment, which is a period of learning, prayer and exploration.
The diaconate
Those who feel they may be experiencing a call to ordained ministry with a special focus on serving the poor and outcast are invited to learn more about the permanent diaconate. Those ordained permanent deacons may be married, and together with their wives they undergo a five-year process of formation. If you would like to talk about a possible call to be a deacon, you may contact Msgr. Terry, Deacon Eric or the Office of Diaconate Formation of the Archdiocese.
The priesthood
For those considering the priesthood, there are two options: the diocesan priesthood and the religious priesthood (in an order). If you think you might be experiencing a call to the priesthood, you are invited to discuss it with one of the priests of the parish and also to learn more by contacting the Office for Vocations of the Archdiocese. They will assist you with a customized program of discernment to help you discover God's plan for your life, without any pressure.
The episcopacy
Alone among the three orders of clergy, that of the bishop is not sought by an individual through a discernment process, but is one of election to fulfill that role by the discernment of others, for those ordained bishop do not choose that ministry. The bishop is the head of the local church and is the highest office in the Catholic hierarchy: Cardinal Mahony is a bishop, as is the pope. To the bishop belongs the ministry of teaching, guiding and sanctifying the Christian community; he is the symbol of our unity as a church.
