The 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: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate

(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1536).

The character of Jesus is given in a special way to those called by God to be Bishops, Priests, Deacons.
The Priest acts in the person of Jesus by teaching and explaining, by blessing and consecrating and by leading the communities of Faith, like Jesus the Good Shepherd.

Today the word "ordination" is reserved for the sacramental act which integrates a man into the order of bishops, presbyters, or deacons, and goes beyond a simple election, designation, delegation, or institution by the community, for it confers a gift of the Holy Spirit that permits the exercise of a "sacred power" (sacra potestas ) which can come only from Christ himself through his Church

(Catechism of the Catholic Church  1538).

Additional Information:

God calls some men to be priests. I would encourage all young men when they’re thinking about their future and how they might serve God and his people, to ask themselves if God might be calling them to the priesthood.

The sacrament that ordains a man to become a priest is called the Sacrament of Ordination. There is a six year training period leading up to Ordination, and this would be organised not by the parish but by the Leeds Diocese.



If you think God might be calling you to the priesthood, or want to discuss your future and the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood, by all means talk to your parish priest, Father William.

For more information and guidance, visit the Leeds Diocese webpage on vocations to the priesthood: https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/priestly_vocations/steps-to-priesthood/
Alternatively you could contact the Leeds Diocese vocations director, Rev Paul Grogan. Here are his contact details.

Rev Paul Grogan
Diocesan Priestly Vocations Director
Trinity And All Saints College
Brownberrie Lane
Leeds
LS18 5HD

Tel 0113 283 7199