Holy Orders
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"Through the ordained ministry, especially that of bishops and priests, the presence of Christ as head of the Church is made visible in the midst of the community of believers."The Catechism of the Catholic Church
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What are Holy Orders?
Deacons, priests, and bishops have all accepted the calling of Holy Orders, and they are the ministers of the Catholic Church.
Why are Holy Orders important?
Priests, deacons, and bishops are important to the Church as they provide religious leaders to the community of believers. Holy Orders continue the tradition of Jesus and His apostles. Men called to Holy Orders will minister to the community after many years of study.
Who can receive Holy Orders?
Catholics believe that men who have been baptized can be called by God to minister to His Church. Men who feel called to this sacrament go through many years of study and discernment before becoming ministers.
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SChedule & Contact
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To schedule a vocational discernment discussion, please contact Fr. Alan Wierzba. There are many opportunities to discuss and pray the possibilities of a life in service of God and His people.
Contact
Office for Vocations
Diocese of La Crosse
Phone: 608.791.2667
Fr. Alan Wierzba, Director
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Dive Deeper
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Lying prostrate on the floor before the altar, arms outstretched in the image of the cross, face down on the ground in a gesture of humble submission, the ordinands offer their entire lives to Christ and his Church. The sacrament they are about to receive is one of service. In profound imitation of Jesus, who “came not to be served but to serve” (Mt 20:28), these men are consecrated through Holy Orders to teach, to lead worship and to govern the People of God (cf. CCC #1592). When the ordaining bishop has laid his hands upon them and offered the consecratory prayer, these baptized believers enter into one of the sacred orders: deacon, priest, or bishop. Only through the grace of the sacrament do they now possess the “sacred power which is none other than that of Christ” (CCC #1551). Unlike other sacraments, Holy Orders is only received by those who have a call from God, which is mutually discerned by the candidate and the Church. Thus, no one has a right to become a priest (cf. CCC #1578). Rather, they are divinely elected to share in this ministry. Through this sharing in the priesthood of Christ, the priests of his Church stand “in the person of Christ” in order to give the faithful the tremendous gift of receiving the other sacraments.
“They who inhabit the earth, they who make their abode among men, are entrusted with the dispensation of the things of heaven!”- St. John Chrysostom
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Additional Resources - Holy Orders
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“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.”
1 Timothy 4:14
