St. Paul said to his disciple Timothy: "I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Tim 1:6), and "If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task." (1 Tim 3:1) To Titus he said: "This is why I left you in Crete, that you amend what was defective, and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you" (Titus 1:5).

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. (CCC: 1536)

The ministerial priesthood has the task not only of representing Christ - Head of the Church - before the assembly of the faithful, but also of acting in the name of the whole Church when presenting to God the prayer of the Church, and above all when offering the Eucharistic sacrifice. (CCC: 1552)

Only a baptized man validly receives sacred ordination (CCC: 1577), the Sacrament of Holy Orders. In the Latin Rite of the Church, priests and bishops are non-married, while permanent deacons may be married. Holy Orders must be a call clearly discerned by the individual with the help of others. If you are sensing a call to the priesthood or permanent diaconate, contact Fr. Jake Dunne at (319) 228-8131 or Fr. David Schatz, Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Dubuque via email DBQCVO@dbqarch.org or phone at (319) 352-2493 (office) or (563) 513-7333 (cell).

For more information about vocations, please visit https://www.dbqarch.org/offices/vocations/.

For more information about priestly formation, please visit http://www.dbqpriesthood.org.

For more information about the permanent diaconate, please visit http://www.dbqarch.org/offices/permanent-diaconate/.

OCP Blog about Holy Orders