The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the continuation of Christ’s priesthood, which He bestowed upon His Apostles; thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to the Sacrament of Holy Orders as “the sacrament of apostolic ministry.”

“Ordination” comes from the Latin word ordinatio, which means to incorporate someone into an order. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a man is incorporated into the priesthood of Christ, at one of three levels: the episcopate, the priesthood, or the diaconate.

For Archdiocese of Washington information:

DC Priest.org

A calling to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ is one of the most beautiful gifts that a Catholic man can receive.

If you are discerning your vocation and are wondering if you are called to the priesthood, there are many resources on this site that can help. Nothing compares to direct contact with a priest, however. Consider contacting your parish priest or the Vocation Director, Fr. Mark Ivany, to discuss what God may have in store for you!

Archdiocese of Washington – The Consecrated Life

A vocation to the Consecrated Life is a gift from God the Father to the Church, rooted in the example and teaching of Christ, and given through the power of the Holy Spirit.