What Is Holy Orders?
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is a Sacrament of vocation in which men are ordained into a life of dedicated work and service to God and his Church. As children of God, we all share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ and have the opportunity to live out this baptismal priesthood in everything we do in our lives, strengthening and serving one another. Some within this community of faith, however, are called to serve in a unique way as the ordained. Some men are called to be ordained as ministerial priests, taking on the unique task of emulating Jesus in His roles as priest, prophet, and king.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders takes place during an Ordination Mass, which in the Archdiocese of Hartford generally occurs at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. This beautiful liturgy acknowledges the role of the Holy Spirit, the assistance of the saints, and the duties being taken on by the men being ordained. Those called to be priests of Jesus Christ and his Church make a number of promises, including: being worthy fellow workers with the Bishops, preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith, reverently celebrating the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation, remaining celibate for the sake of the kingdom, praying without ceasing, and resolving to be united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest.
Vocations at Our Churches
All churches in the Archdiocese of Hartford have been asked by the Archbishop to pray a special Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood. This prayer, which we invite you to say at the end of Mass and as part of your own private prayer, can be found by CLICKING HERE.
If you or someone you know is considering the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood or would even just like to discuss what such a life would even entail, the priests of our church would be happy to have that discussion at any time. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and set up a time for us to talk.
In addition, you can go to hartfordpriest.com or contact Fr. Anthony Federico to learn more about the priesthood, discernment, and the Vocations Office of the Archdiocese of Hartford.