The Church is the Body of Christ. As such, the whole Church shares in the nature and tasks of Christ, our leader. This includes sharing in his priesthood. But beyond this “common priesthood of the faithful”, there is the special or “ministerial priesthood” of Christ that certain members of the Church are called to receive through the sacrament of Holy Orders.
Each type of priesthood is a sharing in the priesthood of Christ. And both types are related to each other. But there is a basic difference between them. In the Eucharistic sacrifice, the ordained priest acts “in the person of Christ” and offers the sacrifice to God in the name of all, and the people join with the priest in that offering. The two roles of priest and people go together. Priests share in Christ’s ministry by preaching his gospel, doing all in their power to bring their people to Christian maturity. They baptize, give absolution in the sacrament of penance, and act as the Church’s witness in the sacraments of matrimony and anointing of the sick. Priests celebrate the Eucharist, which is “the center of the assembly of the faithful over which the priest presides”. All priests are united in the single goal of building up Christ’s Body. In addition to bishops and priests deacons also have a special sharing in the sacrament of holy orders.
Preparation For Holy Orders
SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
AND CONSECRATION TO RELIGIOUS LIFE
Many people look to their future and ask, “What do I want to do with my life?” The better question is, “God, what do you want me to do with my life?”
To know what the Lord is calling you to do for him with your life, you must have a prayerful relationship with God. God is the one who calls you to a specific vocation.
When someone senses that God is calling them to the priesthood or religious life as a brother or sister, there is sometimes a negative reaction. This is normal, but do not think that it means you are not meant to be priest or religious sister. Very often, it is a positive indicator!
Your friends and family can point out characteristics in you such as a love for the Church, a person of prayer, leadership ability, compassion, and a living faith.
Why do we have Priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters?
“In a word,” Pope John Paul II wrote in Pastores dabo vobis, “priests exist and act in order to proclaim the Gospel to the world and to build up the Church in the name and person of Christ the head and shepherd.”
Pope Benedict XVI said, “Being a priest means becoming an ever closer friend of Jesus Christ with the whole of our existence. The world needs God – not just any god but the God of Jesus Christ, the God who made himself flesh and blood, who loved us to the point of dying for us, who rose and created within himself room for man. This God must live in us and we in him. This is our priestly call: only in this way can our action as priests bear fruit.”
Priesthood is not the only consecrated way to serve the church. You can serve the Church as a religious sister (a nun) or religious brother.
“There are two things I love most about being a woman religious,” Sister Virginia West wrote. “I love being part of a community of women who share a common charism for the mission and with whom I can pray, share friendship and support at times of joy and sorrow.
“I also love the freedom to be of service and to partner with other church members to bring Christ more fully present to many people.” Sister Virginia is a religious sister at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park.
Women like Sister Virginia profess simple perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience and live in community. Daily Mass and daily prayer together, as well as time spent in personal prayer, are essential to the formation of a contemplative heart.
Most religious women live under a common roof with other members of their own community. With their religious community, they share their faith and their friendship.
You may have met Father Patrick, Father Vianney, and Father David Kazmarek. They help out at St. Max with a Mass on most weekends. They come from the San Pedro Retreat Center in Winter Park and belong to the Franciscan religious order.
Along with Franciscan brothers, they follow the same way of life and serve the Church in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Like Sister Virginia, they have consecrated their lives to the religious life. You can talk to Father Patrick, Father Vianney, and Father David Kazmarek to find out more about their vocation to religious life.
How can you encourage a religious vocation in your children and grandchildren?
1. Pray. Let your children see you pray. Pray with them at grace before meals, before bedtime, and when someone needs prayers.
2. Share faith. Talk with your children about how faith affects your life. For example you can tell them, “I thank God every day for you.”
3. Make and demand sacrifice. Help your children see that a holy and happy life involves sacrifice for the sake of others.
4. Get to know priests and religious sisters as opportunities arise so that you are comfortable with them and understand their commitment.
5. Teach children about the call to religious life or priesthood as well as the call to marriage or single life.
6. Serve others, especially the poor. The Christian vocation, whether you are a priest or married or single, is a life dedicated to others. You have to walk the talk.
Prayer for Vocation
Pope John Paul II
Lord Jesus, as You once called the first disciples
to make them fishers of men,
let your sweet invitation continue to resound:
Come! follow Me!
Give young men and women the grace
of responding quickly to Your voice.
Support your bishops, priests and consecrated people
in their apostolic labor.
Grant perseverance to our seminarians
and to all those who are carrying out the ideal of a life
totally consecrated to Your service.
Awaken in our community a missionary eagerness.
Lord, SEND WORKERS TO YOUR HARVEST
and do not allow humanity to be lost for the lack of pastors,
missionaries and people dedicated to the cause of the Gospel.
Mary, Mother of the Church, the model of every vocation,
help us to say “Yes” to the Lord Who calls us to cooperate
in the divine plan of salvation.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Father David’s Vocation Story, according to his parents
We are Larry and Mary Ann Scotchie, parents of Larry Jr., Theresa, David, Michael, Daniel and Julia.
The family background is cradle Catholic, attending St. Mary Magdalen school in Altamonte Springs, Florida and involved in Church and community associations. Since joining St. Mary Magdalen Church in 1970 we have participated in many programs and ministries. Our children were encouraged to be involved with the activities of our Catholic community and the friends who shared our Christian values.
From an early age we would occasionally ask the children what they wanted to be when growing up as we were responsible for their education and support their needs. We were aware the children were gifts from God and our mission was to give attention to develop their own human and Christian maturity.
David related to us in 10th grade that he was considering the priesthood. We gave him the same answer we told his siblings: “follow what you want to do and we will help you”. We encouraged him to talk to a priest and he did get more information. Following high school he went to Duke University, continuing to be active in the Catholic church there. He was still questioning his path and after college graduation decided to join the Jesuit Volunteer Community in Oregon with simple living, social justice and spirituality. He started a discernment process visiting retreat monasteries and communities
We talked about the process when he made visits home and he eventually decided on going to St. Meinrad Seminary for the Diocese of Orlando.
On May 29, 1993 David was ordained. He had found “himself”.
Fr. David is currently pastor at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Avalon Park. Our family attended the first Mass he celebrated there.
The Presbyterian minister William Barclay, especially noted for his “Daily Study Bible Series,” once wrote that of all the days in a person’s life, two were the most special: The day we are born and the day we discover why.
By the way, all of our children did pursue their dreams, went to college, graduated and continue to be supportive to each other. We are blessed with three daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law and ten grandchildren. We will continue to listen and support our extended family and friends.
Six suggestions for those considering vocation as a priests, religious brother or sister
1.Pray every day for the grace to hear God’s voice calling you. Ask the Lord, “God, what do you want me to do with my life?”
2.Ask a priest, brother or sister to help you during a discernment period. Spend time with priests/sisters/brothers in order to get to know them and allow them to know you.
3.Contact the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Orlando for guidance 407-246-4875.
4.Examine yourself honestly for the qualities necessary for the particular vocation that attracts you. Get feedback from others.
5.Take advantage of vocation retreats, spiritual books, and videos which can fill your imagination with things of God.
6.Read the lives of the saints.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE?
Visit us at www.orlandodiocese.org/clergyreligious/vocations/index.htm
Father Jorge Torres, Director of Vocations 407-246-4875
Sister Kathleen Power, Associate Director of Vocations 407-246-4925