Diocesan Priesthood
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Matthew 4:19 |
When Pope John Paul II was once asked why he became a priest he responded:
“I must begin by saying that it is impossible to explain entirely. For it remains a mystery, even to myself. How does one explain the ways of God? Yet, I know that, at a certain point in my life, I became convinced that Christ was saying to me what he has said to thousands before me: "Come, follow me!" There was a clear sense that what I heard in my heart was no human voice, nor was it just an idea of my own. Christ was calling me to serve him as a Priest.
And you can probably tell that I am deeply grateful to God for my vocation to the Priesthood. Nothing means more to me or gives me greater joy than to celebrate Mass each day and to serve God's people in the Church. That has been true since the day of my ordination as a Priest. Nothing has ever changed, not even becoming Pope.” |
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Priests in the Roman Catholic Church
are categorized as either diocesan order or religious order priests. Both expressions of priesthood have the same basic responsibilities, called faculties, acquired through ordination and assignment by a bishop. The primary differences between these two forms of priesthood are in their way of life, type of work, and the Church authority to which they are responsible.
Diocesan Priesthood is a ministry of leadership and service to the people of God in a particular geographic area called a diocese. Every place on the face of the earth belongs to a particular diocese. It is the responsibility of the bishop of each diocese with his priests to serve the people of that diocese. Diocesan priests typically work in parishes, schools or other institutions as assigned by the bishop of their diocese. Diocesan priests make commitments to live a life of celibacy, prayer and obedience.
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Contact: Rich Shively, Associate Director of Vocations, 710 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 382-4595 ♦ Toll Free: (800) 950-4962 ♦ Email: richs@seattlearch.org | |
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