Holy Orders

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is a participation in the priesthood of Christ, which He entrusted to His Apostles. The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to Holy Orders as “the sacrament of apostolic ministry” (CCC 1536). The word ordination comes from the Latin ordinatio, meaning to incorporate someone into an order.

In the Catholic Church, there are three degrees of ordination:

• Episcopate – Bishops
• Priesthood – Priests
• Diaconate – Deacons

For more information about vocations to the priesthood or diaconate, please visit the Diocese of Norwich website. Please click here.

Any man who feels called to explore ordination is encouraged to contact the pastor to arrange an interview.