Holy Orders in the Catholic Church includes three orders: bishop, priest, and deacon. The Church regards ordination as a Sacrament. In the phrase "Holy Orders", the word "holy" simply means "set apart for some purpose." The word order (ordo, in Latin) designates an established civil body or corporation with a hierarchy and ordination means legal incorporation into an ordo. In context, therefore, a Holy Order is simply a group with a hierarchical structure that is set apart for ministry in the Church.
Holy Orders is the Sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the Sacrament of apostolic ministry.
VOCATIONS: If you are contemplating a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate or religious life, please contact any one of our parish priests for guidance.
You can also contact Fr. Timothy Monahan, Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Chicago. His contact information is listed below: