“As he [Jesus] was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”

- Matthew 4:18-20

Through Baptism, all the member of the Church share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. This is known as the “common priesthood.”

Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, there is another participation in Christ’s priesthood, the ministerial priesthood of bishop and priest. This differs in essence from the common priesthood. This is because it confers a sacred power for the service of the faithful.

The ordained ministry occurs in three degrees: bishop, priest, and deacon. These three degrees are essential for the life of the Church.

The bishops receive the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. They are the chief teachers, sanctifiers, and shepherds in their dioceses.

“Priests are united with the bishops in priestly dignity and at the same time depend on them in the exercise of their pastoral functions; they are called to be the bishops’ prudent co-workers” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1595). With the bishop, they form a priestly community and assume with the bishop the mission of a parish.

Deacons receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, but not the ministerial priesthood. Through ordination, the deacon is conformed to Christ. Deacons may baptize, read the Gospel, preach the homily, assist the bishop or priest in the celebration of the Eucharist, assist at and bless marriages, and preside at funerals. They are to dedicate themselves also to charitable endeavors. Permanent deacons can be married.

“The essential rite of the Sacrament of Holy Order for all three degrees consist in the bishop’s imposition of hands on the head of the ordinand [man to be ordained] and in the bishop’s specific consecratory prayer” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1573). The ordination confers a permanent sacramental character.

Only men may be ordained. Normally, in the Roman Catholic Church, ordination to the priesthood is reserved on those men who freely promise lifelong celibacy.

Only bishops may confer the sacrament of Holy Orders in the three degrees.