Ordination (or orders) is the public celebration of those who have been called to a special ministry of service to the community. In a special way, the Church, the ecclesial body of Christ, asks for God’s blessing on those who will be a special sign of Christ’s presence to all the people of God. The “orders” of those who have been called to serve are deacon, priest and bishop. Each has a distinct and different ministry to God’s people for which different rites are celebrated in this sacrament. It is a sacrament that symbolizes in a special way one’s baptismal call to serve.

There are many resources for those seeking to learn more about becoming a priest or deacon or joining the consecrated life, such as the following:.

• Archdiocese of Louisville: Vocations
  Includes information about the Sacrament of Holy Orders within the Archdiocese, and a prayer for vocations.

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
  Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations
  Supports dioceses in sounding the call to priestly life and ministry, the consecrated life, priestly formation, and the diaconate.

For more information, contact Very Rev. Fr. Michael Wimsatt at 
(502) 636-0296, Ext. 1273 or [email protected].


 

Greetings!

In the Last Supper Discourses of the Gospel of John (chapter 14, verses 16-18), Jesus tells the disciples:

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

The Latin word for the Holy Spirit is “Advocate”, a word that in its root form means “To call to the side.” The Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus to His followers, is the one called to stand at our side throughout our lives, particularly in moments of prayer and in times of need. It is because of the presence of the Advocate in our lives that we can never be ultimately alone.

The word “Vocation” shares the same root as “Advocate” and again alludes to the role of the Holy Spirit, who calls us in a way that not only elicits a response from us, but also transforms us from within. While this call at times addresses us singly, it is lived out in the context of a community of faith, without which the calling is only minimally intelligible.

The Vocation Office for the Archdiocese of Louisville is committed to helping members of the local community of faith to discern and respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit as it unfolds in their lives. It is our hope that this website will provide helpful information to this end. Please accept this invitation to contact us in the event we can be of service to you in this way.

Peace,

Fr. Michael Wimsatt

Vocation Director, Archdiocese of Louisville

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“God calls you to make definitive choices, and He has a plan for each of you: to discover that plan and to respond to your vocation is to move toward personal fulfillment. I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes that you are incapable of responsibility, that you are incapable of true love. Do not be afraid to go and to bring Christ into every area of life, to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent. The Church needs you, your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you. ‘Do not be afraid!’ When we go to proclaim Christ, it is he himself who goes before us and guides us. When he sent his disciples on mission, he promised: ‘I am with you always’ (Mt 28:20). And this is also true for us! Jesus does not leave us alone, he never leaves you alone! He always accompanies you.”

-Pope Francis,

World Youth Day 2013, Rio de Janeiro

Prayers for Priests, Seminarians & Vocations >

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“An unparalleled resource that covers everything men need to know when praying about their vocation. It will be required reading for many men.”
– Msgr. Rob Panke, President of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors.