What is Holy Orders?

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. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.
In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest being ordained vows to lead other
Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel,
and by providing other means to holiness.
HOW TO BECOME A CATHOLIC PRIEST
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree
Catholic priests are typically required to have a bachelor's degree. The degree may be in any
field of study, though it may be beneficial to pursue degrees that can easily relate to religious
studies and service, such as in English, philosophy, religion, communications or history. Some
seminaries, which are schools that formally educate priests and prepare them for religious life,
require that incoming seminarians have undergraduate coursework in philosophy or religious
studies.
Step 2: Become a Candidate
In some Catholic churches, additional contact with the priests and church leaders may lead to
becoming a formal candidate for the priesthood. For others, candidacy is more of a time of
discernment and reflection for the aspiring priests. It is during this time that prospective priests
typically reflect on their calling to the priesthood and decide whether this lifestyle is right for
them. They may also be more involved with services and the religious community at large.
Step 3: Go to Seminary or Complete Graduate Work
Aspiring Catholic priests may attend a seminary before ordination. Some churches, like the
Roman Catholic Church, may require candidates to go to seminary for four years. A seminary
program offers graduate-level coursework in subjects like Biblical studies, liturgy, ethics,
pastoral studies, church history and preaching. Aspiring priests may obtain a Master of Divinity
or another related degree. Other churches may not strictly require their priests to receive training
at a seminary. Future priests may be required to earn a graduate degree in any field, though some
churches prefer candidates with a degree related to theology or religious studies.
Step 4: Become Ordained
At the conclusion of seminary training or other guided preparation for the priesthood, a candidate
is generally ordained, which is sometimes called receiving the sacrament of holy orders. This
may be done during a Mass celebration or through some other kind of ceremony, depending on

the Catholic denomination. A priest then receives an assignment or begins living a religious life
along with fellow members of their order.
How does one prepare for ordination to the priesthood?
A man has to engage in a challenging program of priestly formation which lasts from five to
thirteen years, depending upon his background and the seminary he attends. There are three
levels of seminary: high school; college or pre-theology; and theology.
Seminaries address four types of formation:
human; spiritual; academic (intellectual); and pastoral.
In addition to the academic course work, seminarians participate in a full schedule of spiritual
activities, e.g., daily Mass, Liturgy of the Hours (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer), and spiritual
direction and retreats.
At each level of seminary training, the seminarian prepares for future pastoral ministry in
various settings, such as schools, religious education programs, hospitals and parishes. All of the
formation takes into consideration the human person; human growth and development is fostered
by community living, workshops and other programs. The formation of future priests includes
practical learning, too, for example, preaching, saying Mass, and pastoral counseling.
Formation for Priesthood:
The process of preparation for priesthood is usually called formation because it involves more
than academic study and professional education. It includes the development of the whole
person. Priestly formation takes place primarily in a seminary with some parish and other
pastoral assignments. The period for preparation can take between four to seven years depending
on previous education and experience. There are four main elements in the process of formation,
the academic, spiritual, pastoral and the personal.
Academic Formation:
Men preparing for priesthood generally study for six or seven years at tertiary level. The
structure of the studies may vary from one seminary to another. Study usually involves two or
three years of humanities with philosophy forming a key component. Philosophy is considered
important both because it sharpens the mind, and because the language and concepts of
philosophy form a good starting point for the study of theology. Students who have previously
qualified in the areas of the arts, sciences or philosophy may not be required to complete the full
programme in these areas. Four years of theology are required for the preparation of priests. Core
areas of study in the field include Scripture, Moral and Systematic Theology, Liturgy, Canon
Law and Church History.

Spiritual Formation:
To be a priest is to be a man of prayer and to be a leader with others in a community of faith.
Faith is more than knowledge of doctrine; it is lived relationship with God. Men preparing for
priesthood are helped to deepen that relationship through prayer and especially through praying
with Scripture. Each student also has available to him a spiritual director whose responsibility is
to meet with him regularly, to listen to the story of his faith journey, and to help him in his
continuing discernment of the will of God in his life. Time for retreats is also an important part
of spiritual formation.
Pastoral Formation:
During the years of preparation for priesthood, students are helped to develop the practical skills
they will require for parish ministry. These are skills that will enable them to be good and
compassionate listeners, leaders and teachers of the faith. Throughout formation, students will
have pastoral placements so that they can learn through experience and example. It would be
usual for students to have some preparation in areas such as school, hospital or prison
chaplaincy, service of the poor and, particularly in the final year, regular parish ministry
supported by experienced priests.
Personal Formation:
Personal formation is more difficult to define but it will include processes of reflection and
interaction with others which enable the student to grow in their maturity, personal gifts,
understanding of sexuality with respect to their celibate vocation, self-understanding, and
relationship enabling them to work creatively and constructively with others.
Evaluation:
Throughout the time of preparation for the priesthood it is the responsibility of the formation
team and of the student himself to be constantly reviewing his progress in the four critical areas
of formation. In this way decisions are made, periodically, which lead either towards ordination
or to the recognition of a different vocation. A decision to leave the seminary is never a failure or
a waste. Part of the purpose of formation is to provide a process through which a person is
enabled to discern Gods will for his life. Even if a person chooses or is asked to leave seminary
the experience gained during formation will help him to develop gifts for his future life and
enable him to make a positive contribution both to the Church and to wider society, in whatever
path he later follows.
PROCEDURE/PROCESS:
Sabi ng friend ko depende daw sa seminaryo na papasukan. If maginterview kayo ask nyo. Pero
yung requirement daw talaga is makumpleto yung formation.

REFERENCES:
Become a Catholic Priest: Step-by-Step Career Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from
http://study.com/articles/Become_a_Catholic_Priest_Step-by-Step_Career_Guide.html
Catechism of the Catholic Church - The sacrament of Holy Orders. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30,
2016, from http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a6.htm
How Does A Man Become A Diocesan Priest? (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from
http://vocations.ca/types_of_vocations/diocesan_priests/