In addition to celebrating the Mass, priests absolve sins, baptize, prepare couples for marriage and celebrate weddings, bury the dead, teach pastor parishes, and commit themselves to a life of service within the Church.
What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?
This sacrament bestows the graces necessary to be a member of the Clergy in the Church. There are three degrees of Clergy.
A Diocesan priest is one who serves a bishop within a particular diocese. Besides parish work, a priest can be assigned to minster as chaplains in hospitals, schools or convents.
A Religious priest is a member of a community that is committed to a special charism, such as monastic life, missionary work or teaching. They serve a superior.
Military Chaplains are either diocesan or religious priests who are assigned for several years to serve military establishments around the world. They are given this assignment by their Bishop or Superior.
25 is the minimum age for ordination according to the Canon Law of the Church. Since it can take up to nine years of formation, one can enter the seminary right after high school.
Besides good health and academic ability, a candidate for the priesthood also needs a strong prayer life, involvement in his parish, a spirit of service and sacrifice, and a deep love for the Church. He must have talents to put at the service of the Church and a healthy psychological, inter-personal life. This helps determine how genuine the candidate is in discerning God's call.
Celibacy - the commitment not to marry - is seen as a gift that God bestows on those who are called to the priesthood. In celibacy, the Church sees the example of Jesus, which must be reflected in the life of a priest. Through celibacy the priest mirrors the love that Christ has for all, a love that the priest, unattached to spouse and children, can also extend.
Candidates for priesthood study at a seminary. Besides classes, there is a daily life of prayer and weekly pastoral work. During summer vacations, seminarians usually work in a parish of the diocese. Brownsville seminarians are presently receiving formation at St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana and St. Mary's Seminary in Houston.
The Diocese of Brownsville wants future priests to have the best possible education. For both College (undergraduate) seminarians, Pre-Theology, and Theology (graduate) seminarians, the Diocese will assist and pay all educational costs.
After completing a four year college degree with an emphasis on philosophy, there are four years of graduate studies in theology. Someone who already has a college degree will need two years of Pre-Theology studies to obtain the required philosophy background in order to begin Theology studies.
Sometimes family and friends can be reluctant at first about a call to the priesthood - even the religious life - but usually they recognize the blessing of having a priest or religious in the family. Growing up we must respect our parents' wishes, but as adults we must follow God's call, even if it is difficult. It is very helpful for the family to know priests or religious personally, such as having them over for visits so they can get some information about the life. Family members can be assured that it takes many years before a man will make the final commitment to be ordained, or a man or woman make the final commitment to fully enter a Religious community.