The Sacrament of Holy Orders is a significant and wholly satisfying life of action and prayer for those who discern a calling to the priesthood or the diaconate. It is the way by which the mission entrusted by Christ to his Apostles continues to be exercised in the Church.
In the call to the diaconate, both single and married men are invitied by hear the call of the Lord to help the parish community through prayer and discernment leading to intense study and - ultimately - ordination through the laying on of hands by the bishop. Through this process, the ordained receive permanent, sacramental seal which forever changes their life.
In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, at present only unmarried men are eligible to be ordained to the priesthood.
While many individuals are called to the life of Holy Matrimony, and some are called to Holy Orders, others are called to consecrated life within a unique community of people. These are religious orders such as the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), the Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines), the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of Jesus Our Hope, among others.
Individuals of all ages are called at various times in their lives to vocations by God. We may not initially hear the call of God, but God does not stop, nor does God give up in implementing the Divine Plan and our particular part to bring that plan to fulfillment.
If you wish to learn more about the Catholic Priesthood, please visit the Discernment page on the diocesan website: https://diometuchen.org/offices-and-ministries/clergy-and-consecrated-life/vocations/discernment-information/st-john-vianney-house-of-discernment/ For morne information in the Diaconate, please visit: https://diometuchen.org/offices-and-ministries/clergy-and-consecrated-life/diaconate/