聖秩聖事 What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?

聖洗、堅振和聖體聖事是進入天主子民這個大家庭的入門聖事，聖秩聖事就是確
立這個大家庭內各項職務的聖事。因此，這件聖事又可以稱為區分聖事(Sacrament of differentiation ) 。

聖秩(ordo)是聖事，藉此聖事，基督所託付給宗徒的使命，得以在教會中繼續執行，直到世代的終結。故此，它是宗徒職務的聖事。它包括主教職、司鐸職、執事職三個等級。

為了維持教會生活的秩序，必須有各種不同種類的服務。這些服務，當然不能由全體成員，以同一的方式完成，而且，其中有些工作，需要由特別的權柄來完成。

天主子民，作為基督的奧體，亦分享基督的工作，所以，全體天主子民，都有司祭質素，分享基督的司祭、先知和王者的職務。但是，在這種整體性的職務之外，還有特別的司祭職，即主教、司鐸和執事職，是透過一項特別宗教禮儀而傳授的。因為這是屬於教會本質的職務，基於教會聖事性的本質，所以這職務的傳授，是屬於祝聖的性質而不是純粹權柄的傳授

Those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders — as a deacon, priest or bishop — are consecrated in Christ’s name “to feed the Church by the word and grace of God.” These servants of God are ordained and given a special role in carrying out Christ’s mission and help Christians imitate Christ’s mission of love and justice. These roles include representing Christ, proclaim the Word of God, community building, missionary work, being servants, advocates for the poor, share Catholic social teachings, evangelize, and be witnesses of God. Priests and Bishops preside at Eucharist. For more detailed information, please refer to the Holy Orders Handout from USCCB.

Vocations in the Priesthood and Consecrated Life

If you are interested in the vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, please contact our pastor Fr. Olivera at 408-509-6960 or fr.olivera@gmail.com for spiritual guidance and more information. For further information on vocations, please refer to www.usccb.org