Holy Orders

The Sacrament of Holy Orders refers to a unique office of pastoral leadership in the Church. The mission of the ordained priest is to be a sign, to 'make present' the leadership which Christ gives to the Church. Through the Holy Spirit, the priest is ordained as one consecrated to God as a sharer in Christ's mission to serve, teach and govern the people of God. His is more than a managerial role; this kind of leadership involves a 'holy ordering' of the many gifts of the Spirit in the Church community, and to be a unifying focal point for all the gifts. Further, in the midst of the church community he is a permanent and irrevocable sign of the saving presence of Jesus Christ. Like Christ, the priest is a servant-leader. He represents Christ and the Church.

At Our Lady of Dolours Parish Chatswood we are currently blessed with two full-time priests, Fr Janusz (Parish Priest) and Fr George(Assistant Priest), amd a full-time deacon, Dn Anthony. We are also blessed with the presence of other local priests who assist from time to time accordingly to the needs of the parish and diocese.

Holy Orders is a threefold sacrament: The Bishop embodies the fullness of the sacrament and, as 'chief shepherd', has overall responsibility for the faith and unity of the Diocese. In our Diocese of Broken Bay, the Bishop is Bishop David Walker. Priests and deacons extend the ministry of the bishop throughout the diocese. In the Diocese of Broken Bay there are a number of married deacons.

The Sacrament of Holy Orders presents a powerful and challenging vocation for eligible men. Parishioners are urged to identify and invite men with the appropriate gifts to consider this vocation, for the sake of our diocese. Our diocese currently has two young men training to be priests. If you like to find out more please make contact with Fr Jim McKeon.

Fr Jim is Diocesan Vocations Director and Dean of the Cathedral Parish at Waitara, Ph 9483 2302  jm.mkeon@dbb.org.au   Alternatively, they can also approach one of the priests of the parish or explore the National Catholic Vocations website.