Holy Orders as a sacrament of service is the sacrament of “apostolic ministry” through which the mission that Christ entrusted to the apostles continues to be exercised in the Church. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate. (CCC 1533 – 1600)
In the service and person of the ordained minister, Christ, the high priest, is himself present to the Church. The priestly ministry reaches it summit in the priests’ celebration of the Eucharist which is the source and center of the Church’s unity. All the baptized are a priestly people sharing in the priesthood of Christ. Based on this common priesthood the sacrament of Holy Order is another participation in Christ’s mission where the task of the ordained minister is to serve in the name and person of Christ the Head in the midst of the community. (CCC 1591)
The sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred on by the laying on of hands followed by a prayer of consecration. Ordination imprints an indelible sacramental character. The Church confers Holy Orders on baptized men following Christ who chose men to be the twelve apostles and their successors. (CCC1572 – 1580)