OCIA Session 11: Holy Orders & Vocations – Priesthood, Religious Life, Lay Vocation

Welcome back! Last time we explored the sacrament of Marriage - how two people, with Christ at the center, become a sign of God’s love for the world. Today we turn to another sacrament of service: Holy Orders. At the same time, we’ll look at the bigger picture: vocation. That’s a word Catholics love to use. It comes from the Latin vocare, which means “to call.” A vocation isn’t just a career or a hobby. It’s the way God calls you to love and serve in the world. For some, that call is to marriage. For others, it’s to religious life or priesthood. And for most of us, it includes a call to live our faith in daily life as lay people. Whatever the form, vocation is God’s invitation to joy.

What Is Holy Orders?

Holy Orders is the sacrament by which men are ordained as deacons, priests, or bishops. Through Holy Orders, Christ continues to shepherd His Church.

Deacons serve by proclaiming the Gospel, preaching, baptizing, witnessing marriages, and helping with works of charity.
Priests celebrate the Eucharist, forgive sins in Confession, anoint the sick, and shepherd parish communities.
Bishops oversee dioceses, ordain priests, and carry on the mission of the apostles.

Without Holy Orders, we wouldn’t have the Eucharist, Confession, or any of the other sacraments. Priests act in persona Christi - in the person of Christ. When a priest says, “I absolve you,” it is Christ forgiving. When he says, “This is my Body,” it is Christ speaking.

Humor Break

One child once asked his priest: “Father, if you don’t get married, who cooks dinner for you?” The priest smiled and said, “That’s what parish potlucks are for!”

Religious Life

Not all vocations through Holy Orders are the same. Some men and women are called to religious life - as monks, nuns, brothers, or sisters. They take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, dedicating their lives completely to prayer and service. You’ll see them teaching in schools, serving the poor, or living in monasteries devoted to prayer. They remind the world that heaven is our true home.

Lay Vocation

But here’s the part many forget: most Catholics are not priests or religious. Most are lay people. And that’s not “second-class discipleship.” Lay people are called to live their vocation in the world: in families, workplaces, neighborhoods.

Parents raising children in the faith.
Workers bringing honesty and justice into their jobs.
Parishioners serving in ministries.

Your vocation may not involve a collar or habit, but it is just as important.

Interactive Reflection

Take two minutes. Ask yourself: where do you feel drawn to serve? In your family? In your work? In the parish? Write it down. That could be a clue to your vocation.

How Vocations Are Discovered

Vocations aren’t usually revealed in lightning bolts. They are discovered gradually, through prayer, community, and service. Sometimes God speaks through others. A friend says, “You’d make a great priest.” Or, “You’d be a wonderful mom.” Pay attention. And remember: vocation is not about what makes you nervous - it’s about what makes you come alive.

Humor Break #2

Someone once joked: “I asked God what my vocation was. He said, ‘Stop binge-watching Netflix and go volunteer at church.’” Sometimes discernment starts with very small steps.

Parish Connection

Every parish is a seedbed of vocations. Priests often first hear the call by serving at the altar. Nuns often discover their vocation through parish youth groups. And lay vocations grow when parishioners support one another in faith.

This is why being active in parish life is so important. You don’t discover a vocation in isolation. You discover it in community.

Interactive Activity

Pair up with someone (or reflect quietly). Share one way you currently serve others - in your family, your job, your parish. Then share one way you might feel God nudging you to serve more deeply.

Action Step

This week:

Pray the “Prayer for Vocations” (your parish likely has it in the bulletin).
At Mass, say a special prayer for your parish priest, deacons, and for young people discerning.
Ask yourself: “Where is God calling me to serve right now?” Don’t overthink - just listen.

Closing

Holy Orders ensures that Christ continues to work in His Church through bishops, priests, and deacons. Religious life reminds us that heaven is our true goal. Lay vocations bring holiness into families, workplaces, and communities.

The truth is: everyone has a vocation. God has a unique plan for your life. And when you say yes, you don’t lose joy - you gain it. Next time, we’ll talk about another sacrament of healing: Anointing of the Sick - how God strengthens us in suffering and brings hope when we need it most. Until then, remember: vocation is not a burden, but a gift. The question isn’t “Do I have a vocation?” It’s “Am I ready to listen and respond?”

next class:
OCIA Session 12: Anointing of the Sick – God’s Care in Suffering and Healing