Catholic Church Ministries & Clergy

Various Ministries of the Church

• Ministry is about serving and glorifying God, not personal accomplishments or elevation.

The Clergy

• The clergy consists of men who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders.
• This sacrament consecrates them to serve the Church.
• They primarily serve through sacraments and pastoral care.
• The clergy includes:
  • The Pope
  • Bishops
  • Archbishops
  • Cardinals
  • Priests
  • Deacons

The Pope

• The highest honor for a member of the clergy is to be elected Pope, the leader of the Catholic Church.
• Cardinals under the age of 80 elect the Pope after the death or resignation of the previous Pope.
• There is no limit to how many years a Pope may serve.

The Bishops

• The Popes are the highest-ranking bishops and leaders of the Catholic Church.
• Bishops teach doctrine, govern their dioceses, and ordain other clergy.
• They are addressed as "His Excellency" or "Your Excellency".

Archbishop

• Archbishops are important bishops that oversee large areas of churches called archdioceses.
• The term "archbishop" originates from the Greek word meaning "chief."
• Bishops report directly to archbishops, seeking assistance or guidance.
• An archbishop is considered a manager of bishops for a specific region or Metropolitan Province.
• Some archbishops serve as diplomats, called Nuncios, representing the Pope in different countries, instead of overseeing dioceses.

Cardinal

• Cardinals are leading bishops and members of the College of Cardinals.
• Their main duty is participating in the Papal Conclave to elect a new Pope.
• Cardinals have duties, including missions within the Roman Curia, the governmental body of the Holy See.
• Cardinals must be below 80 years old to be eligible to vote.
• Pope Francis is known for his diverse group of cardinals.
• There are 128 serving cardinals currently.
• Pope Francis has appointed 88 cardinals from 56 countries, with 17 of those countries never before represented in the College of Cardinals.
• In 2019, Pope Francis appointed cardinals who are experts in caring for migrants and relations with Islam.

Priests

• Priests are ordained ministers and the most visible clergy.
• They celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and administer sacraments.
• Priests are addressed as "Father".

Deacons

• Deacons can be transitional, studying for the priesthood, or permanent.
• Permanent deacons can be married and assist priests.
• Deacons are addressed as "Reverend Mr.".

The Laity

• The laity are non-ordained members of the Body of Christ.
• Lay women and men transform society towards the image of Christ Jesus.
• The laity includes:
  • Church goers/Parishioners
  • Other church organizations

The Consecrated or Religious Life

• Consecrated life is a state of life in the Catholic Church of prayer, service, and community living.
• It includes public vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, known as the evangelical counsels.
• The consecrated life includes:
  • Religious Brothers
  • Monks
  • Nuns