Holy Orders

"They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith." - Acts 14:23

Serving in Christ: The Sacrament of Holy Orders

Marriage and holy orders are sacraments “directed towards the salvation of others” that “confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1534)

Holy orders is the sacrament in which a bishop confers on a baptized man the grace of the Holy Spirit and sacred power for the service of the faithful. It is administered in three forms: deacon, priest and bishop.

Why does the Catholic Church have holy orders?

Though Christ entrusted all of his followers to go out and proclaim the Good News, he specifically entrusted the Apostles to shepherd the people of God and carry on his authority after he ascended into heaven. (CCC 874-875) The fact that grace must be given – no one can grant themselves grace – assumes the need for ministers who are authorized and empowered by Christ to grant grace through the sacraments. These ministers are granted the sacred power to act in persona Christi (“in the person of Christ”) in Jesus’ stead on earth. (CCC 875)

Who can receive holy orders as a sacrament?

Only baptized men may seek ordination. Jesus chose the Twelve Apostles, all men, to succeed him in his ministry, and the apostles hand down Christ’s ministry with each ordination.

Only a bishop as the valid successor of Christ may ordain men to maintain apostolic succession.

What happens when someone receives holy orders?

Ordinations typically occur within the Mass, on a Sunday, and in a cathedral. All three ordinations follow the same form in that the bishop lays hands upon the man receiving the sacrament and prays the prayer of consecration “asking God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts proper to the ministry to which the candidate is being ordained.” (CCC 1573)

Are you a man? Do you want to seek ordination?

Discerning your vocation

The process of coming to know your vocation is called discernment. It is a committed prayerful interaction with Jesus himself who invites you to, “Come, follow me.” It begins by getting to know Jesus personally; in the Bible, in prayer and in the sacraments of the Church. Jesus cannot lead us to our vocation unless we begin by ‘taking up our cross and following him.’

Consider Jesus’ action after he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. The Spirit led Jesus to the desert where he fasted and prayed for 40 days. This was the place where Jesus discerned his Father’s will. In a sense, we must spend our time in the desert too before God can reveal our particular vocation. This ‘desert’ is where we turn to God in prayer, where we ‘fast’ from distractions and temptations that draw us away from God, where we encounter God in quiet moments of peace.

God will use people in your life to help you discern your vocation. You may hear a comment like, “You would make a good priest” or “Have you ever thought about being a sister?” Pay attention to what others observe about you. It could be the Holy Spirit speaking through them.

Over and over Jesus said to his followers, “Do not be afraid.” He tells you that now. Don’t be afraid to turn to him. He wants only the best for you.

Please contact the vocations office at the Oakland Diocese for more information: vocations@oakdiocese.org

Priesthood and Diaconate

Interested in priesthood and diaconate, please contact:

Director of Vocations: Fr. Matthew Murray

Phone: 510-267-8345

Email: mmurray@oakdiocese.org

Or Visit: https://www.oakdiocese.org/vocations/

Religious Orders of Priests & Brothers

Orders/Congregations of Religious Priests and Brothers in the Diocese of Oakland

Augustinians

Fr. Tom Whelan, OSA, 415-387-3626

osacole@pacbell.net

www.osa-west.org

Capuchin Franciscans

Fr. Peter Banks, OFM CAP., 805-686-4127

peterbanksofmcap@yahoo.com

www.beafriar.com

Congregation of Sacred Hearts

Fr. Dedi Riberu. SS.CC. 808-321-9776

riberufrans@yahoo.com

Fr. Brian Guerrini, SS.CC. 575-495-9331
ssccbvg@gmail.com

Conventual Franciscans

Fr. Paul Gawlowski OFM Conv, 510-671-0537

californiavocation@gmail.com

www.franciscanfriars.org

De La Salle Christian Brothers

Br. George Van Grieken, FSG, 707-252-3861

br.george@dlsi.org

www.brothersvocation.org

Dominicans

Fr. John Winkowitsch, OP, 510-596-1806

vocations@opwest.org

www.opwest.org

Franciscans

Fr. Alberto Villafan, OFM, 408-258-7057

avillafanr@yahoo.com

www.sbfranciscans.org

Holy Cross Fathers

Fr. James Gallagher, CSC, 574-631-6385

www.holycrossvocations.org

Jesuits

Fr. Radmar Jao, S.J.

UWEVocationDirector@jesuits.org

https://beajesuit.org/

Maryknoll Fathers

Br. Tim Raible, MM, 510-869-8689

or 510-522-1846

triable@maryknoll.org

www.maryknoll.org

Missionaries of Faith (MF)

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish

Rev. Joy Kumarthusseril, MF, 510-315-7001

kmfrjoy@gmail.com

St. Philip Neri-St. Albert the Great Parish

Rev. Robert Kennady Chinnapan, MF

510-373-5201

robertmf@live.com

Missionaries of Precious Blood

Fr. Ken Schnipke, CPPS, 937-228-6224

vocation@cpps-preciousblood.org

www.cpps-preciousblood.org

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

www.omiusa.org

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

Fr. Martine Lukas, OSFS, 419-7245-9851

mlosfs@aol.com

www.oblates.us

Paulist Fathers

Fr. David Farnum, CSP, 212-757-4260

or 800-235-3456

dfarnum@paulist.org

www.paulist.org

Redemptorists

Fr. Tat Hoang, CSSR, 718-321-1394

vocationscssr@aol.com

www.redemptorists-denver.org

Salesians of Don Bosco

Fr. Vien Minh Nguyen, SBS, 562-925-2250 ext. 217

info@salesianvocation.org

www.salesianvocation.org

Society of Mary (Marists)

Mr. John Ridout, 510-845-3326 or 866-298-3715

jrsmtom@yahoo.com

www.maristsociety.org

Religious Orders of Sisters

Orders of Sisters in the Diocese of Oakland

Adrian Dominican Sisters

Sr. Mary Ellen Lecicjewski, OP
mellen@chw.edu
www.adriandominicans.org

Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirmed

Sister Maria Therese, O. Carm.
(518) 537-5000
www.carmelitesisters.com
vocationdirector@valstar.net

Congregation of Mother of Carmel

Sr. Celine Pathiaparambill, CMC, 510-724-4178
weisscarmel@yahoo.com

Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul

Sr. Trang Truong, DC, 650-949-8890
www.daughtersofcharity.com

Discalced Carmelite Nuns

Reverend Mother Prioress
Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph of Kensington, CA
68 Rincon Road
Kensington, CA 94707-1047
All contact is done via physical mail.

Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose

Sister Dulce Aguilar, O.P.
Vocation Director
Cell: 209-406-8111
dulce@msjdominicans.org
www.msjdominicans.org

Dominican Sisters of Oakford

Sr. Jodi Min, OP, 510-635-1480
oakfordominicans@gmail.com
www.oakforddominicans.org

Dominican Sisters of San Rafael

Sr. Patricia Farrell, OP, 415-257-4939
pfarrellop@sanrafaelop.org
www.sanrafaelop.org

Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic

Sr. Mary Boyce, MM, 925-689-7729
www.Maryknoll.org

QuiNhon Missionary Sisters of the Holy Cross

Sr. Maggalena Duong, LHC, 925-674-9639
http://mtgqn.org/index.php/about-us/congregation

Sisters of Mercy of Ireland

Sr. Angela O'Donoghue, RSM, 510-233-6769
angelaod@yahoo.com