The Diocesan priest works to bring God
to people and people to God through sharing of the Gospel and the
celebration of the Sacraments of the Church. He usually serves in a parish
within his particular diocese.
Celibacy: He chooses not to marry and refrains from
sexual activity as a means for sharing love in service of others.
Obedience: The diocesan priest promises to obey his
Bishop, chief shepherd of the diocese.
For more information about the Diocesan priesthood, click on
the links below:
Some priests choose to live a particular
lifestyle called "religious life." They
join a community that follows a specific tradition of spirituality
patterned after the life and teaching of the community’s founder.
They take vows of poverty (by which they voluntarily renounce their
right to the private ownership and use of possessions), chaste celibacy (by
which they choose not to marry) and obedience to the superiors of their
community. Some well-known
religious communities of religious priests are the Claretians, Norbertines,
Jesuits, Benedictines, etc. To
learn more about religious communities of priests, click on the following
link:
Religious
Communities of Priests in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
A brother is a single layman who
joins a praying community that follows a spirituality patterned after the
life of the community’s founder. The
Brother dedicates himself to serving those around them. He takes vows of
poverty, chaste celibacy and of obedience to his religious superiors.
Flexibility in service is the hallmark of his ministry.
He may be a nurse, teacher, lawyer, campus minister, etc.
Some religious orders with Brothers are the Marianists, Hospitalers
of St. John of God, Claretians, Jesuits, Christian Brothers, Benedictines,
etc.
To learn
more about the vocation and work of Brothers, click on the following links:
A Sister is a
member of a religious community with a specific tradition and
spirituality. She takes vows of
poverty, chaste celibacy and obedience.
Sisters work in a wide variety of capacities – teachers, attorneys,
nurses, social workers, etc. To
learn more about religious communities of Sisters, click on the following
link:
Religious
Communities of Sisters in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Members of Secular Institutes take vows
of poverty, chastity and obedience. They
are a leaven in society, and quietly bear witness to Christ “in the
marketplac
e” - wherever they are employed.
They are consecrated laity mingling
in the secular world. Generally
members live alone or with their families and manage their own finances.
They do not live in community as do members of religious orders.
Periodically, they come together for retreats, meetings and renewal.
In 1947 Pope Pius XII gave official
approval to Secular Institutes as an original form of consecrated life
within the Church. Since
that time, the number of Church-approved Secular Institutes worldwide has
grown from 40 to 200, with a membership of nearly 60,000.
There are 26 institutes in the United States which have been formally
approved by the Church. To learn more about Secular Institutes click on the
following links:
Members
are
dedicated men and women who belong to organizations which are neither
religious orders nor secular institutes. Many
Associations wish to remain this way - as lay associations or apostolic groups. Some
others aspire to become religious orders or Secular Institutes.
For a better understanding of Associations of the Faithful,
click on the following links:
CHURCH
VOCATION RESOURCES
