圣秩圣事 What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?

圣洗、坚振和圣体圣事是进入天主子民这个大家庭的入门圣事，圣秩圣事就是确
立这个大家庭内各项职务的圣事。因此，这件圣事又可以称为区分圣事(Sacrament of differentiation ) 。

圣秩(ordo)是圣事，藉此圣事，基督所託付给宗徒的使命，得以在教会中继续执行，直到世代的终结。故此，它是宗徒职务的圣事。它包括主教职、司铎职、执事职三个等级。

为了维持教会生活的秩序，必须有各种不同种类的服务。这些服务，当然不能由全体成员，以同一的方式完成，而且，其中有些工作，需要由特别的权柄来完成。

天主子民，作为基督的奥体，亦分享基督的工作，所以，全体天主子民，都有司祭质素，分享基督的司祭、先知和王者的职务。但是，在这种整体性的职务之外，还有特别的司祭职，即主教、司铎和执事职，是透过一项特别宗教礼仪而传授的。因为这是属于教会本质的职务，基于教会圣事性的本质，所以这职务的传授，是属于祝圣的性质而不是纯粹权柄的传授

Those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders — as a deacon, priest or bishop — are consecrated in Christ’s name “to feed the Church by the word and grace of God.” These servants of God are ordained and given a special role in carrying out Christ’s mission and help Christians imitate Christ’s mission of love and justice. These roles include representing Christ, proclaim the Word of God, community building, missionary work, being servants, advocates for the poor, share Catholic social teachings, evangelize, and be witnesses of God. Priests and Bishops preside at Eucharist. For more detailed information, please refer to the Holy Orders Handout from USCCB.

Vocations in the Priesthood and Consecrated Life

If you are interested in the vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, please contact our pastor Fr. Olivera at 408-509-6960 or fr.olivera@gmail.com for spiritual guidance and more information. For further information on vocations, please refer to www.usccb.org