1.5 – Catholicism People

Beliefs Practices Places and Things People

Important People in the Catholic Faith Pope Cardinal Bishop Priest Deacon Laity Religious

Important People in the Catholic Church ORDAINED: - Pope - Cardinals - Bishops (& Archbishops) - Priests - Deacons LAITY (NON-ORDAINED): - Everybody else (including religious-order brothers & sisters/nuns)

Ordination (Holy Orders). One of the Seven Sacraments in the Catholic Church – this is how a person becomes a priest or deacon. The ceremony is similar to a wedding in that it involves making a sacred commitment, in this case, to serve God and the Church. At Ordination, a bishop lays hands on the head of the candidate to become a priest or deacon. All people who are not ordained are part of the laity. This includes religious brothers and sisters (nuns).

Steps Up the Catholic Ladder 1.Laity 2.Religious Order Brother or Sister/Nun 3. Deacon 4. Priest 5. Bishop 6. Cardinal 7. Pope

People in the Catholic Church Everyone baptized Catholic starts out as part of the LAITY. - Some Laity choose to become nuns (sisters) or brothers. A male member of the laity may study to become a PRIEST or DEACON. - Priests and Deacons are the FIRST level of the ORDAINED. - Priests celebrate Mass. Deacons help the priests. Some priests become BISHOPS. - The Pope appoints bishops. - They supervise all churches in a specific geographical area, known as a diocese. Some bishops become CARDINALS. - The Pope appoints Cardinals to be his advisors. - Together, they form the COLLEGE OF CARDINALS. - Their most important job: When a Pope dies or resigns, they must elect a new Pope. Often, but not always, they choose one of their own. The POPE is the top leader of the Catholic Church (except for Jesus) - First Pope was St. Peter - Pope Today: Pope Francis

PRIESTS Cannot get married. Preside & celebrate at Mass, where they “consecrate” (bless) bread and wine, which is changed into the Body and Blood of Christ, and preach. Hear Confessions (Sacrament of Reconciliation). Anoint sick (Sacrament of Anointing of Sick) Preside at marriages, funerals DEACONS Can be married. CANNOT celebrate Mass or consecrate bread and wine, but CAN preach. CANNOT hear confessions. CANNOT anoint the sick – but can visit the sick and take them communion. CAN preside at marriages and funerals.

Diocese (or Archdiocese): Geographic region in the church headed by a bishop (or archbishop). Examples: Diocese of Oakland, Archdiocese of San Francisco

Cathedral: The church of the bishop, because it contains his official “chair” – “cathedra.” Every diocese (or archdiocese) has ONLY ONE cathedral.

Religious Orders (Communities): A group of men (and/or women), created by a founder, who take “vows” (promises) to unite their lives into a spiritual family, to pray and serve the worldwide church. Example: Holy Cross, founded by Fr. Basil Moreau in France in Many other religious communities exist: Benedictines, Franciscans, Dominicans, Salesians, Christian Brothers, etc.

Vows: Sacred promises made to God. Example: Marriage Vows. Celibacy: Vow not to get married. Made by all priests and members of religious orders. Obedience: Vow to obey God and church leaders. Made by all priests, deacons and members of religious orders. Poverty: Vow to share all earnings and property in common with others in your religious community, and not to own or earn anything on your own. Made by all members of religious orders, but NOT by diocesan priests or deacons.

Two Kinds of Priests DIOCESAN PRIESTS – They are ordained by the bishop of a particular diocese, to work in that diocese and for that bishop. A bishop is appointed by the Pope. RELIGIOUS ORDER PRIESTS – They are ordained as members of a religious order, or community, such as Holy Cross. They work in ministries of their religious order. They collaborate with the local bishop of a diocese where a ministry of the religious order is located. Members of religious orders elect their leaders.

Other Important Names & Titles BROTHER – A man who joins a religious community and takes vows, but who chooses not to become a priest. SISTER/NUN – A woman who joins a religious community and takes vows. MONK – A religious order priest or brother who lives in a monastery – a house dedicated to prayer. ABBOT – The head of a monastery, elected by monks. HERMIT – A person who chooses to live alone for spiritual reasons. ASCETIC – A person who practices strict spiritual disciplines such as fasting, long periods of prayer, privations (giving up things), etc. NOVICE – A person who spends a year at a Novitiate, a place of prayer run by a religious order, in order to discern whether to join that order. SEMINARIAN – A person studying theology as preparation for becoming a priest. PATRIARCH – The title of important bishops in the Eastern Orthodox Church.