Church Leadership
This is the sacrament that includes deacons, priests, and bishops
What is holy orders?
The gift of self to God through public profession of the evangelical counsels
What is religious life?
These counsels are called “evangelical” because they come from the example and teachings found here.
What is the Gospel?
Who are the baptized members of the Church who are not ordained or religious?
Who are the laity?
Explain how an annulment is not "Catholic divorce."
A divorce says: “We were really married… but now we’re ending it.”
An annulment says: “Everyone thought this was a real marriage… but something essential was missing from the very beginning, so it was never a true marriage in the first place.”
Think of it like this. If someone tries to bake a cake but forgets the eggs, it might look like a cake when it comes out of the oven, but it was never actually a real cake because a key ingredient was missing from the start.
An annulment is the Church saying: “When we look back carefully, one of the ‘ingredients’ that makes a real marriage was never there.”
An annulment is not saying:
“We don’t love each other anymore”
“We fight too much”
“We want to break up”
A Catholic way to get out of marriage
Those are reasons for divorce, not annulment.
Ordained ministers: bishops, priests, and deacons
What are the clergy?
Free, deliberate promises made to God
What are vows?
Giving up earthly possessions in order to follow Christ
What is poverty?
How the lay person lives their vocation in the world
What is serving God through work, family, and daily life in the world?
What does indissolubility of marriage mean?
It means that marriage should not be broken.
Those who are in this level of holy orders are deacons
What is the diaconate?
Community of religious who serve in society through public service
What is an active order?
Surrendering one’s personal preferences to the will of God through a superior
What is obedience?
Why might people choose to remain in the single life?
What is to serve God more freely, discern, or due to life circumstances?
What was the name of the couple who have had several children become saints- and are saints themselves?
Saints Louis and Zelie Martin
Those who are in this level of holy orders are priests
What is the presbyterate?
Community of religious who are withdrawn from society and serve through prayer
What is a contemplative order?
Remaining unmarried for the sake of the Kingdom
What is chastity?
What are two things that may help a person decide their vocation?
What are prayer, gifts, desires, guidance, opportunities?
Why should marriage be between one man and one woman?
It reflects God’s design for life and procreation.
Those who are in this level of holy orders are bishops
What is the episcopate?
Giving oneself completely to God by surrendering the good of marriage
What is celibacy?
Why would someone choose to take on the evangelical counsels?
Some people don’t just want to follow Jesus; they want to live like Jesus as closely as possible.
Most Christians try to love God while also having:
their own stuff,
their own plans,
and maybe a spouse and family.
That’s good and holy! But some people feel called to say: “God, I want You to be my whole life. Not part of it. All of it.”
Why do people do this? Because they want:
fewer distractions
a simpler life
to depend completely on God
to be a living example that God is enough
It’s like turning the volume all the way up on following Jesus.
What are the four things love must be to be authentic?
Free, total, faithful, and fruitful
Why can't women be priests?
Jesus chose men as apostles and the Church follows His example. This doesn't mean that Jesus thinks men are better than women. It means that there are different roles for men and women in the Church.