10.4: Priesthood

The priesthood is obviously a vocation. The priest has special responsibilities in the Catholic community.

1. Only a priest is allowed to say mass and administer the sacraments.
2. The priest should be there for his congregation in their times of need.
3. Priests counsel people who need guidance.
4. They are responsible for teaching the faith by word and example.
5. Priests pray for their people.
6. They run the religious life of their parish.

Priests are celibate, which means unmarried, because they have to dedicate their lives to their ministry. In religious orders priests have to go where they are sent at short notice, so being married would cause difficulties. Secular priests, that is those who belong to a diocese, have to move anywhere in their diocese at short notice. This is not as difficult as moving anywhere in the world, but it could be hard on a family. Keeping a family on a small wage would be hard. Others say that as many priests leave to marry, and as some people are deterred from the priesthood by the celibacy rule, allowing priests to marry would provide us with more priests.

Explain why Catholic priests remain celibate.

Do you think priests should be allowed to marry?

Find out how one of your local priests spends his day.

To be successful in your vocation you need dedication. Explain why the life of a priest requires dedication.

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