Holy Orders and Religious Life

Each of us has a call - a vocation - to be holy as a married or single lay person, or as a priest, deacon, or a religious brother or sister. God offers to everyone the special graces required to fulfill their calling. Through prayer, vocation retreats, workshops and preaching in the church parishes, the Office of Church Vocations strives to strengthen parishioners' relationships with God to ensure that they are filled with the grace necessary to fulfill their calling.

Catholics who feel called to support the ministry of the Office of Church Vocations can join the Serra Club to pray for vocations and affirm the clergy and religious as they seek to submit themselves to Christ through their vocations.

Elijah Cup Vocations Ministry

Our parish has a vocations prayer ministry called the Elijah Cup. Each week this chalice is taken home by a family to pray for vocations in our parish and the Catholic Church. If you are interested in taking the Elijah Cup home to pray for vocations, please contact the Church Office at 318-445-3693.

Bishops

The bishops are the chief teachers of the Church. They are called to make sure that the faithful receive the teachings of Jesus and the beliefs of our faith. The bishops help us to understand and live out these teachings. The bishops are the chief leaders and pastors of the church have authority in their dioceses, and together with the pope they are the pastors of the whole church.

Priests

There are two kinds of priests: diocesan priests and religious priests. Religious priests are those who belong to religious communities. Diocesan priests are ordained to serve in a diocese. They usually serve in parishes. But diocesan priests may also serve in hospitals, schools, the military, prisons, or other institutions.

Religious priests serve wherever their communities send them. They usually take the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.

Deacons

Deacons can be married or single and often have an occupation and a family in addition to duties assigned to them as a deacon.  Deacons are called to the ministry of ministry of service in the diocese. In this diocese, a deacon must be 35 years old to be ordained.

If you or someone you know is considering a vocation, please feel free to contact one of the priests or deacon here in our parish or you may contact the following representatives for the diocese.

Contact Information

Prayer for Vocations

"Heavenly Father, bless your Church with an abundance of holy and zealous priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. Make us a kind and understanding family so that we will help one another discover our vocations and follow them faithfully. Form us all in the likeness of your Son so that in Him, with Him and through Him, we may love You more deeply and serve you more faithfully, always and everywhere. With Mary we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."