The Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Roman Catholic Church is granted to those males who are seeking to become either a priest or a deacon. Men who are seeking ordination to the priesthood must not be married. Men seeking ordination as permanent deacons can be married, but they promise to not remarry if their wives die.

The numbers of vocations to the priesthood and to the religious life are not as numerous in the United States as they had been years ago, but worldwide such vocations have increased. The number of permanent deacons in the United States is quite large, over 14,000 deacons, the largest population of deacons in the world.

It is the responsibility of all Catholics to pray for vocations to ministry within the Church. If your child, grandchild or even the child next door shows an interest in becoming a priest, a deacon, a religious man / woman, or a lay minister, encourage them and PRAY for their vocation

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