Vocations

“Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536)

“The sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred by the laying on of hands followed by a solemn prayer of consecration asking God to grant the ordinand the graces of the Holy Spirit required for his ministry. Ordination imprints an indelible sacramental character.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1597)

Visit the Diocese of Richmond's Vocation page!

To learn more and search for a specific order, visit: https://www.religiousministries.com/

Diocese of Richmond Seminarians: https://richmondvocations.org/meet-our-seminarians/

Religious Sisters in Virginia

Religious Communities in Virginia

Dominician Sisters of Hawthorne: https://www.hawthorne-dominicans.org/

Monastaries of Cloistered Nuns: https://cloisteredlife.com/directory

The Congregation of Major Superiors of Women Religious

Imagine Sisters is a web movement that aims to inspire the imaginations of young women to consider the beautiful call to consecrated life as a sister: Imagine Sisters

"For several decades and in growing numbers, lay men and women have been undertaking a wide variety of roles in Church ministries. Many of these roles presume a significant degree of preparation, formation, and professional competence. They require the authorization of the hierarchy in order for the person to serve publicly in the local church. They entrust to laity responsibilities for leadership in particular areas of ministry and thereby draw certain lay persons into close mutual collaboration with the pastoral ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons.

These men and women of every race and culture who serve in parishes, schools, diocesan agencies, and Church institutions are identified by many different position titles. In "Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord" they are identified in a generic way as "lay ecclesial ministers." This reflects on what they have in common and to propose some understandings of lay ecclesial ministry situated within our social and ecclesial environment and within the framework of the Church's belief, teaching, and pastoral practice."

https://www.usccb.org/committees/laity-marriage-family-life-youth/lay-ecclesial-ministry