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  "Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.  He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.  No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God."
  (Hebrews 5: 1-4a)
   

  The whole Church is a priestly people.  Through Baptism all the faithful share in the priesthood of Christ.  This participation is called the "common priesthood of the faithful."  Based on this common priesthood and ordered to its service, there exists another participation in the mission of Christ: the ministry conferred by the sacrament of Holy Orders, where the task is to serve in the name and in the person of Christ the Head in the midst of the community.  (CCC 1591)
  
  The Church confers the sacrament to Holy Orders on baptized men, whose suitablity for the exercise of the ministry has been duly recognized.  Church authority alone has the responsibility and right to call someone to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. (CCC 1598)

  
  For more information on Vocations and Vocations Awareness click here.