St Columba's Catholic Church, Culloden
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    • Who was St Columba?
    • A History of St Columba's
    • Laying the Foundations..
    • St Columba's Takes Shape..
    • The New Parish House
    • Fr Domenico Zanre
  • Mass Times
    • ** LENT STATION MASSES 2O18 **
    • *** CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES 2017 ***
    • *** HOLY WEEK MASS TIMES 2017 *** >
      • ** Lent Station Masses 2017 **
    • *** CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES 2016 ***
    • *** HOLY WEEK MASS TIMES 2016 *** >
      • ** Lent Station Masses **
    • *** CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES 2015 ***
  • Bulletins
  • SYNOD 2021-2023
  • ** Coronavirus **
  • Me - a Catholic?
    • Returning to the Church?
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Holy Communion
    • Penance
    • Anointing of the Sick
    • Marriage
    • Holy Orders
  • Events
    • OBERAMMERGAU 2022
    • ** Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi **
    • Oberammergau Passion Play 2020
    • Pilgrimage to Barcelona and Catalonia, 2-6 September 2019
    • Priestly Ordination of Dominic Nwaigwe
    • Scalan Mass 2019
    • Pentecost 2019
    • ** First Holy Communions, 2019 **
    • Easter Vigil 2019
    • The Seven Last Words
    • Bene Merenti Joy!
    • Parish Holy Land Pilgrimage, 12-19 November 2018
    • ** BISHOP BARRON IN EDINBURGH! **
    • ** ANNIVERSARY MASS **
    • ** LENT WITH DANTE **
    • Rome Pilgrimage, 8-12 October 2017
    • John Drew's 90th Birthday, 23 July 2017
    • From Genesis to Jesus
    • First Holy Communions, 2017
    • Feast of St Columba, 10 June 2017
    • "Come Down O Love Divine": Living our Faith with and in the Holy Spirit - Saturday 3 June 2017
    • Easter Sunday Mass, 16 April 2017
    • Behold the Lamb of God: Reflections for Holy Week - Saturday 8 April 2017
    • Diocesan Chrism Mass at St Mary's Inverness - 6 April 2017
    • Solemnity of the Annunciation: Blessing of the new outdoor altar by Bishop Hugh Gilbert, OSB - 25 March 2017
    • Theresa and Iain Hamilton: 40th Wedding Anniversary - 12 February 2017
    • Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, 9-16 January 2017
    • Ordination to the Priesthood of Rev. Andrzej Niski, 6 January 2017
    • Inaugural Hogmanay Dance at St Columba's, 31 December 2016
    • Children's Christmas Party, 10 December 2016
    • Dedication of a Memorial Plaque to Sr Barbara Campbell LSU, 8 December 2016
    • Day of Mission for Young Believers, Stratherrick, 3 December 2016
    • Morning of Renewal for Readers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, 19 November 2016
    • Coffee Morning in aid of Mary's Meals, Saturday 29 October 2016
    • Iona - Parish Year of Mercy Pilgrimage, 10-14 October 2016
    • Highland Deanery Annual Pilgrimage - St Mary's, Beauly, 10 September 2016
    • "Saint Mother Teresa: Missionary of Mercy", Saturday 3 September 2016
    • Parish Trip to Orkney, 6 August 2016
    • Bishop Hugh's Pastoral Letter on the recent Brexit Referendum
    • Diaconate Ordination of Andrzej Niski, Saturday 2 July 2016
    • Scalan 300th Anniversary Mass, 3 July 2016
    • First Holy Communion Mass, 26 June 2016
    • Confirmation Mass, 19 June 2016
    • Power of Grace Retreat for Teenagers: Saturday 11 June
    • Pluscarden Pentecost Lectures, 17-19 May 2016
    • Our Lady of May at Stratherrick, 14 May 2016
    • Divine Mercy at Stratherrick: Wednesday 6 April 2016
    • Book Launch of "Like a Blazing Fire", Saturday 9 April 2016
    • Thirsting for Mercy: Journeying with Christ through Holy Week - Monday 21 March 2016
    • Inter-Diocesan World Youth Day Gathering: 20 March 2016
    • "Blooming Youth" - A Day for Teenagers at Stratherrick: Saturday 5 March
    • Day Workshop – “The Sacrament of Confession: Reconciling Ourselves with Our Merciful Father”: Saturday 27 February
    • "Mary, Mother of Mercy" - Day of Reflection at Stratherrick, 8 December 2015
    • "World Youth Day in Culloden", 5 September 2015
    • Highland Deanery Pilgrimage to Tain, 22 August 2015
    • The McLellan Report, 18 August 2015
    • Installation Mass of Fr Domenico, 12 August 2015
    • AGAP Theatre presents "The Martyrdom of Saint John Ogilvie" by Stephen Callaghan
    • St John Ogilvie 400th Anniversary Mass
  • Contact Us
  • "Catholicism" Series
  • "PIVOTAL PLAYERS" SERIES
  • Groups
    • FIRs (Friends in Retirement)
    • Secular Franciscan Order (OFS)
    • Our Altar Servers
    • Iona Group for Teenagers
  • ** Gaudete et Exsultate **
  • ** Amoris Laetitia **
    • St Columba's "Amoris Laetitia" Reading Group
  • Jubilee Year of Mercy
    • YoM Evenings of Reflection
  • Vocations
    • Single Life
    • Married Life
    • Diaconate
    • Priesthood >
      • Good Shepherd Sunday, 7 May 2017
      • Good Shepherd Sunday, 17 April 2016
      • Pope Francis & The Scots College Community - Private Audience, 14 April 2016
    • Religious Life
  • Fundraising
  • Links
Picture

Rogier Van Der Weyden,
The Seven Sacraments (detail)
                                                   
Holy Orders


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 chosen people was constituted by God as "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." But within the people of Israel, God chose one of the twelve tribes, that of Levi, and set it apart for liturgical service; God himself is its inheritance. A special rite consecrated the beginnings of the priesthood of the Old Covenant. The priests are "appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, § 1539)

Everything that the priesthood of the Old Covenant prefigured finds its fulfilment in Christ Jesus, the "one mediator between God and men." The Christian tradition considers Melchizedek, "priest of God Most High," as a prefiguration of the priesthood of Christ, the unique "high priest after the order of Melchizedek"; "holy, blameless, unstained," "by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified," that is, by the unique sacrifice of the cross.


The redemptive sacrifice of Christ is unique, accomplished once for all; yet it is made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Church. The same is true of the one priesthood of Christ; it is made present through the ministerial priesthood without diminishing the uniqueness of Christ's priesthood: "Only Christ is the true priest, the others being only his ministers."

Christ, high priest and unique mediator, has made of the Church "a kingdom, priests for his God and Father." The whole community of believers is, as such, priestly. The faithful exercise their baptismal priesthood through their participation, each according to his own vocation, in Christ's mission as priest, prophet, and king. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation the faithful are "consecrated to be . . . a holy priesthood."

The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of bishops and priests, and the common priesthood of all the faithful participate, "each in its own proper way, in the one priesthood of Christ." While being "ordered one to another," they differ essentially. In what sense? While the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace --a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit--, the ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood. It is directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians. The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church. For this reason it is transmitted by its own sacrament, the sacrament of Holy Orders. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§ 1544-1547)

RC Diocese of Aberdeen Charitable Trust.  A registered Scottish Charity Number SC005122
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