Each Christian, married, single, cleric, or religious, is called to follow the Lord and to minister to others. This call and mission rises out of our Baptism. The ordained priesthood, the diaconate, and religious life are specific responses to this call within the Christian community. Priests preach the Word, preside over Liturgical worship, and witness through pastoral services. Permanent Deacons are committed to the ministry of the Word and ministry of service. Religious women and men are unique in their vowed expression of the Gospel counsels and the communal dimension of their response. Lay women and men give irreplaceable contribution to the faith community through their involvement in their parish community as well as their daily witness to Gospel values wherever they find themselves. Ministry is most effective when all Christians are committed to the mission of building the Body of Christ. All baptized persons are thus mandated to collaborate in continuing the Lord’s ministry among the people of God.

We are firm believers that it is the total Christian community, centered in the parish, which fosters and calls forth vocations. We believe that all of us, priests, sisters, brothers, deacons, parents, adults, and youth themselves, are vocation ministers who create the climate of faith, love, and reverence essential for vocations to be nurtured. We are called to BE vocations for others.

Seen in this light, the parish community bears a tremendous responsibility for recognizing the gifts of each person, calling forth those persons needed to accomplish its various ministries, and supporting them in the process of making their vocation response.