The priesthood is a sacred vocation wherein a man is ordained to act in the person of Christ, especially through the celebration of the sacraments. The Catechism states:

"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."

Priests are called to shepherd the faithful, preach the Gospel, and administer the sacraments, guiding the Church community in spiritual growth.

Deacons are ordained ministers who serve the Church in various capacities, including charity, preaching, and assisting in liturgical functions. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops explains:

"A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church... Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came 'to serve and not to be served.'"

There are two types of deacons: transitional deacons, who are preparing for priesthood, and permanent deacons, who may be married and serve the Church in a lifelong capacity.

Marriage is a vocation through which a man and a woman form a lifelong partnership of mutual love and openness to life. The Catechism teaches:

"The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws... God himself is the author of marriage."

Through marriage, couples are called to reflect God's love and to nurture their family in faith.

Consecrated life involves a commitment to live according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The Catechism describes it as:

"In the consecrated life, Christ's faithful, moved by the Holy Spirit, propose to follow Christ more nearly, to give themselves to God who is loved above all... to signify and proclaim in the Church the glory of the world to come."

Forms of consecrated life include religious institutes, secular institutes, and societies of apostolic life, each serving the Church through prayer, community life, and various ministries.

Lay vocations encompass the vast majority of the faithful in the Church—men and women who are not ordained or part of consecrated religious life, yet who are fully called to live out their baptismal mission. The Catechism affirms:

"The laity are called to seek the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will... They are called by God to contribute to the sanctification of the world." (CCC 898–900)

Lay people participate in the Church's mission through their work, family life, civic involvement, and service in parish and diocesan ministries. They bring the light of the Gospel into the world by living with integrity, charity, and faith in their everyday lives.

Whether as professionals, parents, educators, artists, or volunteers, lay Catholics are essential to the Church’s evangelizing mission.

Consecrated virginity is one of the oldest forms of consecrated life in the Church. It is a vocation in which a woman commits herself to Christ in a life of perpetual virginity, prayer, and service while living in the world rather than in a religious community.

"From apostolic times Christian virgins, called by the Lord to cling only to Him with greater freedom of heart, body and spirit, have been consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop… and have devoted themselves to the service of the Church." (CCC 922–924)

Consecrated virgins live individually under the pastoral care of their bishop. They participate in the Church’s life through prayer, apostolic service, and witness to the Bride of Christ. This vocation is both ancient and renewed in our time, offering a powerful sign of the Church’s love for Christ and her anticipation of His return.