Holy Orders
The ordained ministry makes the presence of Christ visible in
the community ... in a real person, the priest. In the celebration
of Mass and the consecration of bread and wine, we experience the
unfolding of God's grace in our lives. It is the priest, the one
chosen by God, who makes this possible. "In the service of the
ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his
Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock ... Teacher of
Truth" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1548).
St. Joseph Parish enjoys the great gift of priests who help each
person and every family "respond to the call to holiness and
fulfill their vocation to transform the world in the spirit of the
Gospel ... encouraging them to see the Gospel as the
principal force for the renewal of society - the vast and complex
world of politics and economics, but also the world of culture, of
the sciences and the arts" (Pope John Paul II, Springtime of
Evangelization, 76).
The Office of Vocations for the Archdiocese of St. Louis can
provide information and guidance for anyone interested in the
religious life or the priesthood.