Holy Orders

          Holy Orders is a sacrament which is quite often misunderstood.  Some people think it only pertains to priests or deacons.  Orders refers to those who are ordained, so that includes bishops. Religious Orders like the Franciscans or Dominicans are professed men and women.  Some orders do ordain priests, but brothers, monks, or sisters are not ordained.  They do profess and consecrate their lives to God, but they cannot do the same sort of ministries as a priest because their vows are made, but the order is not passed down by the laying on of hands by the bishop.
          For more information on becoming a priest or deacon in the Archdiocese of Chicago, please talk to either Father Michael Novick, our pastor, or you may call the Vocations Office at (312) 534-8298 or visit ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO VOCATIONS OFFICE.  You can also find information at ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO or CHICAGO PRIEST.  

          To contact Fr. Mike, please call the Parish Office at (708) 748-6090 for an appointment, or email him at thepastor@slotoole.org.

Archdiocesan Diaconal Vision

          Holy Orders presents an icon of Christ that needs bishop, priest and deacon to be complete.  Therefore, it is the goal of our Archbishop that every parish and agency have a Deacon assigned so that this complete icon may be present.  “A parish, which is a local incarnation of the Church and of Jesus, is not sacramentally whole if it is without either Priest or Deacon.”

Discernment of Diaconal Candidates

          Each parish is encouraged to discern candidates to enter Diaconal formation.  Parishes with deacons already ministering are reminded to continue the discernment process for future candidates as serving Deacons advance in age, or consider relocation.

          To learn more about the Diaconate Program, please visit the Office of the Diaconate.