In the Catholic Church priests (from the Greek word presbyteros,
meaning older man) are ordained to preach the Word of God, preside over the liturgy and
the celebration of the sacraments, and care for the pastoral needs of the Christian
community. Priests are ordained to the order of Presbyter.
A parish priest (PP) is an ordained minister who is charged with the overall leadership
and pastoral care of one or more parishes. He exercises leadership in those parishes,
under the authority of the bishop, and is the guarantee of the unity of those parishes
with the bishop and hence with the universal Church.
Would you like to search for a priest in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle?
Religious priests belong to Religious Congregations known as Institutes of Consecrated
Life or Societies of Apostolic Life. They live in community and take lifelong vows -
usually vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
