"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt 4:19)

In the Creed, we say we believe in "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church." The Catholic Church is Apostolic because the authority that Jesus gave to His apostles has been passed down through ordination from bishop to bishop, directly from the apostles themselves.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matt. 28: 18-20). Jesus passed on His authority to the apostles, who passed it on to their successors. St. Paul even reminded the young bishop Timothy to practice his authority well: "Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you." (1 Tim 4:14)

The priesthood and diaconate are special callings, and absolutely central to the life of the Church. The most important duty of the priest is to give us Jesus Himself in the Eucharist.

Do you think you might be called? Please speak to one of our priests or deacons. Call the rectory office at 215-822-0179. 

"The priest is not a priest for himself - he is for you. After God, the priest is everything." St. John Vianney

"(You think) perhaps the sole ends of the priesthood are to say Mass, and to recite the Office, and then to live like seculars? No, the end for which God has instituted the priesthood has been to appoint on earth public persons to watch over the honor of his divine majesty, and to procure the salvation of souls." St. Alphonsus de Liguori

"The power of the priest is the power of the divine person; for the transubstantiation of the bread requires as much power as the creation of the world." St. Bernardine of Siena