ministerial priesthood
Those who have been ordained through sacramental ordination share in the priesthood of Christ in a unique way. They are uniquely and intrinsically transformed to represent Christ, the Good Shepherd for God’s people.
In offering their lives to the Father, as do all Christians, they also stand before the Church and minister to the faithful as Christ’ in person.’
In doing so, they teach with the authority of the Church as Christ teaches; the sins they absolve in the Sacrament of Penance Christ forgives; when the Eucharist is celebrated, it is Christ’s offering of himself that becomes present.