By Brenda Hopf
Connecting Liturgy and Life
Editor’s note: For 2026, the weekly “Connecting Faith and Life” column has been renamed “Connecting Liturgy and Life.” The column consists of reflections on Part Two of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), which focuses on the Liturgy and the Sacraments.
cf. CCC 1562-1576
When I think of the presbyterate (the bishop and body of priests within a diocese), I believe it could easily be misunderstood as being a kind of “pecking order.” During the ordination rite, the one being ordained makes a promise of obedience to the bishop. One could interpret that to simply mean the bishop is his boss and the priest will do as he is told. The Church certainly has an order of authority, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches in numbers 1562–1568, but this order is not simply about status or power, but is rather ordered toward communion and service. The presbyterate is, at its heart, a true brotherhood, working in communion for the salvation of souls.
I can relate this in some ways to my 42 years of working in a factory. There was an order there as well. I worked under a supervisor, who in turn worked under someone who also worked under someone, all the way up to the CEO of the company. While there was a “pecking order,” we still had to work together, communicate and depend upon one another to use our different responsibilities and skills to accomplish a common goal. The success of the work depended upon cooperation throughout the chain of command.
In a similar way, the priest receives his ministry through the bishop and is called to be the bishop’s co-worker. CCC 1562 reminds us that priests share in the bishop’s apostolic mission, while CCC 1567 teaches that priests, together with their bishop, form one priestly college, the presbyterium. The priest therefore does not simply work under the bishop; he works with him. His obedience is not merely submission to someone higher in rank; it is an expression of communion with the bishop and participation in the apostolic mission handed on to the bishop by Christ.
The comparison with factory work can only go so far, though. The priestly brotherhood is so much more. In the factory, we worked together toward an important practical goal. Our goal was geared toward the creation of material things. In the presbyterate, priests are united in a mission that reaches far beyond anything human work alone could accomplish. Through Holy Orders, the priest is united to Christ himself and acts “in the person of Christ,” participating in Christ’s authority and mission, which is carried out within the communion of the priestly brotherhood.
During the ordination of a priest, an expression of this brotherhood takes place during the laying on of hands. The bishop first imposes hands upon the candidate, followed by the other priests who are present. The newly ordained is welcomed into a sacramental brotherhood that existed before him and will continue after him. Then there is also the bishop’s kiss of peace, which shows that the bishop receives the new priest as a co-worker, son, brother and friend. This is all much deeper than being part of a workplace team. It is a communion of men who share one priesthood and one mission passed on by Jesus Christ himself.
At the center of this brotherhood is the Eucharist. CCC 1566 teaches that the Eucharist is the center and source of the priest’s ministry. Every time he celebrates Mass, the priest receives renewed strength to preach, shepherd, forgive, serve and give himself for God’s people.
After 42 years of working in a factory with others toward a common goal, I understand something of the value of teamwork, cooperation and trusting those with whom I worked. The presbyterate reveals a far greater unity, one that I see at work right here in the Diocese of Evansville. It is obvious that it is not simply men working together; it is brothers united in Christ, co-workers of Bishop (Joseph M.) Siegel, drawing their strength from the Eucharist and giving themselves to the mission entrusted to them by Jesus himself. We are truly blessed that our presbyterate is not merely a “pecking order,” but a brotherhood in communion — with Christ, with the bishop, with fellow priests and with the whole Church.
Brenda Hopf is a member of Divine Mercy Parish.