The Ordinariate maintains three grades of holy orders.
1. Diaconate
A. To be considered for the diaconate, an individual must meet the following qualifications:
- Be a baptized, chrismated/confirmed Christian
- Be twenty-three years old
- Have completed a formation and education program acceptable to the Ordinariate
- Pass the Standard Examination for Diaconal Ordination
- Return a current, clean background check
B. Upon ordination, a deacon is empowered - subject to the granting of faculties by the Ordinary - to:
- Preach
- Lead public celebrations of the Daily Office
- Lead public celebrations of Communion from the Reserved Sacrament when necessary
- Baptize (but not to Chrismate)
- Bless civil marriages (but not to bestow the Nuptial Blessing)
- Lay hands upon the sick (but not to Anoint)
- Bury the Dead
2. Presbyterate
A. To be considered for the presbyterate, an individual must be a deacon, and then meet the following additional qualifications:
- Be twenty-four years old
- Have completed a minimum of six months as a deacon
- Pass the Standard Examination for Presbyteral Ordination
- Return a current, clean background check if the preceding background check is more than 5 years old
B. Upon ordination, a presbyter (commonly called priest) is empowered - subject to the granting of faculties by the Ordinary - to:
- Preach
- Hear confessions and pronounce absolution
- Lead all public liturgical celebrations not requiring a bishop
- Baptize
- Chrismate in the absence of a bishop
- Bless civil marriages and bestow the Nuptial Blessing for those eligible
- Lay hands upon the sick, and to Anoint them
- Consecrate Oil of the Sick in emergency situations
- Bury the Dead
- To confer minor orders at the request of the Ordinary
- To institute lay ministers at the request of the Ordinary
3. Episcopate
A. The qualifications for Episcopal selection and ordination are found in Chapter 6.
B. A bishop, possessing the fullness of the priesthood, is the ordinary minister of Chrismation, administers confirmation, consecrates Holy Oils, and confers Holy Orders.
C. Within the Ordinariate, there is to be no multiplicity of active bishops. The only additional bishop beyond the Ordinary would be a co-adjutor bishop.
D. Notwithstanding the preceding norm, it is recognized that others possessing episcopal orders may seek affiliation with the Ordinariate. In such an instance, while the dignity of their existing episcopal consecration is respected, it does not give them automatic standing beyond that of any existing priest within the Ordinariate.
E. The Ordinary may request a bishop to fulfill a responsibility on his behalf that requires episcopal orders. In such an instance, the authority to carry out the duty is to be communicated by written instrument, and is restricted to the guidance of the Ordinary's request.