The whole Church is a priestly people. Through Baptism all the faithful share in the priesthood of Christ. This participation is called the “common priesthood of the faithful.” Based on this common priesthood and ordered to its service, there exists another participation in the mission of Christ: the ministry conferred by the sacrament of Holy Orders, where the task is to serve in the name and in the person of Christ the Head in the midst of the community.
The ministerial priesthood differs in essence from the common priesthood of the faithful because it confers a sacred power for the service of the faithful. the ordained ministers exercise their service for the People of God by teaching (munus docendi), divine worship (munus liturgicum) and pastoral governance (munus regendi).
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1591-1592
If you think you may have a vocation to be either a permanent deacon or a priest then please come to see the parish priest to have a talk with him and to find out more about being a priest. More information about the various vocations that God creates us for can be found on the Archdiocese of Southwark website (rcsouthwark.co.uk/vocations).