From The Unchanging Heart of the Priesthood
This ‘configuration’ of the ordained priest to Christ was summed up by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk in his own contribution to the 1990 synod on priesthood, as follows: ‘The priest is a member of the Christian faithful who has been permanently configured by Christ through holy orders to serve the Church, in collaboration with the local bishops, as representative and agent of Christ, the head of the Church, and therefore as representative and agent of the Church community before God and the world.’ This priestly configuration with Christ lasts throughout the earthly life of the priest, and there is every reason to conclude that, as with Baptism and Confirmation, the permanence of this consecration continues into eternal life.