April 16, 2011

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY— Fourteen seminarians were installed as lectors or acolytes during a Mass March 26 in the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great at the Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr presided.

The ceremony — the institution of ministers — is an official, permanent commissioning by the archbishop of people to serve as readers and acolytes and is an important step on the path to the priesthood.

Among the duties instituted lectors, seminarians in Theology I, may perform are to: proclaim the Scriptures at Mass and at the celebration of sacraments, coordinate and train other readers and prepare people for the reception of the sacraments.

Among the duties acolytes, seminarians in Theology II, perform are: assist the deacon and priest at Mass, distribute holy Communion as an auxiliary minister, lead Communion services, train other altar servers and special ministers of the Eucharist and carry out eucharistic exposition in the absence of priest or deacon.

CT photos by E.L. Hubbard

Ethan Moore of Sacred Heart Parish in McCartyville, kneels before the archbishop.	The newly commissioned lectors and acolytes pose for a photo with Archbishop Schnurr. Pictured from left in the front row are Adrian J. Hilton, Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr and Paul A. Schreiner. In the middle row from left are Andrew P. Cordonnier, Ethan M. Moore,  William A. Meininger, Christopher R. Conlon, Eric M. Wood and Matthew C. Frisbee. In the back row from left are James J. Riehle, Brian W. Phelps, Jerome R. Bishop, Daniel W. Finnerty, John S. Ettinger and Craig A. McHenry.
Jerome Bishop of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Parish in Springfield, kneels before Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr.