Institution of Acolyte

Last Sunday, I was instituted an Acolyte, along with the other fifty-two seminarians in my class.  The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal James Stafford and we were all excited to move to the final ministry before the Diaconate Ordination in October 2012.

The following is from the North American College’s website.

Fifty-three seminarians of the Pontifical North American College were instituted to the Ministry of Acolyte during the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist on March 6, 2011.

His Eminence James Francis Cardinal Stafford, Major Penitentiary Emeritus and former Archbishop of Denver, celebrated the Mass and instituted the new acolytes. After handing to each seminarian the gold paten used in the celebration of the Eucharist, the Cardinal said, “Take this vessel of bread for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your lives worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.”

In his homily, Cardinal Stafford explained, “The New Evangelization means reclaiming the visibility, the holiness of the Church. Your great challenge is the renewal of parish life…which is a community of believers and a community of forgiveness.”

These seminarians have now received both the ministry of Lector and Acolyte in anticipation of their diaconal ordinations and, God-willing, priestly ordination. As the rite indicates, an acolyte is charged with assisting at the celebration of the Eucharist, purifying the sacred vessels and when needed to assist with the distribution of Holy Communion.

Cardinal Stafford reminded the acolytes, “You have prayed that the door may be opened to you…I pray that you may live this privileged grace to be among the community of believers.”