On Friday, August 8th, Bishop Folda celebrated Vespers with the Admission to Candidacy and Holy Mass with the Installation of Lectors and Acolytes for our seminarians. Kade Palmer and Matthew Samson were admitted to Candidacy, Matthew Follis and William Gerads were installed as Lectors, and Paul Zach was installed as an Acolyte.
A note on what this means for each of these men:
Candidacy
A man entering seminary is initially an aspirant, exploring his calling to the priesthood and seeking clarity. After a period of discernment, he petitions the bishop to become a candidate once he has gained a firm conviction that he is called to this vocation. This formal step signifies a deepening commitment and a more stable, peaceful readiness to continue with priestly formation.Lector
A lector is a person specially appointed to proclaim the scripture readings during Mass. While the Second Vatican Council allowed lay people to perform this role, the Church still retains it as a formal ministry for those in priestly formation. This appointment, which typically occurs before a seminarian’s second year of theology, serves as a crucial step in his journey toward one day speaking all the texts of the Mass. If a man who has been formally installed as a lector by the bishop attends Mass, it is his proper role to proclaim the scriptural readings.Acolyte
An acolyte is a layman tasked with distributing Holy Communion, a role historically reserved for priests. While the Second Vatican Council allowed lay people to assist as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the ministry of acolyte is still formally retained for men preparing for the priesthood. An acolyte can distribute Communion, take it to the sick, and perform other liturgical duties, and a seminarian is typically installed into this ministry before his third year of theology.
