Celebrating Milestones
of Seminarians This SpringThere are three important steps for seminarians discerning and preparing for the priesthood. These steps may vary depending on the seminary. They are Candidacy. Lector, and Acolyte.
Candidacy is the formal recognition by the Church of a seminarian’s commitment for Holy Orders. *
The step of Lector gives the seminarian the privilege of “proclaiming the readings from Scripture (except for the Gospel).”
The Ministry of Acolyte is the final ministry seminarians receive before ordination as a transitional deacon. The instituted acolyte is appointed to assist the deacon and serve the priest in the celebration of the liturgy.
The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is blessed to celebrate all three steps taken by five of our seminarians in April.
Seminarian Nathan Schmidt was installed as Lector at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, on Friday, April 4th, preparing him to proclaim Scripture and lead the faithful in worship.
On Saturday, April 5, three more of our Mount St. Mary’s seminarians Michael Aiello, Bryan Tedeschi, and Dominic Re were celebrated and instituted as Acolytes.
*At 10 am today, a special Mass will honor Pope St. John Paul II College Seminary’s Joe Derico, who with his family, home parishioners, and friends will celebrate his admission to candidacy for Holy Orders. Watch for an update here on social media and more in your April 17th FaithInWV e-bulletin.
