Four seminarians from Saint Mary Seminary were instituted in the ministry of acolyte during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Nelson Perez on Feb. 1 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership.
The newly instituted acolytes and their parishes are David Chojnacki, St. Mary Parish, Hudson; Dominic Gideon, Communion of Saints Parish, Cleveland Heights; and Chris Stein, Immaculate Conception Parish, Madison. They will serve the Diocese of Cleveland. Jaehyun Ryu of the Archdiocese of Daegu, South Korea, also was instituted as an acolyte. The Diocese of Cleveland and the Archdiocese of Daegu have a relationship under which some Korean students come to Cleveland to study at the seminary and work in the diocese before returning to Daegu.
This institution to the ministry of acolyte is a step on the path towards priesthood for these men. Their new ministry includes assisting the priest and deacon at the altar during Mass. They will serve during liturgies, help distribute communion and purify vessels.
Bishop Perez preached the homily during the liturgy. He invited the men to enter deeper into the mystery of Christ, deepening their love, understanding and passion for the Eucharist. He said that as human beings, we all love to complain. He recalled times when he was in the seminary and heard fellow seminarians complain. But he said that God meets human complaining with generosity and patience. He gives us bread from the finest wheat: the Eucharist.
The bishop then reflected on the readings where Paul reminds the early Christians of Christ’s instructions to “do this in remembrance of me.” He said that the Church has done a great job of doing this -- celebrating the Eucharist faithfully at Mass. Yet it is not enough to simply do this. We also must enter into the mystery of the Eucharist. He warned the seminarians that familiarity breeds contempt. He encouraged the men to never grow familiar in their relationship with the Eucharist. “Be in awe of the mystery you are being called to serve,” he said.
There was a reception at the CPL dining room after the liturgy for the newly instituted acolytes to celebrate with their friends and family.