Nine men who are discerning their vocations for the priesthood and permanent diaconate took another step in that journey on Feb. 20 when they were instituted in the ministry of acolyte by Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost. The liturgy took place in the Chapel of Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe.
As acolytes, the bishop reminded the men and the congregation that they are not simply “super altar servers.” They have significant and necessary duties at the altar, where they assist the deacon and minister to the priest in liturgical celebrations and beyond.
(See photo gallery above.)
The newly instituted acolytes from Saint Mary Seminary for the Diocese of Cleveland are Thomas Richard Byrne, St. Christopher Parish, Rocky River; Gregory John Hovan, St. Rita Parish, Solon; Daniel Thomas Liberatore, St. Gabriel Parish, Concord; Nathan Michael Menkhaus, St. Barnabas Parish, Northfield; John Kramer Scantling, St. Sebastian Parish, Akron; Connor James Trout, St. Basil the Great Parish, Brecksville and Christoper Anthony Villarreal, St. Sebastian Parish, Akron.
Seminarian Thomas William Spridon Martzaklis, St, Paul Parish, North Canton, was instituted for the Diocese of Youngstown and Michael Richard Niese of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Wadsworth is in formation for the permanent diaconate.
As special ministers of the Eucharist, instituted acolytes may give holy Communion to the faithful at the liturgy and to the sick and expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration. Because the acolyte’s ministry places him in the service of the altar, he has a special relationship to the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Church’s life.
Bishop Woost explained that in 1972, Pope St. Paul VI revised and renewed the Church’s official liturgical ministries, establishing lector and acolyte as instituted lay ministries.
“It would be easy for you – and for all of us – to erroneously think that tonight the Church is simply making you super altar servers – faster than a speeding sacristan and able to leap the tallest thurible stand in a single bound,” the bishop quipped. “But nothing could be farther from the truth.”
Authentic liturgical celebrations always lead to action, the bishop explained, “from Mass to mission, from receiving life to giving life.” Jesus gives us life at every liturgy, then he sends us “to give life through, with and in him,” Bishop Woost said.
He reminded the new acolytes that “the Church expects so much more from you because Jesus expects so much more from us. Your ministry can never merely be about performing liturgical functions … in your service to God’s people … you form one body with them; therefore you must show a sincere love for God’s holy people.”
“Our celebration this evening proclaims that your life is an altar, the liturgy is an altar and the world is an altar. As instituted acolytes, you are called to attend to the service of the altar … Therefore, through God’s call and gifts, make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church,” he added.