Nineteen men who are preparing for ordination to the diaconate in coming years marked milestones in their vocation journeys Feb. 20.
During a Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Hamilton, he instituted nine men into the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte and another 10 into the Ministry of Lector.
PHOTO GALLERY: Institution of Lectors and Acolytes
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell told the newly-installed lectors and acolytes, “Today is not simply about functions you will be charged to perform at this point in your faith journey. It is about faith in the Lord Jesus.”
“I ask you, my brothers, to take to heart the ministries that you receive today,” Bishop O’Connell said.
During the rite, each candidate knelt before the Bishop and was handed a symbol of the ministry to which he was being instituted, a Bible or a ciborium with bread, as the Bishop exhorts the men to fulfill the ministry faithfully.
The Bishop explained that lectors will “read the Word of God – the source and subject of our faith and ministry – to God’s people.
“You will speak of it; you will teach it; you will guide others in understanding it,” he said. “But to be believed you must understand it and live what it demands of you.
“Jesus Christ is the Word you will offer. Know him in the Word,” the Bishop said.
Acolytes, the Bishop continued, “will be given the care and custody of the altar and what it contains and offers: the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
“In this sacramental ministry, you will give to the faithful the greatest treasure we have, the Real Presence, the sacramental presence of the Son of God who gave himself to us and who gave his life for us,” he said.
The men who make up the Class of 2026 were instituted into both the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte. They are: Anthony C. Cullen, St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel; James D. de Poortere, St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake; Chris I. Ellis Jr., Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune; Gerard D. Ford, St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton; Errol Giordani, St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro; Steven A. Griggs, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting; Christopher J. McNicholas, St. Mary Parish, Middletown; Jeffrey B. Miceli, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, and John N. Vitale, St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro.
Members of the Class of 2027 were instituted into the Ministry of Lector. They are: Stan T. DelaPaz, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown; Joseph G. Ferrise, St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro; Timothy P. Fox, Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune; Fernando H. Machado, St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold; David B. Madigan, St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square; James M. McKnight, Holy Cross Parish, Rumson; Graham A. Mulholland, St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson; Arismendy Rodriguez, St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton; Leo L. Rosales, St. David the King Parish, Princeton Junction, and Beniamino Tramo, St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton.