11 MTSM Seminarians Installed in Ministry of Acolyte
11.21.24
The Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, installed 11 Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology (MTSM) seminarians across four sending dioceses in the Ministry of Acolyte on November 20 in the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great. Among the concelebrants was The Most Rev. Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., the Bishop of Charlotte.
During his homily, Archbishop Schnurr referenced St. John the Baptist and St. Peter as examples to look too in the next stages of their formations and vocational discernments.
Three formal steps are required by the Church prior to being ordained into the diaconate and priesthood. The first step is the Rite of Candidacy at which a man formally states his intention to be formed for ordination. The second is the Ministry of Lector which is a formal recognition of the relationship he is called to have with Sacred Scripture and his willingness to apply himself to its study and proclamation for the good of the Church.
The Ministry of Acolyte is the final ministry received prior to ordination as a transitional deacon. It is a formal recognition of the willingness to serve the community, primarily in its liturgical rites and usually occurs during the second year of priestly formation.
Those installed are listed below:
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Front Row: Rev. Michael A. Willig (Director of Vocations, Archdiocese of Cincinnati), The Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr (Archbishop of Cincinnati)
Back Row: Joseph Graff (Cincinnati), Charles Wiedenmann (Liberty Township), Joe Allaire (Miamisburg), Evan Sharp (Cincinnati), Thomas Wheeler (Eaton)
Diocese of Charlotte
From Left: Patrick Martin (Huntersville), Bailey Van Nosdall (Charlotte), The Most Rev. Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv. (Bishop of Charlotte), James Johnson IV (Charlotte), Connor White (Huntersville)
Archdiocese of Louisville
From Left: Rev. Michael L. Schultz, David Vest (Louisville), Very Rev. Martin Linebach (Director of Vocations, Archdiocese of Louisville)
Diocese of Columbus
From Left: Rev. William Hahn (Director of Vocations, Diocese of Columbus), Shane Gerrity (Columbus)