Seven MTSM Seminarians Installed in Ministry of Acolyte

The Most Rev. Robert G. Casey, Archbishop of Cincinnati, installed seven Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology (MTSM) seminarians across four sending dioceses in the Ministry of Acolyte on November 19 in the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great.

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
From Left:  William Rannells (Wilmington), The Most Rev. Robert G. Casey (Archbishop of Cincinnati), Nick Barsala (Lebanon), Rev. Michael A. Willig (Director of Vocations, Archdiocese of Cincinnati)
Diocese of Charlotte
From Left: Mateo Perez (Lenoir), Marck Becker (Charlotte), The Most Rev. Robert G. Casey (Archbishop of Cincinnati), Matthew Stanley (Huntersville)

Diocese of Columbus
From Left: Jacob Wilson (Gahanna), The Most Rev. Robert G. Casey (Archbishop of Cincinnati)

Diocese of Toledo
From Left: Rev. David Kidd (Vocations Director, Diocese of Toledo), The Most Rev. Robert G. Casey (Archbishop of Cincinnati), Declan Reimer (Toledo)