By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel instituted 15 men as acolytes during Mass Oct. 11 at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper. In the role of the acolyte, they will assist priests and deacons during the Mass.
After Bishop Siegel’s homily, the candidates came forward for the institution. After blessing the candidates, each candidate came forward, at which time they held the paten individually.
“Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the Eucharist,” Bishop Siegel prayed. “Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.”
The 15 candidates for the permanent diaconate who were instituted as acolytes during the Mass are Doug Ackerman, Pete Barry, Chris Bassler, Bill Blanke, Matt Bohleber, Jerry Durchholz, Phil Durcholz, Scott Griffin, Brian Ketzner, Luis Londono, Matthew McDowell, Joshua Reising, Ray Ruppel, Jack Tuinier and Jorge Velasco. All 15 men are on track to be ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2026.
During his homily, Bishop Siegel said an instituted acolyte is a person chosen by God to play a special role in the church’s Eucharistic life. Bishop Siegel said the deacon candidates must resist the temptation to see the ministry of acolyte through a purely functional perspective.
He said while it is true they can do more in the liturgy, such as purifying the sacred vessels, the ministry means much more than that. The essential part of being an acolyte is to be a person more closely united to the Lord in the Eucharist. He said with this ministry, they are invited to come closer to Christ in the Eucharist as they assist priests and deacons at the altar and as they distribute the Body and Blood of the Lord to the faithful. We should all be humbled to be so close to this great gift, which is the source and summit of the Catholic faith, Bishop Siegel said.
He said as he presented the paten to each of the deacon candidates, he called them to make their lives worthy of their service at the table of the Lord and his church. Their lives should become more like that of Christ, who came not to do his own will but the will of the one who sent him in a perfect sacrifice of obedience to his heavenly Father.
Bishop Siegel said forming their lives to that of Christ is not accomplished primarily through the functions of their ministry but by having a personal and loving relationship with Christ, one that begins with and is nourished through the Mass and daily prayer.
Along with Sundays, Bishop Siegel invited the deacon candidates to try to participate in the sacred liturgy as often as they can during the week, and thus be able to receive our Lord in Holy Communion. He said adoration and prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament should have a prominent place in their spiritual lives, so that they will be constantly renewed for their love of our Eucharistic Lord, enabling them to perform the duties of an acolyte with greater reverence and zeal.
Bishop Siegel said it was important to be mindful that, since this was their final step before ordination in August, it will be tempting to focus on that goal and simply push through the final year of formation, doing whatever it takes to finish. He encouraged them to resist the temptation to let any area of their formation become weak in this final stretch. Recommitting themselves to engage fully in every aspect of their formation this year will be the very best form of preparation for their ordination, he said.