February 19, 2010
Seminarians receive ministries, begin formation
Lector
Twenty-two priesthood students from St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology received the ministry of lector, Feb. 9, in the School’s St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel. Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B., of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, installed the lectors.
The seminarians receiving the ministry included Christopher Droste and Nicholas Seib from the Diocese of Evansville
The ministry of lector is conferred upon those who prepare and proclaim readings from Scripture at Mass and other liturgical celebrations. A lector also may recite psalms between the readings and present the intentions for the general intercessions.
Acolyte
Twenty priesthood students received the ministry of acolyte, including Brian Emmick and Jeffrey Read, Diocese of Evansville
An acolyte is appointed to assist a deacon or priest, primarily in the celebration of Mass. He attends to the needs of the altar and may distribute Communion as an auxiliary minister. He also may be entrusted with the public veneration of the Blessed Sacrament, but does not give the Benediction, since he is neither a priest nor a deacon.
Enter as novices
On Jan. 19, in a brief ceremony at the monastery entrance, Michael Luckett and Timothy Wymore were clothed in the Benedictine habit at St. Meinrad Archabbey. They now begin a year of monastic formation, including study of the Rule of St. Benedict and monastic history.
Novice Michael, 21, was born in Louisville, Ky. He grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., where he was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He attended Damien High School in La Verne, Calif. In 2009, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif., before coming to St. Meinrad.
Novice Timothy, 24, was born in Grand Forks, N.D. He grew up in Madison, Wisc., where he attended James Madison Memorial High School and was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 2007 from the University of Notre Dame. Dur-ing college, he was an intern with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dubois County. Following college, he spent two years working at the National Right to Life Committee.
As novices, the two men take a year off from formal studies and/or trades. The novitiate is a time of prayer and learning intended to help a novice discern his vocation as a monk. At the end of this year, a novice may be permitted to profess temporary vows of obedience, fidelity to the monastic way of life and stability in the community of St. Meinrad.