By Josh McDermid
For the 6th Sunday of Easter, the Corpus Christi College community made the short journey to St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne, for the institution of seminarians Dominic Lawes, Rhys Lowther and Ian Vergel as acolytes by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli. While acolyte was previously a ‘minor order’ prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, it is now considered a ministry which is open to both the laity in general and those preparing for ordination. Nevertheless, it remains an essential part of the journey to priesthood for each seminarian.
As acolytes, Dominic, Rhys and Ian have the responsibility of assisting priests and deacons in their ministry as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the faithful at the liturgy and to the sick. This ministry requires them to mould themselves more perfectly in likeness to Christ’s sacrifice and to offer themselves daily to God as spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Jesus Christ. In particular, they are called to a sincere love for Christ’s Mystical Body, God’s holy people, and especially for the weak and the sick.
The institution itself took place just prior to the presentation of the gifts, when each of them went up one by one and knelt before Archbishop Comensoli who presented them with the paten with an unconsecrated host on it. He then said to them: “Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.” Each of the newly instituted acolytes responded, “Amen.” Later in the Mass each of them exercised their newly instituted ministry by joining the Archbishop and priests in giving Holy Communion to the several hundred people gathered.
We ask that as Dominic, Rhys and Ian take on this ministry and move closer to priestly ordination, you keep them in your prayers.