Congratulations to Diocese of Lansing seminarian, Thomas Crowley, who was admitted to the Ministry of Acolyte in Rome on Sunday, March 2.

The ceremony took place within the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in Rome’s Pontifical North American College where Thomas, a son of the Church of the Resurrection parish in Lansing, is a student. The principal celebrant and homilist at Holy Mass was His Eminence, Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

Directly addressing the 24 young men who would be receiving the Ministry of Acolyte, Cardinal Tagle encouraged them to live out the gospel by evangelizing through the example of their lives.

He said to them, “First take out the lumber from your eye, before you try to remove the splinter from their brother’s eye.” Cardinal Tagle went on to exhort those who were to be installed as Acolytes to “live lives of integrity through the bearing forth of the good fruits of humility, kindness and authenticity.”

Among those concelebrating Holy Mass was Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing; Father Michael Cassar, Director of Seminarians for the Diocese of Lansing; and Father Peter Ludwig, also of the Diocese of the Lansing, who is currently pursuing further studies in Rome.

Serving the Mass was Diocese of Lansing seminarian, Jacob Derry, who is also a student at the Pontifical North American College. Meanwhile, present among the congregation was Diocese of Lansing seminarian, Joseph Kelly, who is another Pontifical North American College student. Joseph was conferred with the Ministry of Lector in January of this year.

The job of an Acolyte is primarily associated with assisting the priest and deacon during Holy Mass, however they will also bring the Blessed Sacrament to the sick and housebound as well as distributing communion during Mass. Acolytes may also, under the guidance of the priest, present instruction to the faithful. They may also expose the Blessed Sacrament.

In the rite of the Institution of Acolyte, Cardinal Tagle placed the paten, which contains the hosts for the celebration of Holy Mass, in the hands of each candidate. He then said, “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.”

The seminarians, currently in their second year of formation at the College, have two additional years of theological studies before being ordained to the priesthood in their home dioceses.

The Pontifical North American College serves as the American seminary in Rome. Founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX, the College has formed over 5000 priests near the heart of Rome for service in dioceses around the United States, Canada, and Australia.

* Pictured above, left to right: Diocese of Lansing seminarian, Joseph Kelly; Father Peter Ludwig of the Diocese of Lansing; Father Michael Cassar, Director of Seminarians for the Diocese of Lansing; Diocese of Lansing seminarian, Thomas Crowley; Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing; Diocese of Lansing seminarian, Jacob Derry.

• Do you feel God is calling you to the Sacred Priesthood? Please feel free to contact Father Michael Cassar, Director of Seminarians, at mcassar@dioceseoflansing.org or on 517-342-2507.