ROME - On Jan. 11, His Eminence, Cardinal Fabio Baggio, C.S., Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, conferred the Ministry of Lector in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City State.
Among the 32 students were Gianni DiTola and Ryan Pierce of the Diocese of Gary.
Addressing the new lectors in his homily, Cardinal Baggio encouraged the seminarians who were to be installed as Lectors to proclaim the Word of God with faithfulness and joy.
The cardinal went on to say, “The bishop places the Book of the Gospels in the hands of the newly ordained deacons, by saying, ‘Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach. So too, those who are installed to the ministry of Lector are to become heralds of God’s Word, believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.’”
Following the homily, Cardinal Baggio placed the Holy Scriptures in the hands of each candidate and said, “Take this book of holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the word of God, so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people.”
DiTola, whose home parish is St. John the Evangelist in St. John, noted the Mass occurred on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which he said was special in two ways.
“First, it called to mind my own baptism, which I often take for granted, altogether reminding me of my identity as a beloved son,” he said. “Secondly, I was reminded that the ministry I was about to receive was rooted in my baptism. This was a continuation in my own journey of discipleship, approaching the priestly vocation.”
Pierce said he will remember most the moment that all 33 seminarians from across the United States knelt in the center aisle preparing to be received into the ministry. He shared it felt similar to being sent off by a general to go fight in a war together or like early Jesuit missionaries being blessed before being sent to the “New World” to spread the Good News of the Gospel to people who had never heard it before.
“It was a beautiful thought to know that all 33 of us are preparing to truly be sent back to our home dioceses in the United States to proclaim the Word of God,” Pierce said.
Being in his 5th year of seminary formation, Pierce commented that he sometimes forgets that one day he will be ordained a priest. He said the liturgical rite was a beautiful reminder that he is still being formed to be a priest and that he is even now able to serve the people of God.
Pierce shared he was struck by words which are included in the Institution of Lectors: “You will proclaim that word in the liturgical assembly, instruct children and adults in the faith, and prepare them to receive the Sacraments worthily. You will bring the message of salvation to those who have not yet received it. Thus, with your help, men and women will come to know God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ, whom he sent, and so be able to reach eternal life.”
“As a lector, we are able to be the voice for the Word of God,” Pierce said. “When we read at Mass, God speaks to people. I am very honored to be able to participate in this ministry of the Church.”
For DiTola, this ministry stands as a definitive step towards the priesthood and offers a concrete role at the seminary (PNAC). This ministry is open to any of the baptized, yet in a particular way, represents the priestly vocation.
“This is the second of five times in which a man responds, ‘Present’ to a call from the Church through the voice of the presider of each liturgy,” DiTola said. “Additionally, it offers an opportunity to serve the seminary community at each community Mass by reading the Word of God.”
DiTola asked those of the Diocese of Gary to continue to pray for all seminarians as they make their way through formation, as well as those who are applying to the seminary or feel a call to apply, giving the reminder, “The future of the local Church rests in your hands!”
“Thank you to the faithful of the Diocese of Gary for your continued prayers for Gianni and I, and all the Gary seminarians,” Pierce added. “We are very excited to be in formation for Christ’s holy priesthood!”
The seminarians, currently in their first year of theological formation for the priesthood, will have three additional years of theological, spiritual, and pastoral formation 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 Pius IX, the College has formed over 5000 priests near the heart of the Church for service in dioceses around the United States and Australia. The College strengthens the bonds between Rome and local Churches worldwide, and it allows its students a first-hand encounter with the Church’s rich religious and cultural heritage.
For more information about seminarians in the Diocese of Gary and the Office of Vocations, visit https://garyvocations.com/
