VATICAN CITY — A Diocese of Charlotte seminarian, Elijah Buerkle, was instituted as a lector, part of his ongoing formation toward the priesthood.
Buerkle, a parishioner at St. Mark Parish in Huntersville, is studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Founded in 1859 by Blessed Pius IX, the college serves as the American seminary in Rome and has formed more than 5,000 priests for service in the United States and Australia.
Buerkle was among 32 seminarians who were installed as lectors by Cardinal Fabio Baggio, C.S., Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on Jan. 11 in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.
Addressing the new lectors in his homily, Cardinal Baggio encouraged the seminarians to proclaim the Word of God with faithfulness and joy.
“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.”
The ministry of lector is one of three steps toward the priesthood: candidacy, acolyte and lector. A lector may deliver the readings at Mass, with the exception of the Gospel. He may also announce the intentions during the Prayers of the Faithful and, in the absence of a cantor, recite the Responsorial Psalm. He may also recite the entrance and communion antiphons when they are not sung.
This installation typically occurs after a seminarian has completed his first year of Theology. The seminarians will have three additional years of theological, spiritual and pastoral formation before being ordained to the priesthood.
— Catholic News Herald, Photo provided