Diocese invites all to celebrate the Rite of Installation to the Ministry of Lector for deacon candidates

Friday, Apr. 10, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — Almost two years ago, on Nov. 23, 2013, the Cathedral of the Madeleine was the site at which 19 men were welcomed as candidates for the permanent diaconate ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City during the Admission to Candidacy rite, which offered each of the candidates the opportunity to publicly express his intention to receive ordination as a permanent deacon.

When they are ordained as deacons, the men will serve in various ministries; they will be able to proclaim the Gospel, preach, baptize, witness marriages, and conduct funerals. 

As permanent deacons, they are allowed to be married.

Since forming, the group has lost two candidates; one died unexpectedly and another withdrew.

 On April 18, the Cathedral will again open its doors to the diaconate candidates, this time as they celebrate the Rite of Installation to the Ministry of Lector, which is the second step toward their ordination.

“This calls them to be servants of the living Word of God,” said Father Eleazar Silva, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Salt Lake City. 

Fr. Silva is the director of academics for the diaconate formation program; Deacon Drew Petersen is the program’s overall director.

“During the ceremony, they will ask Bishop Wester to accept them for the ministry; they also will receive an alb, which they will be obliged to wear when proclaiming the readings at Mass,” Fr. Silva said. “Those who exercise the ministry of lector must be truly suited and carefully prepared, so that the faithful may develop a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture from listening to the sacred readings.”

The Code of Canon Law requires diaconate candidates to have received and have exercised for an appropriate time the ministry of lector, and then served as an acolyte, before they are ordained  as permanent deacons.

The Diocese of Salt Lake City invites all the people who wish to attend to come to the Rite of Installation Ministry of Lector to the April 18 celebration.

Those preparing to be ordained as permanent deacons for the Diocese of Salt Lake City are:

+ Jose A. (Aurora) Becerra-Bejar/St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orem

+ Constantino (Martha) Campos/Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, WVC

+ Daniel (Victoria) Carrillo/San Felipe Parish, Wendover 

+ Carlos (Maribel) Cortez/Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, WVC

+ John (Gracemarie) Goette/St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orem

+ Gerado (Carmen) Marrufo/Cathedral of the Madeleine Parish, SLC

+ Carlos (Teresa) Mendez/St. George Parish, St. George

+ Guillermo (Socorro) Mendez-Lopez/St. Andrew Parish, Riverton

+ Joaquin (Erika) Mixco/St. Catherine of Siena/Newman Center, SLC

+ Fernando (Hirais) Montaño/St. Elizabeth Parish, Richfield

+ James David (Julie) Nelson/St. John the Baptist Parish, Draper

+ Duane (Karla) Padilla/St. Andrew Parish, Riverton

+ Julio (Ana) Palomino/St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orem

+ Odilon (Maria) Ricardez/St. Joseph Parish, Ogden

+ Howard (Tooky) Schuyler/St. Florence Mission, Huntsville

+ Vicente (Aurora) Vazquez/St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orem

+ Bernardo (Zulma) Villar/St. Rose of Lima Parish, Layton.

WHAT: Rite of Installation to the Ministry of Lector

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 18

WHERE: Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, SLC

A reception will follow downstairs in Scanlan Hall.