Two seminarians instituted as readers

Intermountain Catholic

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Jorge Martínez and Alejandro Camberos, seminarians of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, are shown with the Most Rev. Tod Brown, Bishop of Orange. Courtesy photo/Father Eleazar Silva

By Father Eleazar Silva Galván

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

MENLO PARK — During a celebration Feb. 23 at the chapel of Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, Calif., the Most Rev. Tod Brown, Bishop of Orange, conferred the ministry of readers to Jorge Martínez and Alejandro Camberos, both seminarians of the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

After singing the psalms and reading the Gospel, Bishop Brown said a few words to the candidates, in which he described the functions of a reader: Besides proclaiming the Gospel, the lector must educate children and adults in the faith, prepare for the celebration of Eucharist with catechism and spread the Word of salvation to those who haven’t heard.

Bishop Brown emphasized that this ministry is a participation in the mission of the church, to help all to know God and his son, Jesus our Savior. With his vast experience spreading the Gospel, the bishop invited the candidates to accept the Word as a precious gift from God and share it with their brothers and sisters.

During the institution prayer, the candidates listen to it while kneeling in front of the bishop; he blessed them and asked God to grant that, through meditation on the Word, they will be faithful servants and spread the Gospel, so they can be transformed by it. The bishop gave each candidate a copy of the Holy Scriptures.

The reader and acolyte are ministries that seminarians receive before being ordained as transitional deacons, and then as priests. In this way the Church is preparing them for their future ministries as Eucharist celebrants and announcers of the Word of God. Through these ministries, the seminarians are forming in Christ, Incarnated Word and servant of all men.

Fr. Silva is parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Madeleine.