Institution of Acolytes – 25th February 2018 at the 10:30am Solemn Mass

Very Rev. Fr Don Richardson, Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral & Patricia Marsh, Liturgy Assistant at the Liturgy Office of the Archdiocese of Sydney; with the newly Instituted Acolytes. Location: St Mary’s Cathedral Crypt

During the 10:30am Solemn Mass on Sunday 25th February 2018, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, instituted 30 men from various parishes around the Archdiocese of Sydney into the Ministry of Acolytes.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 98, outlines that: “The acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. In particular, it is his responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if it is necessary, as an extraordinary minister, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful. In the ministry of the altar, the acolyte has his own functions (cf. nos. 187-193), which he must perform personally.” For example: “When no deacon is present, an instituted acolyte carries the sacred vessels to the credence table and there purifies, wipes and arranges them in the usual way (GIRM, no.192).”

In order to become an acolyte, a man must have received all of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation), have served as an altar server and have completed the Acolyte and Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister courses conducted by the Liturgy Office of their (Arch)diocese. After the Mass, Fr Don Richardson, Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral and the Director of the Liturgy Office of the Archdiocese of Sydney, congratulated and presented the newly instituted acolytes with certificates and a ministry card to certify that they have been instituted into the sacred ministry. May God continue to bless these men as they continue to serve the Lord and His church.

Servers being instituted to the Ministry of Acolyte by His Grace, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP; Archbishop of Sydney