Instituted Acolyte

Tonight the 19 men who comprise the Diaconate Formation Class of 2015 will be instituted as Acolytes.  This is the one of the really big steps necessary for ordination which is set for 13 months from now.


Many Catholics have no idea what is an Instituted Acolyte.  Here is an answer from the Catholic Answers Forum:

An instituted acolyte is a man who has been installed by a bishop to the ministry of acolyte. There are two such instituted ministries in the Church (not just in America, but everywhere)--to wit, lector and acolyte. Most people serving in the liturgical functions of reader and altar server are not actually installed to the ministry of acolyte, not that this is not allowed. Typically the only people in the US who are installed to these ministries are men on the way to the priesthood or diaconate.

-ACEGC

Good enough for my limited time this morning on the internet!  Basically, every man who is on a path to Ordination will spend some time as an Acolyte.  For me, before my own ordination, I served as an Acolyte for 2 years before I began my Diaconate ministry.  Normally, the time frame as an Acolyte before Ordination is 12-18 months. 

In our program an Acolyte gets to assist the Deacon on the altar to learn and observe more closely the movements and actions of the Deacon at Mass.  Of course an Acolyte has real duties, anything related to candles, he may dress the altar and he may be allowed to be a minister of Holy Communion. 

For our 19 friends tonight, this is both true institution to what used to be commonly referred to as minor orders and a major step toward the hopeful Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate!!