Prayerful congratulations to Diocese of Lansing seminarians Jack Jobst and Thomas Crowley who have both taken a step closer to the sacred priesthood in recent weeks.
Jack Jobst, on the right, was installed as an acolyte on Thursday, December 21, 2023, by Bishop Earl Boyea at Saint Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. Jack is a parishioner at Christ the King in Ann Arbor and is a student at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.
Meanwhile, Thomas Crowley, on the left, was installed as a lector on Sunday, January 14, 2024, by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, in the chapel of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. There he was joined by fellow Diocese of Lansing seminarians, left to right, Joseph Kelly, Dominic Schoenle , Jacob Derry and William Ulmer. Thomas is a parishioner at Church of the Resurrection in Lansing and is a student at the Pontifical North American College.
“My congratulations go to both Jack and Thomas!” says Father Mike Cassar, Vocations Director of the Diocese of Lansing, January 19.
“It’s also something that, as a Church, we should celebrate and take encouragement from. These men have shown their commitment and willingness to follow God wherever he leads – whether it is to Dewitt or Rome.”
“It’s a message for us that God is still in charge of his Church. He is still calling. And many are still responding. We should pray, ourselves, that we are able to do the same.”
The job of an acolyte is primarily associated with assisting the priest and deacon during Holy Mass, however they will also bring the Blessed Sacrament to the sick and housebound as well as distributing Holy Communion during Mass. Acolytes may also, under the guidance of the priest, present instruction to the faithful. They may also expose the Blessed Sacrament.
Meanwhile, what’s a lector? A lector is appointed to read the Word of God in the liturgical assembly and, accordingly, reads the lesson from Sacred Scripture, except the Gospel, at Holy Mass and in other sacred celebrations.
Please keep both these young men in your prayers. Saint Charles Borromeo, patron of seminarians, pray for them!
• If you have any other questions regarding vocational discernment or seminary formation, please contact Father Cassar by email at mcassar@dioceseoflansing.org, or call 517-342-2507 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday