On Sunday 18th December, the Forth Sunday of Advent, seminarians Matthew Borg and Franklin Micallef, who are in their sixth year of formation, were conferred with the ministry of Acolyte by our bishop H.L. Mgr Anthony Teuma. The conferral of this ministry took place during the 10.30am Holy Mass celebrated in the parish church of Kercem, which is dedicated to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Gregory the Great. Matthew Borg hails from the parish of Xaghra dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgen Mary, while Franklin Micallef hails from the parish of Kercem. Various priests, including the formators of the Seminary, concelebrated. The celebration was also attended by relatives of the seminarians and people from the above-mentioned parish. Following the reading of the Gospel, the candidate was presented to the bishop. After the homily the bishop prayed upon the candidate and presented the chalice and paten to him, inviting him to live his life in a closer relationship with God and the Holy Eucharist.
Through the ministry of Acolyte, the seminarian lives a more profound discipleship of love to the Lord and service to the others. Apart from this the seminarian is able to assist the priest and deacon during liturgical celebration, distribute the Holy Eucharist to the faithful in church and to the sick at their homes, and expose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration.
