LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA — Twelve seminarians from seven dioceses and two abbeys were installed in the Ministry of Acolyte on November 6. The Most Rev. Bernard Schmitt, Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, presided over the installation, held at the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica, Latrobe.

Installed were Br. Cajetan P. Homick, O.S.B., Saint Vincent Archabbey; Daniel E. Beaumont, and Kevin G. Poecking, Diocese of Pittsburgh; John A. Rice, Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston; Matthew J. Kujawinski, Diocese of Erie; Paul M. Clark, Steven W. Fauser, and Mark E. Weiss, Diocese of Harrisburg; G. David Weikart, Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio; John M. Matejek, Jr., Archdiocese of Atlanta, Ga.; Leo B. Fowler, Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., and Br. Bartholomew Landry, O.S.B., St. Bernard Abbey, Cullman, Ala.

The acolyte is appointed to aid the deacon and to minister to the priest. It is his duty to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass. He is also permitted to distribute communion as an extraordinary minister.