Nick Patin of the Diocese of St. Augustine was one of 32 seminarians who received ministry of lector in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at the Pontifical North American College in Rome on Jan. 11.
By receiving the ministry of lector, Patin is now entrusted with reading the Sacred Scriptures during Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
Patin is currently in his first year of theological formation for the priesthood, and will have three more years of theological, spiritual, and pastoral formation before returning home to be ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of St. Augustine.
Addressing the new lectors in his homily, His Imminence, Cardinal Fabio Baggio, C.S., Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, encouraged the seminarians to proclaim the Word of God with faithfulness and joy.
He went on to say, “The bishop places the Book of the Gospels in the hands of the newly ordained deacons, by saying, ‘Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach. So too, those who are installed to the ministry of lector are to become heralds of God’s Word, believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.’”
Following the homily Cardinal Baggio placed the Holy Scriptures in the hands of each candidate and said, “take this book of holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the word of God, so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people.”
The Pontifical North American College serves as the American seminary in Rome. Founded in 1859 by Blessed Pius IX, the college has formed more than 5,000 priests near the heart of the Church for service in dioceses around the United States and Australia.
The college strengthens the bonds between Rome and local churches worldwide, by allowing its students a firsthand encounter with the Church’s religious and cultural heritage.
