Archdiocese of Portland seminarians participated in the Ministries Mass on March 11 at Mount Angel Seminary. Joseph Canepa and John Nguyen were instituted as lectors, while Marcos Alvarado Trasmonte and Adalberto Montes Contreras were instituted as acolytes. These ministries are milestones in the Configuration stage as the men deepen their liturgical formation to serve as Christ.
The principal celebrant for the Mass was Bishop Jaime Soto from the Diocese of Sacramento. He also served as the instituting prelate of the ministries. In his homily, Bishop Soto reflected on the Lord’s Prayer from the Gospel reading. He stated that the Our Father prayer is, “how you conform your life to the priestly image of the Lord Jesus.” In the ritual to confer the ministry of lector he prayed, “as they meditate constantly on your Word, they may grow in its wisdom and faithfully proclaim it to your people.”
Mr. Alvarado Trasmonte summarized the day by saying, “We gathered together like a big, happy family. John and Joey received the word of God in the gift their own Bibles. Beto and I did not receive anything, but got the chance to hold the paten with the hosts as a sign of serving the church.” John Nguyen was grateful for the gift of a “Texas-size” Bible. He also enjoyed having his picture taken with, “the greatest president on the hilltop: Fr. Jeff, and the coolest and the greatest vocation director of all time: Fr. Peter.”
Ministry recipients with Fr. Jeff Eirvin and Fr. Peter Julia.
Portland seminarians at Mount Angel Seminary’s Ministries Mass