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Front row (left to right): Fr. Jeff Eirvin, Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg, Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, OSB; Second row (left to right): Edward Huber, John Nguyen, Joseph Canepa, Br. Thomas Buttrick, OSB, Tyler Alt; Third row (left to right): Robert Kelly, Cody Schurter, Br. Pachomius Hamor, OSB, Đavid Huy Đỗ; Fourth row (left to right): Connor Brown, Anthony Rizo

On March 17, 2026, eleven Mount Angel seminarians representing five (arch)dioceses and two religious communities received the ministries of lector and acolyte during the celebration of the Eucharist at Mount Angel Seminary. Bishop Daniel H. Mueggenborg, of the Diocese of Reno, was the principal celebrant and instituting prelate. Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, Fr. Jeff Eirvin, and priests from the Seminary and the monastery concelebrated the liturgy.

In his homily, Bishop Mueggenborg expressed that “at the heart of our faith and at the heart of the priesthood are word and sacrament.” He addressed the seminarians to be instituted, stating, “I rejoice to install you, brothers, in these ministries which express the double aspect of the priestly office.” Bishop Mueggenborg described how the ministries of lector and acolyte build up the Church and how exercising these ministries is meant to conform the seminarians more closely to Christ’s love for his Church. “Do not take these responsibilities lightly,” said Bishop Mueggenborg. “As you accept this ministry today, your life should be different tomorrow.”

Following the homily, the candidates for lector and acolyte stood before Bishop Mueggenborg, receiving instruction and exhortation about their ministry from the rite of institution. For the lectors, the bishop said that they would “proclaim that word in the liturgical assembly, instruct children and adults in the faith, and prepare them to receive the sacraments worthily . . . Thus, with your help, men and women will come to know God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ, whom he sent and so be able to reach eternal life.” For the acolytes, the bishop said that it is their “responsibility to assist priests and deacons in carrying out their ministry, and as special ministers to give holy communion to the faithful at the liturgy and to the sick . . . you should strive to live more fully by the Lord’s sacrifice and to be molded more perfectly in its likeness.”

Those instituted into the ministry of lector were Connor William Brown, Diocese of Orange; and Anthony Alexis Rizo, Diocese of Reno. Those instituted into the ministry of acolyte were Tyler Matthew Alt, Diocese of Orange; Br. Thomas Buttrick, OSB, Mount Angel Abbey; Joseph Ryan Canepa, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon; Đavid Huy Đỗ, Archdiocese of Seattle; Br. Pachomius Hamor, OSB, Saint Martin’s Abbey; Edward Huber, Diocese of Orange; Robert Kelly, Archdiocese of Santa Fe; John Thien Nguyen, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon; and Cody Wilson Schurter, Diocese of Orange.

View more photos from the Mass with the Institution of Lectors and Acolytes on Flickr.

About Mount Angel Seminary

Mount Angel Seminary, an apostolate of the Benedictine monks of Mount Angel Abbey, is a school whose primary purpose is the human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation of men for the Roman Catholic priesthood. The Seminary is comprised of a College of Liberal Arts and a Graduate School of Theology, which also offers theological education to qualified laymen and women. The Seminary’s programs adhere to the norms established by the Holy See and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as stated in the Program of Priestly Formation.

—Ethan Alano