Posted September 22, 2016

The ministry of lector, whereby men are commissioned to proclaim the sacred Scriptures in Catholic liturgies, was conferred by Auxiliary Bishop Michael Fitzgerald upon eight seminarians studying for the priesthood for the Philadelphia Archdiocese and 10 men in formation for the permanent diaconate on Saturday, Sept. 17 in St. Martin’s Chapel of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood. The bishop also conferred the ministry upon nine other men from four dioceses and the Vincentian order. For Philadelphia, seminarians included David M. Buffum, Marco A. Casanova, Alessandro P. Giardini, John W. Howarth, David P. O’Brien, Alexander W. Pancoast, Quy K. Pham and Anthony M. Raymundo; permanent deacon candidates included Joseph P. Boyle, Gerald J. Cassidy, Henry C. Fila, Franz N. Fruehwald, Matthew A. Horvath, Gregg W. Hoyer, James V. Nash, Mark D. Nowakowski, Paul F. Stoyell-Mulholland and Thomas N. Verna. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

  • Seminarian David Buffum processes into St. Martin’s Chapel for the ministry of lector.

  • Permanent diaconate lector Gerald Cassidy

  • Seminarian David O’Brien and deacon candidate Mark Nowakowski are presented to the bishop to receive the ministry of lector.

  • From left Paul Stoyell-Mulholland, Anthony Raymundo and Thomas Verna prepare to receive the ministry of lector on Saturday, Sept. 17.

  • Bishop Michael Fitzgerald address the candidates for the ministry.

  • Marco Casanova is instituted into the ministry of lectors by Bishop Michael Fitzgerald.

  • Diaconate candidate Franz Fruehwald receives the ministry of lector.

  • Bishop Michael Fitzgerald hands the Word of God to David O’Brien, signifying him a lector.

  • Gregg Hoyer offers a sign of peace to his fellow diaconate candidate.

  • Seminarian Anthony Raymundo

  • Bishop Fitzgerald poses for a photo with two priests of the Congregation for the Mission, or Vincentians, and three seminarians from the order who received lector, including (from left) David Serrano, Leo Tiburcio and Luis Romero.