On the evening of Tuesday 22 June, the Feast of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, Bishop Marcus instituted two students for the Permanent Diaconate to the ministry of Lector at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Moortown.
Alan Salada, from the Parish of St Augustine, Leeds and Nick Stoddart, from the Parish of St John Mary Vianney, Leeds were presented to Bishop Marcus by Rev David Arblaster, Director of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Leeds. They were accompanied by their families and the clergy from their parishes concelebrated the Mass.
These are the words of the homily from the Roman Pontifical which Bishop Marcus addressed to the candidates as part of the rite of institution:
“Through his Son, who became man for us, God the Father has revealed the mystery of salvation and brought it to fulfilment. Jesus Christ made all things known to us and then entrusted his Church with the mission of preaching the Gospel to the whole world.
As readers and bearers of God’s word, you will assist in this mission, and so take on a special office within the Christian community; you will be given a responsibility in the service of the faith, which is rooted in the word of God. You will proclaim that word in the liturgical assembly, instruct children and adults in the faith and prepare them to receive the sacraments worthily. You will bring the message of salvation to those who have not yet received it. 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.
In proclaiming God’s word to others, accept it yourselves in obedience to the Holy Spirit. Meditate on it constantly, so that each day you will have a deeper love of the Scriptures, and in all you say and do show forth to the world our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
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