Wednesday, May 3, 2026
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
It is with immense joy that I am announcing that I will be installed to the Sacred Ministry of Acolyte for the Archdiocese of St. Louis on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, at 6:00pm at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsberry, MO South St. Louis County.
The Mass and the Rite of Institution for Acolytes will take place in the St. Vincent DePaul Chapel in the Cardinal Rigali Center on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, at 6:00pm and will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Mitchell Thomas Rozanski, the 10th Archbishop of St. Louis. There will be a reception afterwards at the Rigali Center. What is an Installed Acolyte?
An acolyte is a baptized man who is installed by a bishop and is appointed to assist priests and deacons at the altar, prepare water and wine for the celebration of Mass, purify sacred vessels, and distribute Holy Communion as an extraordinary minister. Acolytes are also allowed to open the tabernacle and……in extraordinary circumstances…...can expose the Blessed Sacrament on the altar for adoration and repose the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle afterwards but cannot bless the people with the blessed sacrament whatsoever.
Instituted acolytes, as necessary, may also assist with the formation of other servers who assist at the altar and bring holy Communion to the sick. The ministry of the instituted acolyte was among several ministries and minor clerical orders Pope Paul VI revised in 1972.
An acolyte should be an example to all in the church by making his service an offering to God in a spirit of prayer and reverence. He should have a sincere love for the Mystical Body of Christ, the people of God, and especially the weak and the sick. Saint Tarcisius, a 12-year-old acolyte in 3rd Century Rome who gave his life for the protection of the Eucharist, is the patron saint of acolytes.
There is an excellent article in the St. Louis Review at https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/instituted-acolytes-provide-support-to-priests-deacons-at-liturgical-celebrations.
I will be assigned to serve as an Installed Acolyte at St. Anselm Parish (which I am a parishioner), which is on the grounds of St. Louis Abbey (530 South Mason Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141). My first mass assisting as an Installed Acolyte at St. Anselm Parish will be the Saturday Evening 4:30pm mass on Saturday, May 23rd in the Abbey Church.
No RSVPs are needed in advance for the Mass and the Rite of Institution for Acolytes at the Rigali Center on May 19th nor for the Saturday Evening 4:30pm mass on Saturday, May 23rd in the Abbey Church which is the normal Saturday evening mass for St. Anselm Parish.
Directions to the St. Vincent DePaul Chapel at the Cardinal Rigali Center & St. Anselm Parish / St. Louis Abbey are as follows:
- Vincent DePaul Chapel at the Cardinal Rigali Center
- Anselm Parish / St. Louis Abbey
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