Since the Council of Trent in the 16th century, Church clerics would first be initiated and formed through the process of Minor Orders on their journey towards ordination to the priesthood. While the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council suppressed the Minor Orders, religious priests such as the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (F.S.S.P.), the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, the Canons of St. John Cantius (C.R.), and the Transalpine Redemptorists, all of which only celebrate the extraordinary form of the Mass and the sacraments, have reverted to their implementation.

As far back as the 7th century and until Pope Paul VI abolished the practice in 1973, a young man entering seminary would traditionally enter the clerical state by receiving Tonsure. Candidates would next receive the Minor Orders, in ascending order, consisting of Porter, Lector, Exorcist, and Acolyte. Only then could candidates proceed onward to the ordination to a Major Order, which includes Sub-Deacon, Deacon, and Priest. This also includes the episcopal consecration as a Bishop. 

Today, when a man pursues a vocation in ordained ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, he first becomes an official candidate (replacing the former Tonsure) and is received into the lay ministry of instituted lector and subsequently instituted acolyte. “Before anyone is promoted to the permanent or transitional diaconate, he is required to have received the ministries of Lector and Acolyte and to have exercised them for a suitable period of time.” (Canon 1035) 

One of our parishioners, Jan Anderson, has entered into formation to the Diaconate and is currently a candidate in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. On September 14, Bishop Schuerman conferred the ministry of Lector upon him and his classmates, the ceremony of which was held in Mater Cristi Chapel at the Mary Mother of the Church Pastoral Center in St. Francis, WI. Jan’s official capacity as a Lector further reminds us of our need to assist in the Church at the local level, which connects us to the universal Church. 

Thus far, at least 40 new people are entering into ministry here, which does not include the number of new participants in our four adult Bible study offerings. We are grateful to all who currently actively serve in the Church through various ministries. 

If you have not done so already, you are invited to consider getting involved in the many activities of our historic downtown parishes by CLICKING HERE.