Bishop William F. Medley with seminarian Conrad Jaconette after Jaconette’s installation as acolyte during the March 1 school Mass at Owensboro Catholic High School. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Called to be a sacred vessel
Jaconette installed as acolyte
BY CONRAD JACONETTE, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Did you know it takes seven to eight years of seminary for a man to be ordained a priest?
Seminary is not a “quick” process, but is necessary for a man to flourish in self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and self-gift. Around a man’s fifth or sixth year of seminary formation, he is installed as an acolyte (a fancy word for server). The acolyte installation is one of the final steps before the Sacrament of Holy Orders (diaconate and priesthood) and is a turning point in a seminarian’s formation. On March 1, 2023, Bishop Medley installed me as an acolyte during Owensboro Catholic High School’s weekly school Mass.
I would like to take a moment to express the beauty behind the ministry of the acolyte. As an acolyte, the Church calls me to assist priests and deacons in the order of the Mass, especially in the setting of the altar, distributing Communion, and purifying the sacred vessels. At the root of it all, I am asked to be a server of the altar. I did not realize how powerful this ministry would be to my spirituality.
There is a strange effect that happens when one draws near to the altar. One begins to see the minor “imperfections” of the sacred vessels. These beautiful gold and silver chalices are covered in scratches, chips, dents, or even missing jewels. For some reason, these slight imperfections made me stop and think, what seems so beautiful and perfect from the pews are covered in wear and tear. At the core of our faith, this makes sense.
Yes, the vessels must be beautiful because they hold the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist; but they are also tools to bring Christ to his people. These imperfections are proof that the Church is bringing Christ to His people! I smile now when I see these imperfections because it gives me hope that we, as imperfect people, can be used as a tool to bring Christ to others. No matter how many scratches, chips, dents, or even missing jewels we have in our own life, we are called to be sacred vessels that bring Christ to the world. I am honored and blessed to be an acolyte, and I thank God for the gift of serving at His altar.
Conrad Jaconette is in second theology (fourth year of seminary formation) at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind. Learn more about vocations in the Diocese of Owensboro at owensborovocations.com.
Originally printed in the April 2023 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
